T-rex 450- 2 questions

electricgb · Hover Master Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Posts: 10

I have just got back into rc heli's .
I now have my first (used )T-rex 450 and I have a couple of questions that I hope you guys can help me with.
1, many of the main frame screws don't tighten, I don't want to put them back in with superglue as this will be too permanent, what should I do/use ?
2, I have a futaba FF9, should I convert this to futaba 2.4mhz, convert it to spectrum 2.4mhz or purchase a new TX ?.

cheers for any advice

solentlife · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: T-rex 450- 2 questions

electricgb · Hover Master Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Posts: 10

Yes the holes have stripped, so great advice regarding the screws..will do !
The radio is 35mhz and people tell me to change to 2.4mhz as its much better..that's where I don't know my next step.
or are you saying stay on 35mhz ?
btw..I didn't mention my only previous experience with heli's was a protech Zoom 400 and that was quite some years ago.

solentlife · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:03 pm Post subject: Re: t-rex 450

nick_onelove · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 12:09 pm Post subject:

In regards to upgrading your radio system I'd like to toss in a vote for Spektrum. There's certainly nothing wrong with Futaba, but with Spektrum you get the benefit of all the Bind-n-Fly Blade and E-flite models.

The programming interface is also extremely simple and intuitive with its click-wheel system.

solentlife · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 1:55 pm Post subject:

Personally ... upgrade radio ?

If the existing radio is suitable for heli ... then why ? OK with 2.4Ghz - you don't have the Frequency control issues of making sure no-one else is on your freq. But given that many are swapping over to 2.4Ghz - I reckon 35Mhz will soon be near free of others !! I have 3 35Mhz sets and see no reason to ditch them ... yes i have a couple of 2.4Ghz as well. But at end of day if it works .. it works.

I do have to say something though ... the Spektrum DX6i is recc'd by so many ... but there is a fault that is with the set and is rarely mentioned to forewarn people ... Spekie use plastic clips to hold I think it's the scroll wheel or trim ... can never remember which it is. But anyway, it's a known fault that they break and you lose that facility requiring bench repair. There are 3rd party metal clips available to replace the plastics - which I think is Spekie basically stepping back away from the problem and relying on others to sort. I would have thought given the known fault - that Spekie could have sorted it at factory ... My 2p's worth !
I'm a heavy handed person and feel the Spekie would fail on that with me. Why should I then pay a 3rd party to sort it out when it's a factory design fault ?

nick_onelove · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 2:16 pm Post subject:

I remember the conversation you're referring to, Nigel. It was in reference to the trim tabs. That's the only place I've seen that problem mentioned so I don't think it's a major issue.

I never had any problems when I had a DX6i anyway, and I absolutely smash the trim tabs on my DX8 with no problems. Also just my 2¢.

pjdog · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:12 pm Post subject:

In reguards to the plactic roller and trim tabs on the DX6I radios. My Portugal buddy (tombo242) had one of his trim tabs break in the middle of testing his B400. He was repairing it when I called him on SKYPE. He showed me the problem and I signed off SKYPE and he went back to work.

I was looking the problem up on the net and found this guy with a solution. So I got a set and put them in my first DX6I. They are great. I ordered two more sets. One for my second DX6I and one for Tom.

Check it out. DX6I is a good bang for the buck. Super radio and plenty of stuff available for them.

http://www.eastrc.org/estoretrimtab1.htm

Jack

tombo242 · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:37 am Post subject:

Being the Portugese buddie, I can say that these tabs are great. One of the other problems that exist with the DX6i is that they do not tell you to only press the top of the roller for selection. The top controls the selection dipswitch, the bottom controls the rotating selector.

This bottom part is fragile as I found out by pressing the center of the roller. Crying or Very sad

Broke the tiny hex end right off. Looked at it and found a 3mm shaft through 1/2 the roller, drilled it through, filed a 3mm feathering shaft to fit the hex rotation selector , cut the shaft to length a spot of CA and have had no further trouble with the roller. Needed to do a quick fix as I wanted to fly.

Here's the bit that broke off:

Sorry about the Imperial it was done for an American friend. (Read it as 6,3mm Continental or 6.3mm English.)

Even the trim tab that I had previously broken was an easy fix, a piece of servo horn and hot melt glue held it until the alloy tabs arrived. The roller with the modded feathering shaft is likely to outlast the TX.

Tom . . Love my DX6i. Very Happy

solentlife · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:13 pm Post subject:

My initial post bringing this DX6i point up was purely that many ignore or pass it by ....

I think it's poor that a popular radio has this fault and factory has done nothing to remedy. It takes a 3rd party to do that.

If my car or stereo etc. etc. fails because of factory design ... then it is repaired, usually by an upgraded re-designed part that factory has determined necessary. Why didn't Spekie sort it out .... there must be thousands of DX6i's out there waiting for a heavy hand to break the plastic.

pjdog · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 10:54 pm Post subject:

That's a good point solentlife. You would think that a radio that has the popularity of Spektrum would have put a fix in for this.

Jack