diff --git a/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp b/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp
index 8cffb05..c6bd9de 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp
@@ -704,6 +704,29 @@ void
 	// after the push, immediately before interpretation -- making the keyboard
 	// authoritative on the dev box.  Interpretation below stays 100% authentic.
 	//
+	// BENCH (BT_MODECYCLE_EVERY=<n>): cycle the control mode every n
+	// InterpretControls calls, driving the SAME body the 'M' key and the pod
+	// console button (key 0x13d -- not a RIO button, so BT_BTNTEST cannot press
+	// it) drive.  Dev-only; default off.
+	//
+	// ⚠ DELIBERATELY OUTSIDE the key-bridge block below.  The ONLY caller of
+	// ClearRecenterCommand() lives inside that block, so forcing BT_KEY_BRIDGE=1
+	// to make this hook run would ALSO switch on the one thing that clears
+	// centerCommand -- masking the very bug under test.  That is exactly how the
+	// first run of modecycle.sh came back clean.  Keeping the hook out here lets
+	// the bench reproduce the RIO-present (glass/PadRIO) configuration, where the
+	// bridge is OFF and nothing clears the cell.
+	{
+		static const char *s_mcEvery = getenv("BT_MODECYCLE_EVERY");
+		if (s_mcEvery != 0)
+		{
+			static int s_mcN = 0;
+			int period = atoi(s_mcEvery);
+			if (period < 1) period = 300;
+			if (++s_mcN % period == 0)
+				CycleControlModeNow();
+		}
+	}
 	{
 		// STAND-DOWN (glass-cockpit step 2c): BT_KEY_BRIDGE unset = AUTO --
 		// the bridge runs only when NO live cockpit device (serial RIO /
@@ -868,23 +891,6 @@ void
 					gBTModeCycle = 0;
 					CycleControlModeNow();
 				}
-				// BENCH (BT_MODECYCLE_EVERY=<n>): cycle the control mode every n
-				// InterpretControls calls.  mech4's BT_MODECYCLE_TEST hook sits in
-				// a scope whose frame counter did not advance in a solo run, and
-				// the pod's own route is console key 0x13d -- not a RIO button, so
-				// BT_BTNTEST cannot press it.  This drives the SAME body the key
-				// and the console button drive.  Dev-only; default off.
-				{
-					static const char *s_mcEvery = getenv("BT_MODECYCLE_EVERY");
-					if (s_mcEvery != 0)
-					{
-						static int s_mcN = 0;
-						int period = atoi(s_mcEvery);
-						if (period < 1) period = 300;
-						if (++s_mcN % period == 0)
-							CycleControlModeNow();
-					}
-				}
 				// Gitea #6: 'N' cycles the secondary screen's schematic
 				// (Damage -> Critical -> Heat) -- the same body the pod's
 				// status-info-center button message drives.
diff --git a/game/reconstructed/torso.cpp b/game/reconstructed/torso.cpp
index a3842ce..a7e15ec 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/torso.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/torso.cpp
@@ -618,6 +618,30 @@ void
 			if (lsw != 0 && s_lockSweep <= 0.0f) s_lockSweep = 0.12f;
 			if (s_lockSweep > 1.0f) s_lockSweep = 1.0f;
 		}
+		// BENCH (BT_TWIST_PULSE=<n>): deflect the analog twist axis for n ticks,
+		// then RELEASE it for n ticks, repeating.  BT_LOCK_SWEEP never releases,
+		// so it cannot show the reported symptom: with a stuck centerCommand the
+		// torso holds while you are actively pushing (the analog arm clears
+		// recenterActive) and snaps back the moment you let go (centerCommand
+		// re-arms it) -- "the torso centering FOUGHT my control".  Measure the
+		// RELEASE windows: currentTwist should HOLD, not decay toward 0.
+		{
+			static const char *s_tp = getenv("BT_TWIST_PULSE");
+			if (s_tp != 0)
+			{
+				static int s_tpN = 0;
+				int period = atoi(s_tp);
+				if (period < 1) period = 120;
+				const int phase = (s_tpN++ / period) % 2;
+				analogTwistAxis = phase ? 0.0f : 0.6f;
+				if ((s_tpN % 30) == 0)
+					DEBUG_STREAM << "[twistpulse] phase=" << (phase ? "RELEASE" : "deflect")
+						<< " axis=" << analogTwistAxis
+						<< " twist=" << currentTwist
+						<< " ctrCmd=" << centerCommand
+						<< " recen=" << recenterActive << "\n" << std::flush;
+			}
+		}
 		if (s_lockSweep > 0.0f)
 		{
 			effectiveTwistRate = baseTwistRate;
diff --git a/scratchpad/night13/modecycle.sh b/scratchpad/night13/modecycle.sh
index f378522..7e0ae38 100644
--- a/scratchpad/night13/modecycle.sh
+++ b/scratchpad/night13/modecycle.sh
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ bt_expert_egg MP.EGG MC.EGG
 sed -i "s/^map=.*/map=grass/; s/^time=.*/time=day/; s/^vehicle=.*/vehicle=madcat/" MC.EGG
 
 ( export BT_MODECYCLE_EVERY=400
-  export BT_TORSO_LOG=1 BT_KEY_NOFOCUS=1 BT_KEY_BRIDGE=1 ${LEGACY:+BT_LEGACY_MODE_RECENTER=1}
+  export BT_TORSO_LOG=1 BT_KEY_NOFOCUS=1 BT_KEY_BRIDGE=0 BT_TWIST_PULSE=150 ${LEGACY:+BT_LEGACY_MODE_RECENTER=1}
   bt_launch mc_a.log MC.EGG 0x03 )
 sleep 150
 bt_kill_ours; sleep 2; taskkill //F //IM btl4.exe > /dev/null 2>&1; sleep 3