paperboy-inconsistent forward speed, pot replacement?

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paperboy-inconsistent forward speed, pot replacement?

My paperboy is working well (now that I fixed the monitor), though it has 1 lingering issue.

When I push forward on the handlebars it's 50/50 if it's going to have the speed it's supposed to have, or just run at normal speed.

I suppose I can open her up and clean the pot, but if someone knows the value of the pot and where to get it, I would prefer to replace it.
 
If it seems like you can get proper speed occasionally, then its the pot or bad gear.

If you think its never getting to full speed, then it could be 1 tooth off..

Its usually a bad pot. Ram controls used to be a good place to get them(not anymore). Now, I think your only choice is is videogameparts.
 
if you aren't sure about the pot, try turning it with your hand when the game is on to see if paperboy speeds up and slows. If not then I would imagine its a bad pot.
 
if you aren't sure about the pot, try turning it with your hand when the game is on to see if paperboy speeds up and slows. If not then I would imagine its a bad pot.

The pot definitely works, but intermittently. Maybe a good cleaning or dis-assembly will help.


yes. champ sprint pedals, paperboy, hydra, road blasters, road riot, star wars ect all use the same pots.

thanks, I have a star wars yoke rebuild kit, so I make yank a pot if necessary.
 
The pot is good as far as I can tell, when I partially disassembled the controls I can see that there are a few slightly worn down teeth on the big wheel of the handlebars. It would seem to me that removing/sliding the big wheel and moving it an inch or two would allow me to use the other teeth that aren't really used and have zero wear.

Does anyone have any experience removing or loosening the big wheel of gear teeth?

Worth noting is the fact that when I push forward for speed I can slightly move the pot with the small gears on it that would effectively make it go faster. Hence my intermittent ability to go faster. When I pull back or put on the breaks there is no play as the 2 sets of gear teeth are engaged.


edit:
I found the manual online, looks like a pain in the ass, but it has to be done.
 
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Have you went into test mode and checked the pots in there? I know there is a test and there may be a calibration mode in there. Its been a while since I looked at one but its worth checking out.
The handlebar assembly is pretty easy to take apart, dont sweat it.
 
glad to know it's not that bad to take apart.

I went into test mode at some point, and it had readings.

This thing does have perfect high forward speed sometimes. By having the control panel apart and out and seeing the 'play' and lack of stability between the 2 gears when pushed forward, as well as the worn down teeth, give me great confidence that I just need to rotate the large gear into a position where some unworn teeth meet with the smaller gear. Part of what gives me that confidence is when I have it pulled backwards to put on the paperboys breaks, there are no worn teeth and there is no play, and the gears have great stability.
 
So I tested out my speed pot manually like JCterzin mentioned and that was my problem. The teeth were misaligned so the pot never turned fully. So the original pots are still ok!!
 
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