VIRPIL Quality Control

With reviews of VIRPIL equipment, I bought a WarBird base and VFX grip with a 200mm extension without any hesitation. The pricing would also indicate to some that their products would be of the highest manufacturing quality. Sadly I’m about to be on my third VFX grip in only a month of getting the first. Does VIRPIL have any quality control? It’s rather embarrassing and frustrating to have button stop working after only a week of use. I would advise VIRPIL that they further test anything before sending. As when my sencond grip arrived immediately the DLC thumb wheel was sticky and would get stuck forward and aft. Now it’s completely inoperable.

From what i read i guess VIRPIL has become a victim of it's own success.

They hardly can keep up demand which result in rushing everything out once it comes of the small production line. Too bad (but i like my WarBRD base very much)

From what i read i guess VIRPIL has become a victim of it's own success.

They hardly can keep up demand which result in rushing everything out once it comes of the small production line. Too bad (but i like my WarBRD base very much)

I completely agree, I also love my WarBRD base, which is why it's very frustrating that they have dropped the ball in other areas.

Well, I have bought 4 Virpil products - 2xWarBRD bases, Alpha grip, CM2 throttle - recently, and have had no issues.

I had a quality issue on a WarBRD grip that I owned: a small thing. Just a stripped thread and bolt causing the trigger to come loose. Pretty unimpressed by their lack of quality control.

However, to their credit, Virpil's customer service people were very responsive to send out replacement parts at their cost so that I could fix the problem. No more than they should have done. But they did it, so fair is fair.

I have - however - sold all my Virpil gear. I am switching to VKB / Thrustmaster.

I had a spiking z axis on my Mongoos throttle and also to Virpils CS credit, they sent out the parts so I could fix the issue....I also found stripped threads in the grips when I pulled it apart tho.

And as above, I've sold all my Virpil gear for a full Winwing setup....couldn't be happier.

I own 6 virpil products between 2 orders

2 out of 6 were faulty out of the box

I repaired one fault myself

in Virpils defence, the other issue was sorted out within 3 weeks

They do have some work to do. Quality parts or quality design does not equate to quality assurance/control.

I have the original T-50 base, WarBRD base, CM grip, CM2 grip, VFX grip, original extension set, s-curve extension, and CM2 throttle.

I have only had 1 issue with the T-50 base that was resolved by opening it up and tightening a specific screw that had come loose after using it for more than a year. All it took was a quick email exchange with Virpil support.

I have read a lot of horror stories from other customers, and I am not trying to downplay their experiences. I am just pointing out that those with zero (or a 1-off minor issue) rarely post giving the impression quality control is worse than it really is.

I have the original T-50 base, WarBRD base, CM grip, CM2 grip, VFX grip, original extension set, s-curve extension, and CM2 throttle.

 

I have only had 1 issue with the T-50 base that was resolved by opening it up and tightening a specific screw that had come loose after using it for more than a year. All it took was a quick email exchange with Virpil support.

 

I have read a lot of horror stories from other customers, and I am not trying to downplay their experiences. I am just pointing out that those with zero (or a 1-off minor issue) rarely post giving the impression quality control is worse than it really is.

I have the original T-50 base as well. I had dealings with support on it, and CYPH3R was always a tremendous help. He used to post on these forums also.

Have not used it in quite a while now, but since his departure I could see support maybe going backwards a little. He was a great asset for their company.

I am just pointing out that those with zero (or a 1-off minor issue) rarely post giving the impression quality control is worse than it really is.

That may be true for mass produced products like Logitech and Thrustmaster but not for boutique products like this and I don't think it's a stretch to say most Virpil owners even read and post on either the IL2 or DCS forums or both. These are unique low production number products. The average consumer of "joysticks" hasn't even heard of Virpil, VKB, Winging, etc.

Lets see, T-50 base and grip for 2.5 years, only recently experienced the loss of one button on the grip (Top right side rocker). T-50 throttle 2 years and no issues what so ever. I may have just got lucky, but I'm still happy with my purchases. Recently rec'd a T-50cm2 grip and so far, so good. Will either send original grip back for repair, or ask them for a replacement button, and keep it as a back-up.

I have the original T-50 base as well. I had dealings with support on it, and CYPH3R was always a tremendous help. He used to post on these forums also.

Have not used it in quite a while now, but since his departure I could see support maybe going backwards a little. He was a great asset for their company.

AFAIK, Cypher is back active...

From more research I've found that the V.F.X grip is plagued with problems and I'm far from the only one it seems. Such a shame that it doesn't seem to be in line with their other products.

The weapon selector switch is difficult to engineer and seems to be the cause of most problems. That is why I am going the VKB route, even though that has minor functional limitations it seems much better engineered.

From more research I've found that the V.F.X grip is plagued with problems and I'm far from the only one it seems. Such a shame that it doesn't seem to be in line with their other products.

I had some issues with my VFX grip as well, when I first got it, the set screw to lock the twist function was impossibly tight. No matter what I tried I couldn't get it to seat in far enough to "lock" the twist. Quick PM/ticket to Virpil, told me how to easily disassemble the stick, and that was it, there was just a bit of extra material that was keeping the set screw from going in all the way. Luckily I didn't strip or cross thread it.

This and the flip down trigger on my first gen T50 stick stopped working, but then started working again about a day after I put a ticket in, and it's been fine ever since.

3 Warbrd bases, 2 T50 bases, 2 T50CM2 bases, 2 T50 throttles, 2 T50CM2 throttles, 2 Delta grips, 1 Alpha-R (otw), 2 T50CM2 grips, 1 T50 grip, 2 VFX grips, 1 Warbrd grips, 1 Ace-1 pedal, 1 Ace-2 pedals, 3 of the first gen desk mounts (short). Consider myself to be pretty satisfied with QC so far, very reliable and solid products on my end. Yes, I realize that others can and will have issues - example, most MonsterTech mounts customers rave about their stuff, while I've had nothing but headaches, missing parts, etc with their 4 desk mounts and various accessories. It happens, but considering how new Virpil is, and just how rapid (explosive) their popularity and subsequent growth have been, IMO they are doing an incredible job.

I’m with gman109. I’ve bought a lot of Virpil gear with no issues.

I keep saying that I am impressed by the variety of equipment they offer.

I kind of wish they just stay with sticks and throttles until they are perfected. There are already a good variety of rudder pedals out there. Just my two cents.

I like Virpil stuff, I think it is good well design kit ...... but QA ....

First video I made on Virpil was showing how to open and repair a brand new grip that arived faulty

1 x Faulty switch on grip

1 x faulty USB cable on throttle

order 1

1 x faulty spring for CM2 base

order 2

These faults would not have arrived to a customer if QA was being done correctly

I would love to see how their QA is set-up, from working in the Electronics Industry

for over 25 years I have seen how companies do it right

Last fall I decided I wanted to take the plunge and upgrade my HOTAS from my 6yr old X55.

It was still working but the joystick never felt precise to me especially when flying Helicopters.

I took the plunge and bought my first Virpil product which was over twice the price of my X55 once it was shipped and customs was added. It felt great and I was very very pleased with the product.

A year later, I'm now experiencing my second problem with Virpil gear. I have owned the WarBrd base and MongoosT-50CM2 grip for the past year and it is mounted on a Monstertech mount. I have only the one grip so it never gets removed from the base. It has less than 100 hrs of use and has suddenly lost all button control. When in the Joystick Tester software the buttons will only activate if the stick is pushed forward or up to the left or right. If you let the joystick return to center of pull it back you have no buttons that activate. I've been waiting on a reply to my support ticket.

In the spring of this year I received a new MongoosT-50CM2 throttle. Again, I was very impressed with the unit which was replacing the old X55 throttle. Unfortunately It had a defective button out of the box that would stick in the down position constantly. Virpil eventually sent me a new button to install but it took weeks to sort out and just short of 2 months to receive.

After reading a Reddit post from 9 months ago explaining the exact same issue I'm having with my stick, it appears there is a known problem with a cable breaking inside the unit. I'm not sure if the cable is in the base or the stick. I'm quite concerned this is going to be another long term issue to get fixed. I had little time to use the new equipment until now that I've retired and was looking forward to spending hundreds of hours in DCS. I hope there is a simple answer that doesn't involve another 2 month wait for a fix. I really hate going back to the X55 stick.

It has less than 100 hrs of use and has suddenly lost all button control. When in the Joystick Tester software the buttons will only activate if the stick is pushed forward or up to the left or right. If you let the joystick return to center of pull it back you have no buttons that activate. I've been waiting on a reply to my support ticket.

Virpil advised this morning that a new cable is being shipped out today. I'm very pleased with the quick customer service this time around. I really hate having to use the old X55 again.

That is great news. Unfortunately the postal system takes time, but this isn't their fault. I had similar very positive response from Virpil when I experienced a problem.

I received my WarBRD base and grip today and unfortunately, it came with some issues. The trigger is very rough and sticks when not released quickly enough. The hat is very imprecise, I get one of the diagonal inputs 50% of the time I pull the hat down. I'm frankly disappointed by the lack of quality of this stick.

I had a similar issue with the trigger on my Alpha. A simple loosening of the trigger bolt resolved it.

even though that has minor functional limitations it seems much better engineered.

What is that minor limitation?