Thrustmaster TFRP T. Flight Rudder Pedals Cleaning

ID: 147258

Description: Thrustmaster T.Flight Rudder Pedals (TFRP)...

Steps:

  1. Firstly, flip the unit over so the bottom is facing up.
  2. Remove the four screws along the top edge (towards to toe of the foot rest).
  3. Remove the two screws on the outer edge below that and the four screws on the bottom edge.
  4. Also remove screw holding in the spring cover and the four screws holding the controller board (PCB) cover.
    5. Step image
  5. Remove the single screw holding in the PCB.
  6. Unplug the three pins connected to the board (the one on the left is the potentiometer, and the two on the bottom are the foot pedals).
  7. Carefully lift the external cable up from the cradle. You will now be able to remove the PCB. Set the PCB and the main cable aside in a safe place.
  8. Remove the screws holding the foot rests to the rail on the bottom. There are six per foot rest.
  9. Under each pair of screws is a piece of plastic that you can also remove. Set these aside.
  10. If the two middle screws are obscured, just slide the foot rest up or down to get access to the screws.
  11. It may not be necessarry but I also removed the two screws at the bottom of the foot rests, just below the last set of screws.
    12. Step image
  12. ONLY DO IF REQUIRED
  13. This step is likely not required so only perform this step if it prevents you from getting further access in the following steps.
  14. I removed the screws holding the foot pedals to the fulcrum arms (with the TM logo). It was quite difficult to get the screws back in so I would only remove them if needed.
    15. Step image
  15. Remove the six screws holding the left and right inner rails.
  16. Also remove the two screws at the bottom in the middle of each pair of rails.
    17. Step image
  17. Remove the six screws in the top recess.
    18. Step image Step image
  18. There is another screw hide under the black cables to be removed.
  19. You should now finally be able to separate the top and bottom shells.
  20. They should come apart fairly easilly. If there is resistance check that you have removed all the indicated screws in previous steps.
  21. If necessary remove the screws holding in the foot pedals in step 3 if this is the problem.
    22. Step image
  22. It's probably a good idea at this stage to remove the metal rails from the rail shell and lubricate them.
  23. To remove the rails just pull them out from the top.
  24. I used singer sewing machine oil to lubricate mine but a similar product would also do.
    25. Step image
  25. Finally we're getting somewhere! You can start to see where the potentiometer is (circled in green). This is what we're trying to get to.
  26. Remove the single screw holding the arm to the platform screwed into the spring mechanism. You can then remove the arm attached to the potentiometer.
  27. There should be three screws (unfortunately some may be obsecured in the image by the cable) holding the little platform to the spring mechanism.
  28. Remove the platform. You may need to thread the pedal wires through the platform.
    29. Step image
  29. Remove the four screws from the spring mechanism.
  30. From memory the potentiometer is held in place with a nut. Remove the nut so you can access the potentiometer.
    31. Step image
  31. You should now be able to lift the tear-drop shaped spring mechanism up slightly to allow you to remove the potentiometer from underneath.
  32. Note that the potentiometer cable was glued down in my unit. I pulled off the glue so I could better access the potentiometer for cleaning.
    33. Step image
  33. Now to clean the potentiometer. Some people suggest dismantaling the potentiometer itself to clean and using contact cleaner. I didn't do this. Instead I sprayed isopropyl alcohol into the small window towards the bottom of the pot (indicated by the arrow).
  34. Turn the pole from side-to-side around 20 times each side. I did this a couple of times to try to remove any gunk and dirt spraying more ispropyl alcohol as required.
  35. After ensuring the pot was dry I added a little bit of singer oil for some lubrication. I'm not sure this is the best thing to use so you may need to do some additional research.
  36. I'm not an expert on cleaning potentiometers (this was my first time), so please do some research and follow the best advice.
  37. The potentiometer in my unit seems to be a Fanrui RK166N single and vertical F shaft (rated at 50,000 rotations). Link to possible part: http://www.dgfanrui.com/en/rk166n-%E5%8D...
    38. Step image
  38. The images show the screws and parts I had laid out as I took the unit apart.
  39. If you have a glue gun handy you may wish to glue the potentiometer wire back into place. I didn't have a glue gun but found the nut seems to keep the potentiometer in place anyway.
  40. Remember to be careful when putting the pedals back on the rails. There will be a small opening for the cable to sit between the two bits of plastic. You will need to have this in place correctly. (Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of this).
    41. Step image Step image
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