VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.

II

This pictorial guide should be able to provide the information

needed to install the Upgrade Kit Lite into your existing Gladiator
Mk.II joystick base.

For any additional help, please visit the official VKB Technical
Support Forum.

Note: After installing the Upgrade Kit Lite, you will have removed the
original grip that came with your Gladiator, and along with it, the twist axis.
The twist axis is a feature of the original grip, and not that of the Gladiator
base. However, the SCG grip replacement will come with its own twist
adapter built-in.

DISCLAIMER: Some modification and assembly is required. Even though the

conversion is easy and does not require any special skills, you should only attempt this if
you feel comfortable using tools to disassemble and reassemble your joystick. VKB North
America is NOT RESPONSIBLE for mistakes made during this process that may break or
damage your joystick. Proceed with caution, work slowly and read ALL the instructions
carefully (refer to the assembly guide). Use this upgrade kit at your own risk.

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 1: Unscrew the 2 screws at the bottom of the grip.

STEP 2: Remove the plastic ring halves from the grip:

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 3: Unscrew and remove the 6 screws from the grip:

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 4: Unscrew the trigger using a hex key, and then remove one of the
halves of the grip and remove the grip from the internal rod (not shown in
the photo below):

STEP 5: Disconnect the the 3-wire connector coming from the joystick’s
base from the grip’s circuit board:

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 6: Remove the twist axis spring from the rod:

STEP 7: Unscrew the 4 screws and remove the metal base plate from the
joystick’s base:

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 8: On the controller board, locate the 3-wire connector coming out
of the plastic rod. These wires are passing through the ferrite cylinder:

STEP 9: Unplug this 3-wire connector from the controller board:

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 10: Take note to remember the position of each wire inside its connector (it might
be best to take a photo before continuing):

STEP 11: Remove the wires from the connector one-by-one. Use a thumbtack or sewing
needle to depress the rectangular locks, and then pull the wire out with the other hand
(we will need that little connector piece later - so don’t lose it):

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 12: Take note of the location of the 4-wire connector from the
controller board to the axis sensors:

STEP 13: Unplug the connector from the sensor board:

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 14: Unscrew the screws from the controller board:

STEP 14a: Unplug the second sensor wire from the board:

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 15: After unplugging the 3-wire connector from the throttle-wheel
on the controller board (not pictured), gently fold the controller board
over (if any white flux residue is found, take a moment to clean them):

STEP 16: Unscrew and remove all 8 screws from the plastic gimbal:

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 17: Carefully remove the gimbal parts from the joystick base (they
are richly greased, and we will be able to use some of the excess grease
later):

STEP 18: Remove the axis lock (a thin screwdriver might be useful here):

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 19: Gently press the axis pin inward, and then gently pull it out from
the other side:

STEP 20: Now, its time to install your new Upgrade Kit Lite into the plastic
gimbal:

● Use excess grease to grease all areas of the plastic gimbal that come in
touch with the Upgrade Kit Lite’s areas;
● Insert the Upgrade Kit Lite into the gimbal;
● Re-insert the metal axis pin;
● Re-attach the axis lock.

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 20: Re-insert the newly created Upgrade Kit Lite gimbal into to the joystick
base, and fasten all 8 screws once more.

● Ensure to re-install the circuits boards accordingly;

● Ensure to re-plug the 3 wires circled into their circuits boards.
● Run the new wires from the Upgrade Kit through the ferrite cylinder,
but leave these wires alone for now!

STEP 21: The 3 wires coming from the new Upgrade Kit Lite assembly will have to
be correctly inserted into the old plastic connector we stripped in STEP 11! Refer
back to the photo you took for the correct order (the new wire uses yellow
instead of white, however):

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VKB Upgrade Kit Lite Installation Guide - For Gladiator Mk.II

STEP 22: Plug the newly created Upgrade Kit Lite 3-wire connector into
the respective controller board:

STEP 24: Re-attach the Gladiator’s base plate.

STEP 25: Install your new SCG onto the new Upgrade Kit Lite’s grip
connector, and ensure to flash your Gladiator Mk.II with the correct
firmware to enable all of the SCG grip’s new functionality.

● You may download the “Firmware for Gladiator w/ SCG support” from
the Upgrade Kit Lite’s store page Downloads section.

For any additional help, please visit the official VKB Technical Support
Forum.

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