Originally posted by INJUN_EAR
Interesting analogy. So what parts wear out such as in servos, the pots? The gears, or both?
What exactly would a technician observe during a "check-up" to make these determinations as to whether or not a pot is worn, or the geartrains have slop?
I know that servo pots wear, as they are in motion constantly when we fly, making corrections and changing direction perhaps up to 50 times a second, but
I fail to see the same wear pattern on the Gimbal Pots, as a result of a person moving the sticks.
We just don't move the sticks fast enough to wear out the pots to the point where a problem would be discernable.
Also, can someone tell me what kind of diagnostics the technician would do on a open transmitter to acertain pot wear?
Well, keep them coming...I find this facinating! 
I could care less if the technician notices anything he is not the one flying the plane.
After a thousand flights or so (I do that about every 2 years) I notice that my servos are not centering well, the plane does not feel as smooth etc etc. This can be on new servos or old servos, the reason is that the pots in my sticks are not functioning as new anymore. So its a trip back to Mr. Service to have them replaced, get it back and voila the old feeling is back.
As far as servos go the gears need to get it every year, and while they got it open they can do the pots. Do that and your servos will be like new for a long long long time.
You dont have to move the sticks fast just lots, if servo pots wear so will stick pots, the servos only move as much as the sticks and you likely move the sticks at speeds approaching most servo speeds so how can they be any different?
Generally on my 9Z when it goes in for service it gets the following items replaced (once every 2 years or so)
-Gimbals (yep the entire things)
-antenna
-wire loop (this runs to the gimbal and flexes during movement, over time can get brittle and has the potential to break, bad really bad)
-antenna connections
-lithium battery
-any switches that are worn (I can actually wear out a switch
)
- the techs also do perform some tests to make sure that it is on target as far as transmission is concerned
Yes if you have a synth module, and no if you don't.
You know better than that man, how are you going to be the F3C champ without getting your radio serviced?