Servicing & Preventative Maintenance Guide

Protecting Your Simulator for the Long Term

A Podium 1 Racing Turnkey Simulator is a high-performance system made up of numerous mechanical, electrical, electronic, and computer-based components.

Like any high-end piece of equipment, a racing simulator requires reasonable care and routine maintenance throughout its life.

This guide is intended to provide owners with a straightforward overview of the areas of their simulator that should be inspected and maintained. It is not intended to replace the individual owner's manuals, service instructions, maintenance schedules, or safety requirements provided by the manufacturers of the products installed on your simulator.

The most important rule for maintaining your simulator is simple:

Know which products are installed on your simulator, review the manufacturer's documentation for those products, and follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance and servicing requirements.

Different Turnkey Simulators may contain different steering systems, pedals, displays, motion systems, computers, controls, accessories, and other equipment. Maintenance requirements therefore vary from system to system.

1. Owner Maintenance Responsibility

The owner of the simulator is responsible for maintaining the system and its individual
components in accordance with applicable manufacturer instructions.

Some components may require:

Periodic inspection.
Cleaning.
Lubrication.
Adjustment.
Firmware or software maintenance.
Replacement of normal wear items.
Retightening of hardware.
Calibration.
Environmental or operating precautions.
Other manufacturer-specified maintenance.

The required maintenance interval may be based on calendar time, operating hours, usage conditions, observed wear, or another condition specified by the manufacturer.

If the manufacturer of a component specifies a maintenance procedure or schedule, it is the owner's responsibility to ensure that the maintenance is performed as required.

Failure to perform required maintenance may affect warranty coverage when the lack of
maintenance causes or materially contributes to a component failure.

2. Manufacturer Manuals & Documentation

Keep access to the user manual or current manufacturer documentation for the major products installed on your simulator.

These may include:

Steering wheelbase and steering wheel.
Pedal system.
Motion system.
Displays or televisions.
Gaming PC.
Seat or seating system.
Shifters, handbrakes, button boxes, and controls.
Audio equipment.
USB hubs and powered accessories.
Haptic systems.
Flight controls, where equipped.
Other specialty hardware installed on the simulator.

Manufacturer documentation should always take priority over general maintenance
recommendations contained in this guide.

Do not lubricate, disassemble, adjust, repair, or service a component simply because a
similar product requires that service. Always verify the requirements for your specific
product and model first.

3. Chassis & Monitor Stand

Your simulator chassis and monitor stand experience vibration, repeated loading, steering forces, pedal forces, and movement during normal use.

Over time, mechanical fasteners can settle or loosen.

Periodically inspect the chassis and monitor stand for:

Loose bolts or fasteners.
Components that have shifted from their original position.
Excessive movement or flex.
Monitor arms or mounts beginning to sag.
Steering or pedal mounting plates that have developed movement.
Seat mounting hardware that has loosened.
Visible cracks, bending, deformation, or other structural damage.
Cables being pinched or pulled because a component has shifted.

If something begins to move, sag, rattle, or feel noticeably different than it previously did,
investigate the cause rather than continuing to operate the simulator indefinitely.

Loose fasteners should be properly secured before they are allowed to create additional
movement or damage.

Do not over-tighten hardware or exceed any manufacturer-specified torque requirement.

4. Steering System

Direct-drive steering systems can generate significant force and should be treated as
high-performance mechanical equipment.

Periodically inspect:

Wheelbase mounting hardware.
Steering wheel mounting hardware.
Quick-release mechanisms.
Electrical and data connections.
Power supplies and power cables.
Steering wheel buttons, paddles, and displays.
Any unusual movement, play, vibration, noise, or change in steering feel.

Follow the steering-system manufacturer's instructions regarding firmware, calibration,
maintenance, lubrication, quick-release care, and inspection.

Do not disassemble or internally service a steering wheelbase unless specifically instructed by the manufacturer or Podium 1 Racing.

5. Pedal System

Pedals experience some of the highest repetitive physical loads on a racing simulator.

Periodically inspect:

Pedal mounting hardware.
Pedal plate mounting hardware.
Bolts, pivot points, springs, elastomers, dampers, and other visible mechanical
components.
Wiring and sensor cables.
Signs of excessive wear or physical damage.
Changes in pedal feel, travel, resistance, or calibration.

Some pedal systems contain components specifically designed to wear over time and may require periodic replacement or servicing.

Follow the pedal manufacturer's recommendations for lubrication, cleaning, adjustment,
replacement parts, and maintenance.

Physical damage caused by excessive force, impact, misuse, or continued operation of a visibly failing component should be addressed immediately.

6. Motion Systems

Motion platforms are among the most mechanically complex components that may be installed on a simulator.

If your simulator is equipped with motion, it is especially important to review and retain the manufacturer's maintenance documentation for the exact motion system installed.

Depending on the product, manufacturer maintenance requirements may include:

Inspection of actuators.
Inspection of seals, joints, mounts, or bearings.
Cleaning actuator surfaces.
Lubrication of specified components.
Inspection of mounting hardware.
Inspection of safety equipment and emergency-stop systems.
Software or firmware maintenance.
Checking for abnormal noise, vibration, movement, or operating temperature.

Do not assume that a motion component requires lubrication or other servicing unless specified by the manufacturer. Using an incorrect lubricant or performing an
unnecessary service procedure can damage equipment.

If an actuator, platform, or other motion component begins making an unusual noise, moving abnormally, displaying an error, leaking, binding, or behaving differently than normal, discontinue use when appropriate and consult the manufacturer's documentation or Podium 1 Racing Support.

Never work underneath, disassemble, or service an energized motion platform unless the
procedure is specifically authorized and all manufacturer safety requirements are being
followed.

7. Displays & Monitor Systems

Displays should be maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions for the exact model installed.

General considerations include:

Keeping ventilation openings unobstructed.
Keeping displays reasonably clean and free of excessive dust.
Using manufacturer-approved cleaning methods.
Avoiding excessive pressure on display panels.
Inspecting monitor mounts if a display begins to tilt, sag, or move.
Maintaining appropriate room temperature and ventilation.
Following manufacturer recommendations for operating hours and panel-care functions.

OLED Displays

OLED displays require additional attention because prolonged display of static content can contribute to image retention or permanent burn-in.

If your simulator uses OLED displays:

Review the display manufacturer's OLED care recommendations.
Keep manufacturer-provided panel protection features enabled unless there is a specific reason not to.
Avoid leaving static desktop images, menus, taskbars, logos, game interfaces, or other fixed content displayed unnecessarily for extended periods.
Allow manufacturer-provided panel maintenance or optimization processes to complete as intended.
Follow the manufacturer instructions regarding power-off behavior, pixel cleaning, panel refresh functions, and other OLED maintenance features.

Do not repeatedly interrupt automatic panel-care procedures by unnecessarily disconnecting power from the display.

8. Gaming PC

The gaming PC is a high-performance computer and requires the same basic care expected of other high-performance computer equipment.

Owners should:

Maintain adequate airflow around the computer.
Keep vents, filters, fans, and surrounding areas reasonably free of dust.
Avoid enclosing the PC in a space that traps excessive heat.
Periodically inspect for unusual fan noise, overheating, or other abnormal behavior.
Keep appropriate system, driver, and security updates reasonably current.
Maintain adequate free storage space.
Protect the PC from liquids, excessive dust, extreme temperatures, and unstable
electrical power.

Major driver, firmware, BIOS, operating-system, or software changes can occasionally affect simulator functionality. If you are unsure whether an update should be performed, contact Podium 1 Racing Support before making major system changes.

Do not modify internal PC hardware, BIOS settings, overclocking settings, wiring, cooling
systems, or other configuration unless you understand the effect of the change or have been instructed to do so.

9. Cables, USB Devices & Connections

A high-end simulator may contain a large number of power, USB, display, network, and data cables.

Periodically look for:

Loose connections.
Damaged connectors.
Cables being pulled tight.
Cables pinched between structural components.
Frayed or damaged insulation.
Excessive bending near connectors.
USB hubs or power supplies that have shifted or become disconnected.
Cables rubbing against moving motion components.

If the simulator uses motion, pay particular attention to cable routing around areas that move during operation.

Cables should have adequate slack for normal movement without being able to become
trapped, stretched, or caught.

10. Electrical Equipment & Power

Use the simulator only with suitable electrical service and power equipment.

Periodically inspect accessible:

Power cables.
Power strips.
Surge protection equipment.
Power supplies.
Connectors.
Extension cables.
Electrical outlets used by the simulator.

Do not continue operating equipment with damaged electrical cables, loose connectors, signs of overheating, burning smells, melted plastic, discoloration, or other evidence of an electrical problem.

Do not overload electrical circuits or power strips.

Motion systems and other high-power components may have specific electrical requirements. Always follow the applicable manufacturer's specifications.

11. Seat, Controls & Accessories

Periodically inspect other frequently used simulator components including:

Seat mounting hardware.
Seat sliders.
Harnesses, where equipped.
Shifters.
Handbrakes.
Button boxes.
Keyboards and mice.
Headsets and audio equipment.
Flight controls.
Haptic equipment.
Accessory mounting hardware.

Look for loose mounting points, worn cables, damaged connectors, abnormal movement, or components that no longer operate as expected.

Items that receive frequent physical contact should be inspected more frequently in commercial or high-use environments.

12. Software, Drivers & Firmware

Simulator hardware increasingly depends on software and firmware provided by its
manufacturer.

Owners should periodically review manufacturer notifications and documentation for relevant:

Firmware updates.
Device software updates.
Drivers.
Safety-related updates.
Required configuration changes.

Not every available update must necessarily be installed immediately. Updates can occasionally change compatibility or configuration.

When the simulator is operating correctly and you are unsure whether an update is appropriate, contact Podium 1 Racing Support before making significant changes.

Never interrupt a firmware update once the manufacturer has instructed you to begin the
process unless specifically directed to do so.

13. Cleaning & Environment

Keep the simulator in a clean, dry, climate-controlled environment appropriate for electronic and mechanical equipment.

Avoid:

Excessive dust.
Excessive humidity.
Water or liquid exposure.
Food and drinks around sensitive equipment.
Extreme heat or cold.
Direct exposure to heating vents or other excessive heat sources.
Chemicals or cleaning products not approved for the material being cleaned.

Different materials and components require different cleaning products. Always verify
manufacturer recommendations before applying cleaners, lubricants, solvents, or chemicals.

14. Residential vs. Commercial Use

Commercially operated simulators generally accumulate operating hours, physical inputs, and wear significantly faster than residential systems.

Owners of simulators used in commercial, public, hospitality, rental, training, arcade,
entertainment, or other high-use environments should perform general inspections more
frequently than a typical residential owner.

Commercial operators should pay particular attention to:

Steering and pedal mounting hardware.
Seats and seat sliders.
Quick-release mechanisms.
Pedals and other high-load mechanical components.
Motion-system components.
Monitor mounting hardware.
Frequently handled controls and peripherals.
Cable routing and connections.
Signs of customer or patron damage.
Unusual noises or changes in system operation.

A commercial simulator should not simply be operated continuously until a component fails.

Routine inspection and preventive maintenance are part of responsible operation of high-use equipment.

15. Keep a Maintenance Record

Podium 1 Racing strongly recommends maintaining a basic service record for your simulator. The record does not need to be complicated.

Useful information includes:

Date of inspection or service.
Component inspected or serviced.
Maintenance performed.
Replacement parts installed.
Firmware or major software updates performed.
Observed wear or concerns.
Name of the person or company performing the service.

For commercially operated simulators, keeping a maintenance record is especially
recommended.

Maintenance records may also help Podium 1 Racing or a component manufacturer diagnose an issue and determine whether required maintenance has been performed when evaluating a warranty claim.

16. When to Stop Using the Simulator

Stop using an affected component and contact Podium 1 Racing or the applicable manufacturer if you observe a condition that could reasonably create a safety risk or cause additional equipment damage.

Examples include:

Structural cracking or significant deformation.
A monitor or major component becoming loose or unstable.
Abnormal motion-platform operation.
Severe or unexpected mechanical noise.
Electrical burning smell, smoke, sparking, or overheating.
Damaged power cables.
Fluid leakage from a component where leakage is not considered normal.
A steering, pedal, or motion component behaving unpredictably.
Repeated electrical protection or safety-device activation.

Continuing to operate equipment after a significant problem becomes apparent may result in additional damage and may affect warranty eligibility where continued operation contributes to the failure.

17. If You Are Unsure, Ask

Owners are not expected to diagnose every technical issue or perform advanced repairs
themselves.

If you are uncertain:

Stop using the affected component if continued operation may cause damage or create a safety concern.
Review the manufacturer's documentation for the specific product.
Contact Podium 1 Racing Support for assistance.

Do not perform advanced disassembly, internal repair, or modification simply to investigate an issue.

Podium 1 Racing can help determine whether an issue should be handled through
troubleshooting, routine maintenance, manufacturer support, repair, or a warranty claim.

Recommended Ownership Routine

The following is intended as a simple general reminder and does not replace any
manufacturer-required maintenance schedule.

Regularly

Pay attention to how the simulator feels and operates.

If something begins moving, sagging, rattling, squeaking, disconnecting, overheating, or
otherwise behaving differently, investigate it rather than ignoring the change.

Periodically

Perform a visual inspection of the simulator, including:

Chassis and monitor hardware.
Steering and pedal mounts.
Seat hardware.
Cables and connections.
Displays and monitor mounts.
Motion equipment, where installed.
PC ventilation and cleanliness.
Frequently used controls and accessories.

According to Manufacturer Requirements

Complete all required servicing, inspection, lubrication, cleaning, calibration, replacement, or other maintenance specified by the manufacturers of the individual products installed on your simulator.

At Least Annually

Podium 1 Racing recommends performing a more complete review of the simulator and its major systems, particularly for systems that receive frequent use.

Commercial and high-use systems should be reviewed more frequently based on operating conditions.

The Simple Rule

A high-end racing simulator should be treated like any other high-performance machine.

Keep it clean. Keep it secure. Pay attention when something changes. Follow the maintenance requirements of every major component installed on the system. Address small issues before they become large ones.

Proper care will help maximize the performance, reliability, safety, and service life of your Podium 1 Racing Turnkey Simulator.

For assistance:

Podium 1 Racing Support
support@podium1racing.com