I’ve been using TCA Boeing Throttle Quadrant for the last 6 months. Recently i realized that my reverse thrust was not working, then i also realized my TOGA button stopped working. I tried calibrating it via Windows and as stated on hardware manual but no luck. Windows recognize the device all the buttons except TOGA and Thrust Reversers work. I cannot bind them to anything as when i use them it acts like nothing is pushed/used. Anyone has any idea or had similar experience?
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Yes.
I discovered that swapping around the levers on the quadrant for different configurations, was damaging the terminals inside the lever.
Essentially, due to the tight fit, pulling the throttle lever off took some force. As such, the terminal “fingers” inside the removable lever’s base would “catch” on the plastic raised edge on the tip of the stub lever just above the circuit board’s contacts. This caused the fingers to be back-bent, ultimately shearing them off. I found a couple of the sheared off fingers sitting nearby on my desk. I’d actually seen one fall out of the lever as I got it off the stub lever.
The net result: dead TA/GO button and dead reverse levers.
I carefully documented these issues and recommended to Thrustmaster that a future revision to their product eliminate the raised plastic edge on the stub lever.
They were kind enough to send me a set of replacement levers. However, I’ve been highly reluctant to remove them. I have a set of 3D-printed GA levers that I like using with the GA aircraft I so frequently fly. The one time I removed the Thrustmaster throttle levers, I very carefully removed them to, hopefully, prevent a repeat of the product’s design defect ending in tears.
Using a flashlight, look into the opening of the throttle lever when you have it off the base. You’re looking for some copper terminal fingers to be present. If you can’t see them, they are probably broken off. There should be three.
See if you can get anywhere with Thrustmaster. As I said, I did and I was out of warranty and they sent me a replacement set anyhow. Again, though, I clearly showed how their engineering was causing the issue.
Good luck.
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Thanks for your reply, i was assuming that something was broken inside so that unfortunately confirmed my fears now. I am going to try searching for those fingers. The cables connected to the levers were so exposed and that was my concern since the beginning. I will check if i can reach out to Thrustmaster about this issue.
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