I have an electronic HiHat cymbal on my electronic drum set. It has the top single cymbal that rides up and down on a long rod in a stand, controlled by a foot pedal linked to the rod. Beneath that rubber cymbal is a plastic “base” that has a variable resistor mounted inside it. That resistor is controlled by a small plastic link that is attached to a moving plunger—when the foot pedal is pushed down the top cymbal moves up and away from the “base”…that plunger is within a spring so as the top cymbal moves up it allows the plunger to come up and the amount it moves the VarResistor changes the sound of the HiHat from a closed sound to an open sound…
My problem is that difference is erratic and difficult to get correct sounds at the right moments. (The whole drum set triggers drum software on a laptop)
I’m adding pics to show it, and how small it is…I’m wondering if there is a way to improve it the tracking of it? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a variable resistor like this one…

 

Measure the resistance of the pot, across the two outside pins.
Then, measure the variable resistance over the full range of the pedal. While exercising the pedal, see if there are any inconsistencies in the resistance. There could be some damage in the resistance track.