Spektrum DX3S Problems
 

I've got a Spektrum DX3S (only about 5 months old) and last night while using it I found the springs inside the steering lost all tension. Now the wheel just free spins and I can't feel when it's at neutral and I can hear something rattling inside.

After having a look at it and how it would come apart, I found that in order to fix it I would have to peel off several of the stickers and the cover over the screen just to gain access to the inside. So I've gotten in contact with Horizon Hobby, which looks to be the company that deals with all their repair and warranties, to see if it can be fixed.

I've still gotta wait for their reply but I'm just curious about the quality of the controller seeing as it's a relatively new product and already I'm having problems. :confused:

the spring just broke thats all all you have to do is take it apart and put it back on

here is a vid on how to take the radio apart that i did
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0bqD...9&feature=plcp

Where can u get that same spring?

you dont need to if you still have the spring just rebend the hook on it and your good

Thanks for the help TD!

I didn't get much luck with the warranty (Since I'm outside the US) and I didn't feel like shipping it to some other country to get repaired, so I pulled it a part and it was pretty easy to fix.

Just adding on to the video for anyone else reading this, once the controller is apart the screen must be slid out to access all three screws under the trigger (I would also recommend unscrewing the trigger too). Once you expose the spring, simply re-bend the end and re-attach it to the plastic lugs.

http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...C/78070fe8.jpg

NOTE: You will see a screw under the spring in my pic, but I found that wound all the way up, so I'm under the impression that maybe there was too much tension put on the spring while it is in use. Even to unscrew it I had a bit of trouble and had to use a vice to hold it so I didn't break any of the plastic.

It wasn't difficult, but I would recommend caution so nothing breaks.

Now try doing that at the track 10min before the first Q :lol: Not fun.

Sucks. My steering spring broke twice now. 2nd time was tonight and it was during a race! Still managed second place. I was contemplating on learning to drive it as is, but broke down and reused the broken spring. I'm sure it'll break again. This seems to be a weak spot on Spektrums. This is by the way a dx4s.

do NOT reuse the spring more than one time! it will become stiffer with each time you reuse it and if it gets too stiff, the plastic part which it hooks to will break. i recommend using a spring from a ballpen or get a new spring. (my local thundertiger shop gives them away for free)

Hi, thanks for the word of caution. I ended up using Futaba heavy duty gimbal springs. They have a slightly larger diameter and probably higher spring rate. They fit great but are a bit on the "heavy" side. A little pre-stretch fixed that. The part number is.....

FUTM3640 (3/package for < $5.00), and they seem to be readily availabe on the internet. My LHS actually had two packages in stock.....or did.

Stiffness
 

Is there anything that I can do to my DX4C to make the steering stiffer like the Traxxas transmitter? It just seems loose since I got it and I like the stiffer wheel more from Traxxas. Also, my steering wheel is cracked on it. Is there any way I can get a replacement?