Fanatec Handbrake issue - any ideas?

[NoshDaMinsk 0]

Got a problem with my Fanatec handbrake - and this problem only exists with Dirt Rally. Happens when I either start a new leg of a Rally or when I restart the game.....

I created a video to show the problems - sorry about the camera work etc - just wanted to give you peeps a flavour of what I am seeing / getting.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cmpUwf0LFw

Anyone got / solved this issue?

I love this game, but this is spoiling the experience for me...... :(

Thanks in advance
Nosh.

[Carson79 0]

Mate I have the same issue. 

I believe it might be the tactiles fault. Check all your connections. After watching your video I checked mine and the cable that goes into the HB wasn't all the way in.

I get pedal spiking in other sims as well which only happens with the tactile on. I've two clarks attached to the pedal mount. I unplug the usb thats connected to the pedals, plug back in again and all works perfectly.

[NoshDaMinsk 0]

Carson79 said:

Mate I have the same issue. 

I believe it might be the tactiles fault. Check all your connections. 

It happens when the shakers are off - some other advice I have recieved is that it is a grounding issue.

I have remounted the handrake on wood - still the same problem.

Nosh

[ADSTA68 0]

NoshDaMinsk said:

 some other advice I have recieved is that it is a grounding issue.

I have remounted the handrake on wood - still the same problem.

Nosh

I was hoping to do some testing of your 75% problem but....... :s
I used to have a MDF/timber cockpit and no handbrake problems, I have just built a new cockpit using aluminium profile and got hit with the grounding problem.
I ended up getting it working by removing the two screws holding the input jack bracket and having that bracket floating with no contact to the body.
But, me being me, couldn't leave it alone and soon the earth wire broke off from the input jack. :*

Now during all my fiddling around the last few minutes the handbrake was reaching only 75%.
This was all done on desktop viewing the game controller window, I never started Dirt Rally up.

Anyway, out with the solder iron tomorrow.
I have the Fanatec USB adaptor box and I'm half thinking of removing the RJ12 socket from the adaptors circuit board and soldering a cable from the circuit board straight to the handbrakes potentiometer eliminating any joins.
Realistically though I'll first solder on a new better insulated 3.5mm socket and hopefully that will fix my problems.

I'll report back tomorrow with my test results after it's fixed.  B)

edit: I forgot to mention I also have 4x shakers controlled by Simvibe.

[NoshDaMinsk 0]

ADSTA68 said:

NoshDaMinsk said:

 some other advice I have recieved is that it is a grounding issue.

I have remounted the handrake on wood - still the same problem.

Nosh

I ended up getting it working by removing the two screws holding the input jack bracket and having that bracket floating with no contact to the body.

Interesting......Mmmmmmmm

I may try this.....

Nosh

[NoshDaMinsk 0]

......and that doesn't work.....
Darn it....

[ADSTA68 0]

Ok, I'm back, later than planned because I'm still on the holiday time warp infused with beer and rum. :D

As I mentioned I broke the earth wire on the handbrake's 3.5mm socket:


This handbrake is known for earth issues when mounted on steel/alum frames.
Golf clap to Fanatec. Bravo chaps, keep up the good work!  :s 
The solution is either isolate the whole handbrake from the frame or isolate the 3.5mm jack from the handbrake.
My decision was quite obvious:

I didn't put the metal bracket the original socket mounted to back in. The new socket sits through the exterior cover enough to hold while plugging the cable in.
Bolted the handbrake back on the alum cockpit, plugged the lead into the Fanatec USB adaptor and she works a treat.
In fact I think it's better than ever.
Using the Windows Game Controller it always seemed a bit jumpy and hesitant even on my old timber cockpit.
Now it's smooth as silk.

Next was to see if I had the 75% problem.
I have a fourth monitor so I kept the Game Controller window open in it and played Dirt Rally for a solid hour.
Completed stages, restarted stages mid stage and at the completion, did the two daily events, restarted the game,Steam and the PC randomly.
I didn't have one instance of the 75% problem.
It did however, quite often, only go to around 90-95% if not firmly pulled to the end of the handbrake's travel and sometimes only returned to around 5% instead of 0%.

I then tried some adjusting:

First I tightened and loosened the nut at the green arrow.
That didn't fix it.
I then removed the green arrow nut, washer and rubber block to reveal the red arrow shaft.
5 minutes of trial and error of turning the shaft and the nut in or out has now given me a handbrake that always goes to 100% and returns to 0%.

I know you said your problem only happens in Dirt Rally but I wouldn't rule out a combination of the crappy 3.5mm socket Fanatec use, bad earthing and some fine tuning.
As I mentioned earlier I briefly had the 75% problem during the end of my original troubleshooting and that wasn't in-game.

Good luck with your problems gents, keep us informed of your progress.

[NoshDaMinsk 0]

Good luck with your problems gents, keep us informed of your progress.

I need to know which wires go on what for the new jack plug I got - can you help?

Cheers
Nosh

[ADSTA68 0]

Sorry Nosh, any pics I took are deleted and written notes are in landfill by now.

I do remember the white wire is the earth wire, the red and black go to the two terminal lugs on the new plug.
Looking at my pic above of the original plug it looks like the red wire is further towards the top which would make it the tip and the black would be the ring with white the sleeve, Tip Ring Sleeve TRS
If you have a multimeter you can then find out which terminal is the tip and ring.

[Carson79 0]

Yeah after more testing the problem was happening without tactile turned on. 
Mine is a timber/mdf rig. Not had much time on it since my last post to find a solution.  
Thanks Adsta for all your info, I'll try adjusting the travel and maybe get a the USB adapter 

[NoshDaMinsk 0]

OK, so after fitting a newer plugin socket clear of the unit, I still have the 75% issue.

No earthing issues etc

Ordered a USB lead - trouble is.......when plugged in, the USB game controllers show it as it is in shifter mode - I cannot change it, I have downloaded and installed the latest drivers.....

What gives?

Please help me before I smash it to bits with a large hammer...
Thank you
Nosh

[NoshDaMinsk 0]

OK - all sorted.
Installed the earliest drivers I could find and tyhen suddenly have handbrake mode - no further issues with 75% and all good!!

Cheers
Nosh

[Carson79 0]

What driver Nosh, the wheel driver?  
Thanks mate

[NoshDaMinsk 0]

Carson79 said:

What driver Nosh, the wheel driver?  
Thanks mate

I think it was....

Un-installed all Fanatec gear first, ran CC Cleaner to clean registry, then downloaded and ran the following files in the order below:-

Fanatec_64_driver_219.zip
Fanatec_64_driver_226.zip
Fanatec_64_driver_231.zip

Then I could see the handbrake mode in the set up.....works great in Dirt Rally now - no more issues

Good luck!
Nosh

[Carson79 0]

Thanks again, I'll try that tomorrow and have a day in the rig!

Cheers

[NoshDaMinsk 0]

Carson79 said:

Thanks again, I'll try that tomorrow and have a day in the rig!

Cheers

Check the handbrake when you put the earliest driver in - I did this first - worked for me.

Then installed the next two.

Nosh

[Carson79 0]

Just wanted to let you know it seems to have worked! Thanks Nosh!

What I will say is the placement of the HB seems to have an affect also. It needs to be pulled straight back which can be tricky, as theirs a bit of flex in it.
Ive made a new mounting bracket and moved it closer to the wheel. Much better, same can't be said about my rally driving  :D

[NoshDaMinsk 0]

Hey Carson - Excellent news!!

I really , REALLY like the handbrake - and it transforms the game for me - how on earth I used to used a paddle to do this on the wheel, I will never know!

Nosh

[BADEXAMPLE01 0]

Just bought this handbrake from Fanatec.. It is my first time with Fanatec and the last. The handbrake only works if I am lucky. Been installing/uninstalling the softwares. Tried every usb ports.. It is probably the cheap 3.5 mm jack connector or the potentiometer itself.  Anybody here knows if we can purchase replacements parts from Fanatec? RMA is not my thing. The mechanical and electronic is so simple into this unit even a drunk monkey can put it together. What is the color code for the 3 wires that goes to the connector from the sensor?Anybody knows? :)

[ADSTA68 0]

BADEXAMPLE01 said:

 The mechanical and electronic is so simple into this unit even a drunk monkey can put it together. What is the color code for the 3 wires that goes to the connector from the sensor?Anybody knows? :)

Maybe ask the drunk monkey. :p