Potentiometer issue DX6i

[Håkan Kristiansson]

Hello!

I have two DX6i. One of those recently got an issue with the rudder stick. After some research I'm 100% sure this is due to an issue with the potentiometer itself. This DX6i was not listed in the bulletin as one of the affected ones. The transmitter is 3 years old by now. I was thinking of replacing the potentiometer, all four of them actually but can't find any replacements. I have contacted Horizon through their web page but it seems like I just throw a web submission into a black hole. no response at all. I really don't want to send the transmitter as the cost for the transportation will probably cost half of a new one. (I'm living in Sweden) So the question is, has anyone been able to buy new potentiometers somewhere and can share where it was bought?

Thanks in advance!

/Håkan

[Hamish]

Hello Håkan. I damaged a pot on my DX6i and asked Horizon for a replacement who stated " it would have to come in for inspection, repair and return" Cost about £8 to post. Report on return indicated "replace and re-calibrate" which suggests its not so straight forward although worth a try if you can get the pot.

 

I have found that the service provided by Horizon excellent as they appear not to charge for repairs so am a bit disappointed with the service you have had

[Håkan Kristiansson]

Thanks for your reply Hamish. As for the calibration part the instructions is actually available on the web. (RC Groups). Let's see if someone shows up here who know where to get the pot or I make a new try contacting Horizon.

/Håkan

[Allan Bowker]

I have also had no response from emailing Horizon Hobby UK through their website but have had fantastic service when calling them on the telephone to organise repairs. I have had about 5 seperate repairs now of various TX/RX radio gear and have never been charged once. They have returned items to me within the week at all times, I can't fault them really.

 

I would telephone them, post if via a secure courier (tracked & insured) and I'm confident that Horizon Hobby UK would give you excellent service.

 

Is there no Horizon Hobby for your country?

Edited By Allan Bowker on 13/05/2011 14:49:43

[Håkan Kristiansson]

Unfortunately no Horizon Hobby over here. Horizon Hobby UK is the European contact.

FedEx one way is £79 that's why I rather go for replacing the pots by myself although they might do it for free. On top of that both my DX6i was bought second hand and I very much doubt I will get the hands of the original receipts to be able to have the local dealer send them for me. And of course the turn around time for that I don't even want to think about

/Håkan

 

[Tom Wright 2]

I have found that a squirt of Servisol switch cleaner directed into the pot does the trick unless you are a 3D fly-er i doubt if the pot is worn out.

 

Tom.

[Allan Bowker]

Yes courier costs may be a problem, try www.parcel2go.co.uk they are very competitive and I have used them many times (they accept PayPal payments too).

 

Don't worry about receipts Horizon Hobby have never asked me for any proof of purchase. On one occasion I told them I had purchased an item second hand in a broken state and they still repaired it.

 

How about asking the service centre guys if they could post you a couple of pots?

 

They did this for me when a switch on a DX7 got snapped off.

They really are very good.

Edited By Allan Bowker on 13/05/2011 15:14:49

[Håkan Kristiansson]

Tom. After some testing I think the issue is more of a faulty connection between potentiometer track and connecting pad. See photo http://c.wrzuta.pl/wi16748/b6ce45860028af8049365edc/0/poti_przed_naprawa As such I don't think Servisol cleaner will help. At least not in the long run. It could be worth a try though. But when I first noticed the issue I was in the air and the rudder got stuck more or less in the end position. Not a funny experience I don't want that to happen again. Thanks for your suggestion anyway.

Allan, I will check parcel2go when I get access. (It seems to be some issue with the site at the very moment)

/Håkan

 

[Frank Skilbeck]

Don't Horizon have a branch in Germany now, that might be a cheaper option from Sweden.

 

Also could you not just measure the resistance across the potentiometer and then see what is similar.

[Håkan Kristiansson]

I don't think the difference in price between Sweden and UK vs Germany differ that much but indeed it looks like they are represented there as well.

 

As for the electrical characteristic and the physical measurements I have them. But I can't find that pot anywhere.

 

/Håkan

[Allan Bowker]

I think your most cost efficient solution would be to phone the guys in the HHUK service centre and get them to post you a couple of potentiometers from a scrapped DX6i.

 

They did this with a broken DX7 toggle switch for me to fit myself.

[Håkan Kristiansson]

Thanks Allan.

 

I have just sent an email to order at Horizon refering to the bulletin and the recall asking for my options. Let's see if they answer next week or I give them a call.

 

/Håkan

[Allan Bowker]

Any luck with a solution Håkan ?

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

Another thought - DX6's are quite cheap on ebay at the moment, what about buying a second hand one and either using that or taking the pots out of it depending on its condition. Got to be cheaper tha £79 one way courier - you could buy a new DX6 for that!

 

BEB

[Steve W-O]

Posted by H�kan Kristiansson on 14/05/2011 08:12:57:

 

As for the electrical characteristic and the physical measurements I have them. But I can't find that pot anywhere.

 

/Håkan

 

 

 

I don't think anyone could help you find them unless you share that info

[Richard Wood]

Did you manage to resolve this Haykan?

 

In my experience Horizon Hobby UK cannot get hold of replacement

pots for the DX6i.

My DX6i was with them for a couple of months to replace the elevator

pot & they eventually sent a replacement TX after quite a bit of chasing.

 

Buying a second hand one for spares as stated may well be the quickest

way of getting yours working, unless HH send you a new Tx as well

of course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tom Wright 2]

Hakan.

 

I Don't have a tx the same as yours ,but if the the pot wires are disconnected and a resistance measurement is taken across the outer pins this will give the pot value ,the shaft diameter should also be checked ,the only other thing is it linear or logarithmic all the ones i have checked have been linear .

Then check out CPC or Radio Spares they should have what you want ,but you will have to cut the shaft down to suit.

All this assumes its the pot that's faulty ,i have never managed to wear a pot out even on my cheap sets.

[Allan Bowker]

I found another broken switch on a DX6i this weekend.

 

I phoned their repairs department today and they are sending me a switch from a scrapped DX6i, free of charge. This is the second time I have done this.

 

I can't see why they couldn't do this with the pots, I'm sure they would.

[Håkan Kristiansson]

Sorry for not updating you for awhile. The story so far, Horizon UK refuses to send me any pots. on top of that there is no "Return Warranty" (i.e. it's not covered by whats out in the bulletin). They claim they need to do the repair and calibration themself.

 

"I have spoken to our service department and to make sure they are correct and working properly the radios would have to be returned here as any work on gimbals etc needs to be re-calibrated here before being safe to use."

I save you my thoughts I have about that for the time being.

 

I have tried to get the hands of replacement pot's by myself. But I start to believe they are OEM to Spectrum. My last finding was that they uses only 60 degrees of the throw

which makes them more or less unique.

 

Meanwhile I bought a new DX6i DSM-X. (I can't help loving those transmitters despite all)

 

I might just keep it for now and it might become handy as a donor transmitter keeping the other two in shape..

 

/Håkan

 

 

 

[Allan Bowker]

Sorry to read about your problem Håkan, that's a real shame.

 

I can see both sides here though, Horizon Hobby are being responsible by making sure that equipment is safe to use, however it's very frustrating for someone outside of the UK that needs to cover the postal costs, making a repair too costly.

 

If Spektrum want to sell more in Europe I think they should help on postage costs, perhaps if the owners of Horizon Hobby (US?) could offer a subsidised courier service to non-UK based customers in Europe.