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.

 

My Hi-Hat has a touch of inconsistency too. And it's brand new. How long have you had yours? Was it always like that or is this a new development? What brand is your set? Mine is Roland. I've never disassembled anything; largely because it's new. I'm still learning how to adjust the Hi-Hat on my set. I'm not always satisfied with the sensitivity.

 

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.

All of that tests fine…although I’m not quite sure, where the link “travel” starts and a reading shows, if that’s the exact spot that is the very bottom of the pedal travel…otherwise, it seems a smooth range by the numbers…

 

My Hi-Hat has a touch of inconsistency too. And it's brand new. How long have you had yours? Was it always like that or is this a new development? What brand is your set? Mine is Roland. I've never disassembled anything; largely because it's new. I'm still learning how to adjust the Hi-Hat on my set. I'm not always satisfied with the sensitivity.

It’s a Donner, and about a year or so ago I had bought their top-of-the-line—at that point—DED-500 kit. A couple months ago they offered the pedal stand kit for an unreal 118 bucks so I bought one.
But I didn’t use the Donner module at first—opting to stay with my old trusty Roland TD-6V module, and triggering the EZDrummer3 software. The original hi-hat cymbal worked just ok so I thought this new one would be a nice improvement. But so far the main sticking point has been the very bottom pedal position—not giving me consistent CLOSED sound, as if I’m letting up on the pedal pressure. Donner’s tech team has been very helpful to me in the past and as well this time. They’re trying to help me figure it out. A Google pic search came up with ideas of bad solder joints in the little board causing the intermittent sounds. However I ran across another YouTube video that dived into a simple possibility of a simple rubber washer added to the top of the plunger, to make the assembly go deeper, hoping to get to the point on the VR where it would stay consistent…
Hope that helps a little…

 

All of that tests fine…although I’m not quite sure, where the link “travel” starts and a reading shows, if that’s the exact spot that is the very bottom of the pedal travel…otherwise, it seems a smooth range by the numbers…

I am asking for actual numbers.
What is the resistance of the pot?
What is the resistance at minimum and maximum range of the pedal?

I am considering what alternatives there are to the pot.

 

I am asking for actual numbers.
What is the resistance of the pot?
What is the resistance at minimum and maximum range of the pedal?

I am considering what alternatives there are to the pot.

On the top and bottom contacts I get a solid 10.35k ohms and on the first and second points, on the low end I get 7.9 ohms, and it runs upwards to 10.35k ohms with the movement of the linkage arm…

 

Oops…don’t know if it makes a difference but here is another pic of the resistor, with the metal shield back on it…