Just another crash update

Trouble · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:52 am Post subject: Just another crash update

Just in case ya'll are sitting on the edge of your chairs waiting to see if I actually "flew" my heli...nope! Took off 11 times, drifts left and back so...have to let it down....after all that I needed to replace the tail rotor shaft and main shaft, both a little wobbly Rolling Eyes

. Will try again later, kinda running outta parts, lmao.

pjdog · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:00 am Post subject:

Hey Trouble:

I also had to do some parts replacement tonight. Many weeks ago while trying to get second AXI kit to fly I dented the tail boom. I thought I'd wait to see if the damn thing would ever fly before I tried to replace the boom. Tonight I put a replacement aluminum tail boom on it. I also had a Carbon Fiber boom but thought I replace what was already there.

Maybe I'll use the old boom for a blow gun.

Hang in there, it gets better.

Jack

Trouble · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:35 am Post subject:

Man, i got a handful of those PJ, I just need to think of way to straighten 'em out, also thinkin' bout getting a 2nd hand hobby type lathe, saw one guy has one and he fixes his shafts to a 1000th of an inch. HE "says" better than the factory makes 'em...have to find that site again but that is what he said...
i'm not buying one piece of bling 'til I can fly...UNLESS it actually helps in the stability of the bird.
Anyhoo, I read bout your recent flights, GRATZ!!!!!!!!!

Crashagain · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:29 pm Post subject:

You can straighten them by driving a socket thru the tube.
Find a socket that fits snug and then start tapping it thru with the end of the boom on a block of wood.

pjdog · Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:49 pm Post subject:

Thanks Crash. That's a great idea.

I knew I guy in Indianapolis that flew 40 size nitro helicopters. When he would bend a main rotor shaft, He'd put it in a hole in a 2X4 and attach the end of the shaft to an electric drill. Turn the drill up while pulling the shaft back though the hole. Worked great. Guys name was Bob Pinto of Pinto Air Freight trucking. He could sure fly helicopters. This was back when rc helicopters cost lots of money.

Jack

Trouble · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 3:06 am Post subject:

Great Idea Crash! thanks.

Trouble · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 10:40 am Post subject:

Well, today was my best day ever in hovering!!! almost kept it still for 5 seconds, but all landings were easy..thank God! I think I might actually take a video tomorrow,... yep, almost that good!!! But still the Gods are not done with me, right after my last landing..Duh!...one of my tail blade holders just snapped off, .. Wow, weird, wasn't a bad landing either, ...Was a CopterX CNC aluminum tail, I saw it snap off, landed just a foot away, glad I was was on da ground huh? Well, putting the Align plastic one back on, will see tomorrow, hope and pray that it is good enough to finally send ya'll a vid of it!

Crashagain · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:45 pm Post subject:

WOO HOO!!!!! Your getting there..Congrats...
Wierd about the tail blade holder. What broke? the hub or the screw that held it on?

tombo242 · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 1:13 am Post subject:

Good to hear you've had a wee hover Trouble, that's real progress.

Pity about the tail blade breaking loose I've had that happen too. For me it was a fault in the moulding. You could see the fracture lines in it.

Tom.

Trouble · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 2:17 am Post subject:

Hey CRashagain!
Thanks for makin' me look to see what broke, all that happened is the Socket Screw backed out of the Tail Rotor Holder.... Shocked

which broke the Control Ball Link, which bent the Tail Pitch Assembly arm that holds the Control Ball Link, you can see the arms are a tiny bit bent out, but I think I can squeeze them back to normal. I was gonna just chuck the whole hub assembly out, thinkin' it was like Tom said, I "thought" it was metal fatigue from cheap metal.

Lessons learned:
1. ALWAYS USE LOC-TITE ON EVERY SCREW THAT GOES INTO METAL!!!! EVEN IF YOU CANNOT SEE IT!!!! I didn't know there was a screw there,..even though shudda known, nothing but a smaller version of the Main Rotor...but anyway, that's my story and i'm stickin' to it!!! Wink

2. Really look the damage over, you might be able to fix it, ...like I say, I was 'bout to chuck it.
3. ALWAYS USE LOC-TITE ON EVERY SCREW THAT GOES INTO METAL!!!! EVEN IF YOU CANNOT SEE IT!!!
4. Always listen to what Crashagain and Tombo have to say! hehe

Trouble · Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 2:27 am Post subject:

IF..or WHEN I can fly I am gonna get this, been lookin' at it for weeks now,
http://store.rcsupersales.net/servlet/-strse-1884/MicroHeli-Precision-Tail-PRO/Detail

Nor a single piece of plastic anywhere on it!

Then gonna match it with this:
http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-1178/3dx450B-eccpm-CNC-head/Detail this is the head that was on my Silver CNC helicopter frame I was so...happy Crying or Very sad

...about a while back, it is very nice, it was just like glass on glass in movement and all metal 'cept for 2 tiny pieces but you can't have those in metal anyway, the ball link connectors.

tombo242 · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:30 am Post subject:

Couple of nice pieces of gear there Trouble.

Trouble · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:42 am Post subject:

Yes indeed! the tail IS expensive but....most of my probs since I have started to hover...did i mention that I can hover now?? Cool

are in the tail, as a matter of fact i'm on my last tail setup b4 I have to order parts...the insides of the Tail pitch Ass. came apart, so much for the plastic one, only lasted 2 batts,. b4 it failed. I have 2 CNC ones that both have something broke, but between the 2 of them I can get one to work, after that.... Crying or Very sad

Oh, btw, did I mention I can hover now? Wink

hehe.

Dumb Thumbs · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:18 am Post subject:

Oh you are so right about the LockTite! I read once about a n00b who built a Rex 450. Not sure about pioting skills, ask someone to maiden it for him. Guy gets it sholder high when BANG. Tail blade grip flew off and hit the pilot in the eye. He lost the eye Crying or Very sad

Could have been no L.T. or oil on the threads made the L.T. fail.
Another part to watch over is the metal part inside the tail slider, (the bushing that slids back & forth on the tail shaft). They can sometimes work themselfs loose, ending in a crash.
One last thing. I notice you don't have counter weighted tail blade grips. I highly recomend getting them ASAP. Search YouTube for "Chinese weight mod" and you'll see what it is. I myself have them on all my Align helis and would never fly without em. You can mod the grips yourself or get 450 Pro or Sport grips.

Trouble · Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 11:48 am Post subject:

Hiya DT!