Heusinkveld Sim Pedals Sprint Interview and First Impressions

[Paul Jeffrey]

We talk to Niels Heusinkveld and try out the soon to be released Heusinkveld Sim Pedals Sprint.

Catching up with Niels Heusinkveld at the recent very busy Sim Racing Expo over in Germany, we took the opportunity to quiz the man behind Heusinkveld Engineering about his newly announced Sim Pedals Sprint set of high end sim racing pedals. With Niels in a buoyant mood following what appeared to be a largely very positive reception to the new hardware, we took the opportunity to question him about the features and improvements of the new gear, learning plenty about how some dramatic software features and production improvements have moved the product range on from the already very impressive offerings of HE Engineering.

Not content with merely taking Niels at his word, we also couldn't quite resist the chance to get strapped into the cockpit and have a go ourselves, recording a short but sweet talk and drive segment as we give our first impressions based on the limited time we had with these brand new set of pedals.

Frankly, I was very impressed, although it is exceptionally hard to gather any serious kind of feel with something like a high end set of pedals with such a short period of time behind the wheel... not helped any by a crowd of people watching on, and a camera and microphone in my face!

However, with that said I'm going to be lucky enough to take receipt of a review set of these pedals in the very near future, so please consider this more of a taster video, with a much more in depth and detailed look at the HE Sim Pedals Sprint set to appear on our various social media channels in the near future. So stay tuned, get subscribed and watch out for some new footage in the (hopefully) coming weeks...

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[Soulstoner]

I signed up for UPS Quantum and looked to see if I had a shipment coming to me. It's free to setup. It shows me the calendar view I showed above in post #213 with all scheduled deliveries to me without my having to give it a tracking #.

This morning it arrived at my local UPS delivery station at 6:46AM and it went out for deliver at 8:14AM this morning. I may see it by lunch.

What's even worse is that I just got an email that allows me to click on a map to see where the delivery truck is. It looks like it is still at the UPS facility.

Next we'll have drones with a camera view so you can see them flying to your house

View attachment 303029

With the amount of detail you're feeding us regarding the shipment of these pedals, I expect a full position paper outlining your experience with them when they arrive

 

[manc0ntr0]

Thanks for the info @RCHeliguy
I'm already registered. For now, no info about any shipment to my home. Let's see.

 

[RCHeliguy]

With the amount of detail you're feeding us regarding the shipment of these pedals, I expect a full position paper outlining your experience with them when they arrive

LOL! Sorry, couldn't resist. Yeah, I'll definitely share my impressions once I get them setup

 

[Elaphe]

mod-edit: please post in English

 

[RCHeliguy]

Elaphe, just twist that knife!

I hope to get started installing them tomorrow.
The one question I asked and never got an answer to. Yes the clutch mechanics feel better!
No one ever seems to care about the clutch, and it was something I actually wanted to feel right. I can't be the only one who has driven many manual cars and wants to feel a reasonable let off in the sim.

 

[feher_90]

I built them yesterday, the build quality is incredible, it allows you to adjust any position and it is easy to find yourself comfortable with them, the feel of the clutch seems to me better than that of my old fanatec v3, it feels more realistic.

The brake however, I have it adjusted in the softest position, and even so the first course, it seems too hard, I think I will replace the original spring with a bit longer and softer, so that the first ride be softer before reaching the rubber blocks. NWS already has a similar mod for the heusinkveld pro. I will post some pictures this afternoon.

 

[manc0ntr0]

mod-edit: please post in English

 

[Enzo Fazzi]

I built them yesterday, the build quality is incredible, it allows you to adjust any position and it is easy to find yourself comfortable with them, the feel of the clutch seems to me better than that of my old fanatec v3, it feels more realistic.

The brake however, I have it adjusted in the softest position, and even so the first course, it seems too hard, I think I will replace the original spring with a bit longer and softer, so that the first ride be softer before reaching the rubber blocks. NWS already has a similar mod for the heusinkveld pro. I will post some pictures this afternoon.

Is it even too hard with the softest rubber combination? M + XL? Also keep in mind that changing the spring only changes the "pad to disc" feel and braking itself won't actually be softer.

 

[Elaphe]

I'm going to design something like this for my brake pedal. I think I will have better feel with a more curved and rugged surface. I will also make the pad 2 cm wider.

 

[feher_90]

@Enzo Fazzi The combination M + XL is fine for me, the problem is the initial travel of the spring, which simulates the contact of the brake pads with the disc, is too short and hard for me, so I want to replace the spring with another 30mm long and a little softer

 

[Enzo Fazzi]

@Enzo Fazzi The combination M + XL is fine for me, the problem is the initial travel of the spring, which simulates the contact of the brake pads with the disc, is too short and hard for me, so I want to replace the spring with another 30mm long and a little softer

Have you adjusted the preload?

 

[feher_90]

@Enzo Fazzi
Yes, I adjusted the preload at the least stressed point, but still the tour is still too short for me, I need something more like this

 

[RCHeliguy]

Before:

The 1/4" thick transducer foot plate has some range of motion up and down. For now I left it as it was.
Note: The 16mm 5mm bolts to secure the pedals required 2 washers so they didn't hit the bottom of the channel.
I may get some counter sunk bolts and drill bevels to get the bolts flush on the foot plate, but that would be for cosmetics only, they are not in my way at all.

Installed in approximately the same position/spacing as my last pedals to start with all stock settings.
The clutch does have a good feel to it installed. I LIKE the feel of the brake. Remember this is not about travel it's about modulating pressure. I'm going to leave it be for now.

Before I start moving the pedals around and experimenting with all kinds of settings, I want to use them in their stock settings for a while to get used to them. I'm assuming that Heusinkveld has these default settings as a good middle of the road feeling that they consider a good starting point that many people would like.

It think people need to remember that these are supposed to feel different. Heusinkveld has been designing pedals for professional simulator systems for a while and brakes in real race cars do not have a lot of travel.

My guess is that their sudden success with the Sprint pedals means that a lot of people who are used to simming in socks instead of driving shoes are picking these pedals up just because everyone else is doing it.

I'm not trying to cast stones at anyone. I'm just going to suggest that people use them for a little while before going nuts changing their setup.

I suspect I may move the pedals sideways a bit to taste and I may tilt them forward a bit and I may tweak a few things, but I want a good reference point and I know that I may change my mind about what I want to change after getting used to them a bit.

 

[RCHeliguy]

Loving the Handbrake too.
It has a good feel to it, and the way the handle adjusts gives me more clearance with the H pattern shifter. It feels much more solid and I'm sure the load cell will be a lot more robust than the potentiometer on the on the Fanatec that didn't handle transducers well at all. It's positioned really well.

 

[RCHeliguy]

The sequential shifter on the other hand... What a fiddly little thing it is. Out of the box it only shifted in one direction which I still haven't resolved. I assume I'll need to loosen the bolt on the side bearings a bit. I've heard there is very little range to adjust that and I hope to get it working. Just taking the side bolts out to attach the bracket is a real exercise, because once the side bolts are out on one side it all comes apart and getting all the little pieces back together is a chore. I'm going to add some gray window sealant to help hold things in place.
Edit: Great support below and problem resolved in seconds.

 

[White Hawk]

Before:
View attachment 303140
The 1/4" thick transducer foot plate has some range of motion up and down. For now I left it as it was.
Note: The 16mm 5mm bolts to secure the pedals required 2 washers so they didn't hit the bottom of the channel.
I may get some counter sunk bolts and drill bevels to get the bolts flush, but that would be for cosmetics only, they are not in my way at all.
View attachment 303141

Installed in approximately the same position/spacing as my last pedals to start with all stock settings.
The clutch does have a good feel to it installed. I LIKE the feel of the brake. Remember this is not about travel it's about modulating pressure. I'm going to leave it be for now.
View attachment 303142
Before I start moving the pedals around and experimenting with all kinds of settings, I want to use them in their stock settings for a while to get used to them. I'm assuming that Heusinkveld has these default settings as a good middle of the road feeling that they consider a good starting point that many people would like.

It think people need to remember that these are supposed to feel different. Heusinkveld has been designing pedals for professional simulator systems for a while and brakes in real race cars do not have a lot of travel.

My guess is that their sudden success with the Sprint pedals means that a lot of people who are used to simming in socks instead of driving shoes are picking these pedals up just because everyone else is doing it.

I'm not trying to cast stones at anyone. I'm just going to suggest that people use them for a little while before going nuts changing their setup.

I suspect I may move the pedals sideways a bit to taste and I may tilt them forward a bit and I may tweak a few things, but I want a good reference point and I know that I may change my mind about what I want to change after getting used to them a bit.

It’s strange that Sim Labs have a bolt set for these specific pedals that are 16mm long but you’ve found they are too long, would a 12mm set work without the washers do you think?

 

[RCHeliguy]

It’s strange that Sim Labs have a bolt set for these specific pedals that are 16mm long but you’ve found they are too long, would a 12mm set work without the washers do you think?

I think you are better off with the washers because they add support, save you from grinding on the pedals with the bolt head and you get a bit more thread depth into the T-nut. Washers aren't expensive. I got a mixed pack and I used some 6mm on the hand brake and 5mm on the pedals. I've used a number of 8mm as well.
I got this pack with a pile of different sizes for $9.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0776BX9PK

 

[Enzo Fazzi]

The sequential shifter on the other hand... What a fiddly little thing it is. Out of the box it only shifted in one direction which I still haven't resolved. I assume I'll need to loosen the bolt on the side bearings a bit. I've heard there is very little range to adjust that and I hope to get it working. Just taking the side bolts out to attach the bracket is a real exercise, because once the side bolts are out on one side it all comes apart and getting all the little pieces back together is a chore. I'm going to add some gray window sealant to help hold things in place.
View attachment 303151

You may have overtightened the locking nut on the 'stick' or screwed in the 'stick' a bit too far.
Here's the manual for installing the shifter. https://heusinkveld.com/sim-shifter-sequential-product-manual/?v=9e29b8948728

 

[RCHeliguy]

You may have overtightened the locking nut on the 'stick' or screwed in the 'stick' a bit too far.
Here's the manual for installing the shifter. https://heusinkveld.com/sim-shifter-sequential-product-manual/?v=9e29b8948728

Thanks!
I hadn't installed the locking nut while I was trying different combinations of knobs and sticks and screwed the stick in too far. It shifts both ways now.

I added a tiny bit of this window glazing that is a great sealant, sticky and holds form into the slots where it fits together. It was a breeze to get the shifter back together. Everything stayed put, no rattles. I'm good to go now.

 

[RCHeliguy]

I'm going to design something like this for my brake pedal. I think I will have better feel with a more curved and rugged surface. I will also make the pad 2 cm wider.

What kind of driving shoes do you use? I felt like I had plenty of grip and space to get a solid footing.