TPR Rudder spring mounting bolts and thumb nuts source? (TM Support FAIL)
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Since apparently Thrustmaster can’t get me this mounting hardware, just checking if anybody here has any ideas on a source for these before I spend some time on a Dremel and drill press with some more common bolts. I’ve looked at industrial hardware sites like McMaster Carr and can’t find these off the shelf.
I bought the pedals used with only one spring instead of 2, the previous owner lost the hardware. TM did get me replacement springs but the bolts and nuts are not in their replacement part system.
Needed hardware, the eyebolts would be the ones I would most like to find, I don’t really need the thumb nuts:
Hardware with spring:
Current spring mounted (comes with two for heavier resistance):
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Snake - I would think a simple double-nutted bolt (nut on each side of the bracket to lock it) with a hole in it for the spring would work well, plus allow for some pre-tension adjustment. Like these
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Snake - I would think a simple double-nutted bolt (nut on each side of the bracket to lock it) with a hole in it for the spring would work well, plus allow for some pre-tension adjustment. Like these
Thanks Icer, that’s a good idea! Two minor issues as I see it that would probably be ok sacrifices. I would have to grab a wrench for adjustment to slide them up and down in the fine tuning allowed by the vertical channel in the bracket. Also to prevent spring twist on bolt removal I could unhook the spring with a dental pick or something. But I don’t ever see myself removing both springs, possibly one just one. So that could be my permanently installed spring.
I already have this mocked up where I plan to shave down the flats of the thumbscrews to get the needed distance for the spring and drill a hole in the area that is left. Wingnuts will hopefully allow for toolless adjustment:
I’m trying to save the time (which your solution would be quicker than mine) and overcome my annoyance with TM Support by finding what they can’t replace But I guess that they are pretty custom fasteners since we can’t find them.
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Thanks Icer, that’s a good idea! Two minor issues as I see it that would probably be ok sacrifices. I would have to grab a wrench for adjustment to slide them up and down in the fine tuning allowed by the vertical channel in the bracket. Also to prevent spring twist on bolt removal I could unhook the spring with a dental pick or something. But I don’t ever see myself removing both springs, possibly one just one. So that could be my permanently installed spring.
I already have this mocked up where I plan to shave down the flats of the thumbscrews to get the needed distance for the spring and drill a hole in the area that is left. Wingnuts will hopefully allow for toolless adjustment:
I’m trying to save the time (which your solution would be quicker than mine) and overcome my annoyance with TM Support by finding what they can’t replace But I guess that they are pretty custom fasteners since we can’t find them.
I would lock one side down (hand tight is plenty), attach the spring to it and the other side’s bolt and the grab the loose bolt (inside nut way down by the spring hole) with a pair of Channel-lock pliers, pull to pre-tension a bit, then hand tighten the two nuts in place. The spring tension will be enough for it not to move… done!