I had this same issue with my Gladiator K. It wouldn't return fully to center when I slowly twisted the grip to the right. However, after some break-in time, it's almost gone away. I have to consciously try to get it to stick now, but during normal use it's fine.
New hotas from VKB - Gladiator NXT
- Thread starter Dziondziak
- Start date
Mine was like that when I first used it, although I fitted the grip myself. Turned out I had the pinch bolt in wrong & fixing that helped enormously. It is still a little sticky but importantly hasn't broken (unlike the preceding 2 T-16000s
).![[VR] Enexemander](https://forums-cdn.zaonce.net/data/avatars/m/119/119036.jpg?1621636716){kind=avatar}
Yeah, I don't have that stiction issue so I can't really speak to it.
I found this video of taking apart the grip, which is pretty neat if you're a weirdo that's into that kinda thing (ahem like me)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PyCRQAMVuQ
Also, looks like you guys with the NXT can totally change the springs on the X and Y axis with ease.
I found this video of taking apart the grip, which is pretty neat if you're a weirdo that's into that kinda thing (ahem like me)
Also, looks like you guys with the NXT can totally change the springs on the X and Y axis with ease.
My NXT's twist had a severe stiction problem out of the box, but when I saw that twisting it back and forth made the problem go away (briefly) I decided that it was just breaking in. After two weeks almost the whole range was smooth; after three you could only feel it on small adjustments near center. At this point I can only feel it when I make a very small adjustment to the left, from center, and I'm hoping that will be gone soon too.
I don't really know what's going on in there... but I can say that my stick behaved as though the grease hadn't been well distributed when it was applied, and it took heavy use to get it where it was meant to be. But now that it's broken in, it's fine, and I already loved everything else about the stick.
They even ship a little tool for changing the springs - there's no explanation for it, but it makes sense if you look at it for a minute
.
Last edited:
Yeah, the spring remover is great. The NXT comes with great stuff.
I have the Mk II gladiator with the Kosmosima upgrade, so I had to take mine apart to put the new handle on before I could even use it... and then took it apart for the re-grease a few months later. It's working fine since then.. truthfully, the hardest part was getting di-electric grease. About a year of hard use ?
I get what you're saying, that a $150+ joystick should work "out of the box", and truthfully, it should. But as an example, I had to adjust the new out of box aftermarket $1800 heads on my LS motor. I added stiffer springs, port matched the intake, and had the valve seats re-cut by my local machinist so they were perfect. Expensive heads.. but my motor is ( or will be soon ) a unique highly tuned machine. So some adjustment to a custom highly tunable device is acceptable to me. Your joystick WORKS.. just not as well as you'd like.. much like the heads on my car.
I had an issue with my VKB out of the box as well, and the VKB forums were...as you say, snobby. One button on the handle was stuck "on". But I did manage to reach someone at VKB that was very knowledgeable ( even down to walking me thru pin-out testing ), we found the issue, and I got parts in the mail a few days later. Warthog and Virpil owners also have their devices apart on occasion. These are small batch devices, for techno-fetishists, and I accept that as part of the "boutique" experience.
Again, I get what you're saying. That sticking will eventually drive you crazy if it bothers you that much. You're stuck between returning them, or attempting a fix with the risk of being unable to back out. Personally, I'd plug them in and run them for a week or so.. see if it's really a big deal to you in use. They MIGHT get better ( as some have said ), or you might find you don't feel it in game. If they don't you can make the call next week.
I get what you're saying, that a $150+ joystick should work "out of the box", and truthfully, it should. But as an example, I had to adjust the new out of box aftermarket $1800 heads on my LS motor. I added stiffer springs, port matched the intake, and had the valve seats re-cut by my local machinist so they were perfect. Expensive heads.. but my motor is ( or will be soon ) a unique highly tuned machine. So some adjustment to a custom highly tunable device is acceptable to me. Your joystick WORKS.. just not as well as you'd like.. much like the heads on my car.
I had an issue with my VKB out of the box as well, and the VKB forums were...as you say, snobby. One button on the handle was stuck "on". But I did manage to reach someone at VKB that was very knowledgeable ( even down to walking me thru pin-out testing ), we found the issue, and I got parts in the mail a few days later. Warthog and Virpil owners also have their devices apart on occasion. These are small batch devices, for techno-fetishists, and I accept that as part of the "boutique" experience.
Again, I get what you're saying. That sticking will eventually drive you crazy if it bothers you that much. You're stuck between returning them, or attempting a fix with the risk of being unable to back out. Personally, I'd plug them in and run them for a week or so.. see if it's really a big deal to you in use. They MIGHT get better ( as some have said ), or you might find you don't feel it in game. If they don't you can make the call next week.
That's why I love VKB. I have two desks side by side; one has a computer and peripherals and the other is an electronics workbench. I've been fixing joysticks for a while now- fixed some buttons on the Hotas X (and gifted it to a friend). Fixed my T16000m twist potentiometer (and corrected the fault which causes that in the first place), fixed my Gladiator II when I broke the twist (my fault it broke and support was awesome), and fixed the centering issue of the ministick on the TWCS.
But I'm not the normal user (or maybe I am for VKB?). Give me an awesome stick with a slight issue and I'll have it cracked open on the workbench in minutes. Stiction is usually a grease issue (white lithium grease if you want it to be slick, Nyogel if you want a consistent damping grease). At worst a little sandpapering if something is rubbing internally.
But I also totally get buying a fairly expensive stick and not wanting to deal with it.
But I'm not the normal user (or maybe I am for VKB?). Give me an awesome stick with a slight issue and I'll have it cracked open on the workbench in minutes. Stiction is usually a grease issue (white lithium grease if you want it to be slick, Nyogel if you want a consistent damping grease). At worst a little sandpapering if something is rubbing internally.
But I also totally get buying a fairly expensive stick and not wanting to deal with it.
I love the ability to repair/modify it as well. For me, it adds to the Han Solo type mentality ( she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself. ) . I have a light/magnifying glass combo on my desk for this type of thing.
But it's not for everyone, and I get that some want plug-n-play.
The modular design of the NXT is absolutely fantastic. The stiction out of the box is just strange as I have used many a joystick and have never had this issue. It must be an issue with their twist mechanism's design. I'm finding my self pretty torn on whether to return or keep them. On one hand, I have to spend more money to fix them myself and I am not a fan of how damped the stick is, but on the other hand I know there are no options for dual twists besides T1600s that last me a few months or really expensive Virpils. I wish their return period wasn't 14 days, it sure would be nice to see if the problem sorts itself out without having to run marathon gaming sessions. Their tech support told me if I regreased it I am not allowed to return it, so I can't even afford to try it fixed. So far my experience with VKB has been quite poor. The product, stiction aside, is great. VKB support and customer interaction is terrible.
I have one. it's great.
accurate enough to use in FA OFF no problem and not going to break every 5 minutes like the T16000
handywork of the VKB NXT:
Source: https://youtu.be/cLpj1lDZzf8?t=92
Source: https://youtu.be/mLyYzL8iyco?t=1310
accurate enough to use in FA OFF no problem and not going to break every 5 minutes like the T16000
handywork of the VKB NXT:
Last edited:
You in the UK? I'd buy off you... out of stock in the UK.
Nope. Sorry man.
I'd be tempted to make an offer, but I am waiting on the add-ons for it.
Trying to decide if my son will get my current one ( MK II with K handle ) or a new NXT.
Trying to decide if my son will get my current one ( MK II with K handle ) or a new NXT.
I would say keep the one with the old Gladiator base unless the new accessories only work with the NXT. VKB hasn't been very transparent about how the add-ons actually attach to the new base. There don't appear to be any extra connectors on the sides of the NXT and they've not shown the connection side of the add-ons.
I returned a Kosmosima grip with a Gunfighter base last year and having watched your video it was for the exact same reason that you are experiencing, the twist had a breaking force to move and then continued to judder across the range. (also agree with your opinion on the thumb hat)
In email with support (can't remember the guy's name) he explained that the Kosmosima twist design is different from most other joysticks (including others they make like the Gladiator) that rely purely on springs.
The twist is running in a v-groove, and the breaking force to get the twist to move out of the base of the groove was described as a design feature to me, (to prevent unintended inputs, something I personally have never had a problem with). He suggested that the rest of the judder could be solved by regreasing.
I couldn't get over how the breaking force felt and decided to return them because of that, I use the twist a lot and the design just doesn't suit me.
What I find strange is that the twist on the Gladiator II (which I still have but might pass on) feels great, I wish they'd kept it for the Kosmosima.
Re: comms with support, it took them a while but when I finally got through they did say that I could keep the stick for a time and still return it if I still didn't like the twist based on when I first contacted them, but like you they said I couldn't regrease and return so I chose return because I couldn't be certain I'd be left with a stick I liked.
Finally, I see you've got a CH Fighterstick, how do the hats on that compare with your NXT? For me the Kosmosima hats all felt 'floppy' in comparison.
Oh, for sure. The MK II is mine until I find something better. I was going to order another for my son, but the stopped making them. I'd by a new one again in a heartbeat, even at the $275 I spent. Anyway, VKB has been promising a throttle for a while, and we've yet to see it. so not going to hold my breath. I keep looking at the Virpil throttle and drooling, but that costs $375, plus shipping..
I think ( and I could be wrong ) that the add-ons plug into the base. My MK II has two inputs on the front marked "Pedals" and "Sys". The media also say the add-ons can be plugged in or used as a separate USB device. We'll see.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/hotas/comments/i7hdq7/vkb_gladiator_nxt_entry_level_taken_to_the_nxt/
You can buy the modules separately (Good news for me). The throttle they are showing off isn't what I'm looking for, though. I'll roll with the TWCS for a while longer I guess.
You can buy the modules separately (Good news for me). The throttle they are showing off isn't what I'm looking for, though. I'll roll with the TWCS for a while longer I guess.
The NXT hats initially felt very snug and nice, but after just shy of 2 weeks of light use they have developed a considerable amount of wiggle on them. My CH with thousands of hours still has nice snug hats. The thumb hat on the NXT was trash straight out of the box. I really want to like the NXTs as there really are no equivalent alternatives, but if I have to try to like something this hard, it isn't good.
The response I've gotten from VKB and their forums has been dirt in the face. I was told on their tech support forum that I only have an issue with twist stiction because I have lofty standards, and that the fact that both my sticks have it makes my complaint questionable . . . huh?!? When I responded that plenty of people have the same complaint, crickets! All I'd really like would be a return period extension and opportunity to see if regreasing will help so I can keep them, or have them swap the sticks for ones that don't stick. Why VKB would rather a customer walk away with a bad taste than try to correct if baffles me, but it seems they really don't want to acknowledge their product is having some production problems.
Last edited:
Yeah, now I see what support was seeing. Just return them dude. Your bias is clear, and you'll never be happy with them.