Co-Dauphin and Big Lama parts

celticveil · Extreme 3D Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 290

Well its been awhile since I logged on, being as how I have relocated to korea for a tour of duty here.

While I am waiting for my heli and personal goods to arrive, I purchased an E-Sky Co-Dauphin and heard that its compatible with the Big Lama parts. If this is so, what are some performance upgrades I can do to enhance my experience? So far I can tell I need to make a few minor adjustments to get the flight straightened out. I was wondering if there were better motors I could put in? The shop owner here sells metal upgrade parts and has offered to help me with the breakdown/reconstruct with metal parts when I am ready (or have destroyed the original plastic pieces, lol). Also, are there aftermarket blades with better lift potential? And how do I switch from wheels to skids for landing gear? I'm not digging these rolling thingies lol.

tombo242 · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 11:20 pm Post subject:

Hi Celticveil,

I would go for these motors. I found they worked well.

These blades are excellent for lift.

Most 450 skids will fit with the odd hole drilled in them. I'm using these. Tougher than B.L. stock and just a little bigger, look good on though.

Tom.

celticveil · Extreme 3D Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 290

Nice. Someone at another site said the big lama is larger than the dauphin. I'm going to open up the body today or tomorrow and see exactly what motors are inside the beastie. I also need to make a single piece cross landing gear since it only has wheels so far but tends to shift left on spin down. Any suggestions to counter the torque as it spins down?

tombo242 · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject:

Just my intial thoughts,

Sounds to me like one motor has more friction than the other. When you shut down the power the inertia of the motor with less friction is absorbed by the blades giving the 'shut-down spin', while the inertia of the motor with higher friction in absorbed mostly within the motor itself. So the spin is not countered.

A check for debris, friction and good lube all round might just clear it.

Tom.

celticveil · Extreme 3D Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 290

I can't find debris in the gears. Maybe I should tweak gear mesh.

What do you suggest for lubrication? I was thinking powdered graphite.

tombo242 · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:04 pm Post subject:

Just a tiny drop of thin oil on the motor bearings. It must not be enough to come off onto any other parts but enough to get into the bearings. You may have to take the motors out to lube them, but that gives you a chance to set the gear mesh correctly.

The drive gears; a tiny smear of silicon, again not enough to spray off.

Tom.

celticveil · Extreme 3D Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 290

I looked at the motors. Where are the bearings located? Also, do I need to oil any bearings on a 450 brushless motor too? And if so, where would those bearings be, and what do these things like?

tombo242 · Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 3:13 pm Post subject:

Hi Celticveil,

The bearings are always on the ends of the shaft as it passes through the motor body. Sometimes they are sealed in on one end of a brushed motor and you can't get at them.

On the brushless motors they are usually visible but hard to get to in a heli. I like to use a medical students' practice syringe with sewing machine oil in it. Give each bearing just a minute drop every 10 flights (or so). Not enough to spray off and wipe off any excess if not certain.

Tom.

celticveil · Extreme 3D Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 290

Ooooh I found out it's compatible with the Lama V4, not Big Lama. Now that I got the sorted out, off to the drawing board for improvements!