diff --git a/src/RioJoy.Core/Calibration/AxisCalibrator.cs b/src/RioJoy.Core/Calibration/AxisCalibrator.cs
index b67b0f4..d05a708 100644
--- a/src/RioJoy.Core/Calibration/AxisCalibrator.cs
+++ b/src/RioJoy.Core/Calibration/AxisCalibrator.cs
@@ -10,8 +10,12 @@ namespace RioJoy.Core.Calibration;
 /// across <see cref="Update"/> calls exactly as the legacy globals did.
 ///
 /// <para>Final outputs are clamped to <c>0..<see cref="AxisOutputs.Max"/></c> — the
-/// documented axis range — which also guards a legacy quirk where a value pinned
-/// at its observed extreme could compound across polls (see ⚠️ below).</para>
+/// documented axis range. One legacy quirk is deliberately fixed rather than
+/// ported: with the lever exactly at the tracked start (the detent), the legacy
+/// held the previous throttle value, which the ×32 rescale compounded into a
+/// full-throttle pin — on the very first poll at rest, and for a poll when a
+/// release landed exactly on the start. The detent now zeroes like the rest of
+/// the deadzone (see the note in <see cref="Throttle"/>).</para>
 /// </summary>
 public sealed class AxisCalibrator
 {
@@ -28,8 +32,11 @@ public sealed class AxisCalibrator
     private int _leftPedalStart = int.MaxValue;
     private int _rightPedalStart = int.MaxValue;
 
-    // Last computed (pre-clamp) outputs — persist across calls like the legacy globals.
-    private int _throttleLast = AxisOutputs.Center;
+    // Last computed (pre-clamp) outputs — persist across calls like the legacy
+    // globals. The throttle starts at 0, its calibrated rest value (the same value
+    // ResetThrottle/ResetAll restore): the legacy Center init fed the detent-hold
+    // quirk (see Throttle) and pinned Z at full on the first poll at rest.
+    private int _throttleLast;
     private int _leftPedalLast = AxisOutputs.Center;
     private int _rightPedalLast = AxisOutputs.Center;
     private int _joystickXLast = AxisOutputs.Center;
@@ -98,17 +105,20 @@ public sealed class AxisCalibrator
             if (lT > 800)
                 lT = 800;
 
-            if (lT != 0)
-            {
-                lT = lT * 1000 / 800;
-                if (lT is > -DeadzoneThrottle and < DeadzoneThrottle)
-                    _throttleLast = 0;
-                else if (_throttleResult > 0) // back
-                    _throttleLast = 900 + (lT * _throttleResult / 10);
-                else // front
-                    _throttleLast = lT * _throttleResult;
-            }
-            // lT == 0 leaves _throttleLast unchanged (legacy behavior).
+            // Deliberate divergence from the legacy port: lT == 0 (lever exactly at
+            // the tracked start, i.e. the detent — including samples that raise the
+            // running max) zeroes the output like the rest of the ±50 deadzone.
+            // The legacy left _throttleLast unchanged here, and the ×32 rescale
+            // below then compounded the held value — pinning Z at full throttle on
+            // the first poll at rest and spiking full for a poll when a release
+            // landed exactly on the start.
+            lT = lT * 1000 / 800;
+            if (lT is > -DeadzoneThrottle and < DeadzoneThrottle)
+                _throttleLast = 0;
+            else if (_throttleResult > 0) // back
+                _throttleLast = 900 + (lT * _throttleResult / 10);
+            else // front
+                _throttleLast = lT * _throttleResult;
         }
 
         _throttleLast = Math.Abs(_throttleLast * 32);
diff --git a/tests/RioJoy.Core.Tests/Calibration/AxisCalibratorTests.cs b/tests/RioJoy.Core.Tests/Calibration/AxisCalibratorTests.cs
index 5eab45f..7496c54 100644
--- a/tests/RioJoy.Core.Tests/Calibration/AxisCalibratorTests.cs
+++ b/tests/RioJoy.Core.Tests/Calibration/AxisCalibratorTests.cs
@@ -128,11 +128,39 @@ public class AxisCalibratorTests
         Assert.Equal(AxisOutputs.Center, cal.Update(Report(x: 0)).X);
     }
 
+    // --- Detent regression (legacy quirk deliberately fixed) -----------------
+
     [Fact]
-    public void Outputs_AreClampedToAxisRange()
+    public void Throttle_FirstPollAtRest_IsZero_NotPinned()
     {
-        // The init-state throttle quirk yields a value far over range on the first
-        // poll at rest; the documented 0..Max clamp guards it.
-        Assert.Equal(AxisOutputs.Max, new AxisCalibrator().Update(Report(throttle: 0)).Z);
+        // Regression: the legacy Center init + detent-hold compounded through the
+        // ×32 rescale and pinned Z at Max on the very first poll at rest — full
+        // reverse on a Centered thumb route, full thrust on a UnipolarPositive one
+        // (Descent). Rest must read 0 with no reset and stay there.
+        var cal = new AxisCalibrator();
+        Assert.Equal(0, cal.Update(Report(throttle: 0)).Z);
+        Assert.Equal(0, cal.Update(Report(throttle: 0)).Z);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Throttle_ReleaseExactlyOntoStart_ReturnsToZero_NoSpike()
+    {
+        // Regression: a release landing exactly on the tracked start (lT == 0)
+        // used to hold the last moving value, which the ×32 rescale turned into a
+        // one-poll full-throttle spike until jitter broke it.
+        var cal = new AxisCalibrator();
+        Assert.Equal(0, cal.Update(Report(throttle: 0)).Z);        // seed start at rest
+        Assert.Equal(16000, cal.Update(Report(throttle: -400)).Z); // pushed halfway
+        Assert.Equal(0, cal.Update(Report(throttle: 0)).Z);        // release onto start
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Throttle_SampleAboveRunningMax_ReadsAsRest()
+    {
+        // Samples above the tracked start re-base the auto-range (lT == 0 again)
+        // and must read as rest, not re-enter the legacy hold path.
+        var cal = new AxisCalibrator();
+        cal.Update(Report(throttle: -400)); // power-on with lever pushed: becomes the start
+        Assert.Equal(0, cal.Update(Report(throttle: -100)).Z); // above max → re-based, rest
     }
 }