Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss  
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All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Electric RC Helis >> E-Flite Helicopters >> Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss
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Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/2/2006 1:32:34 PM   
Pilot352


 

Posts: 223
Joined: 11/1/2005
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Okay, this topic seemed to get lost in the Blade CP thread, so I thought I would give it it's own life as many have discussed it.

I have recently upgraded my BCP with the B&H head and a new 1300ma LiPo. I was previously using a 950ma LiPo. Anyway, After three flights, my BCP went nuts about a foot off the ground and mildly crashed with no damage. When restarting, the 4-n-1 was going nuts. After some diagnosis, I found that I had a servo go south on me and initially caused the crash by pulling power away from the 4-n-1.

I bought a new servo and started flying again. Now during hover, it randomly drops about 1 foot or so then pops back up again. I can't find anything wrong. The mechanics seems to be just fine. There's no binding and all moves freely. A static test (i.e. no motors) shows no erratic behavior in the servos.

My first thought was that I damaged my 4-n-1 but there’s no way to tell for sure (is there?) as it tests fine while on the ground


Here are the questions…

1. Is there a way to diagnose this problem without just replacing parts?
2. What has others done to correct the problem?
3. Has anyone contacted E-Flyte regarding this AND what was their response


Any feedback would be appreciated

-Pilot



< Message edited by Pilot352 -- 3/2/2006 1:33:43 PM >
       Post #: 1

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/2/2006 5:39:14 PM   
ltoosilly


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 12/29/2005
From: , AB, CANADA
Status: offline 		I've had the same problem and thought I'd list some of the things I've tried so far in case it may lead to a solution for these problems. I have the following symptoms:

Rapid gain or loss of altitude casued by all three servos "glitching" at the same time in the same direction (no glitching causing a roll, pitch or yaw). This effect is most prominant near the beginning of the flight and decreases during the flight. The effect only occours with the blades spinning. I initially thought this may be simiar to the "sticky collective" problem and rebuilt the entire rotor head in an attempt to determine if there was any binding r excessive play that could be a cause.

I've tried the following with no solution:

1) Using a lower voltage E-flight 2 cell Li-poly from my Blade CX (have been flying the stock NiMH otherwise)
2) Changing the reciever and transmitter crystals with the ones from my Blade CX (same freq)
3) Took my CX for a flight (no glitching isses with it - note same freq)
4) Unwound the reciever antenna to full length
5) Dissconnected both motors and did a bench test - no glitching
6) Dissconnected only the main motor - no glitching
7) Removed the blades - glitching returned (I think it was less noticable but that may be only because there was not a large rotating rotor disk.

With my limited experience all of this leads me to believe that the issue my be related to the motor (I hope) or the 4in 1 (I hope not).
I will be heading to my lhs on my lunch break to see what they think.

(in reply to Pilot352)
       Post #: 2

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/2/2006 8:20:49 PM   
ltoosilly


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 12/29/2005
From: , AB, CANADA
Status: offline 		I did a bit more testing and it would appear that the "hopping" or glitching only happens at a specific throttle setting (if I raise or lower the throttle past that point it goes away). It does not change significantly when I change the pitch. Unfortunately this is also the power level required to hover at low level.

I picked up a new motor (see my last post) and will give it a try tonight

(in reply to ltoosilly)
       Post #: 3

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/2/2006 8:29:00 PM   
hellomynameisdookie


 

Posts: 737
Joined: 5/11/2004
From: Charlotte, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Try swapping out your tansmitter. If you have a buddy with a CP use his transmitter with your crystal.

Out of nowhere I had a horrible glitching problem and swapped out EVERYTHING, turns out it was the transmitter. E-Flite sent me a new transmitter FOC.

(in reply to ltoosilly)
       Post #: 4

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/2/2006 9:16:34 PM   
sparky814_hawk


 

Posts: 144
Joined: 10/16/2004
From: Chico, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I have found that the cause of my altitude clitches are coming from a worn tail motor. I am no expert, but that solution seems to have worked for me. Try it out.....

John Sparks

_____________________________

Checkout the Plasti-blade for the Blade CP @ www.jcshobbies.com

(in reply to hellomynameisdookie)
       Post #: 5

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/2/2006 9:38:05 PM   
miroker


 

Posts: 25
Joined: 1/22/2006
From: Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I have been having same problem and it started after changing out tail motor. I have replaced everything except the 4in1 now and it is still doing it. Mine will actually jump up on occasion, but there is no pattern. I am not sure I even want to involve Horizon as I am batting 50% with them so far when it comes to warranty issues. New Futaba 9chp did not help either.

(in reply to Pilot352)
       Post #: 6

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/2/2006 9:50:17 PM   
bdavison


 

Posts: 3344
Joined: 8/23/2004
From: Warner Robins, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Make sure the crystal in the RX is FIRMLY seated in the reciever. Ive found that loose or bad crystals are the source of most glitching problems. Anytime you crash, if you have issues with glitching afterwards. Check to make sure the crystal is firmly seated in the RX...and if that doesnt get rid of it....replace the crystal.

_____________________________

teamflyingcircus.com

(in reply to miroker)
       Post #: 7

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/2/2006 10:56:09 PM   
drdoom



Posts: 1172
Joined: 4/19/2002
From: Belton , MO, USA
Status: offline 		Check to see if all of the ball links are properly seated, not pressed off to the inside.

_____________________________

AMA #70046 Jet Junkie!

(in reply to bdavison)
       Post #: 8

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/2/2006 11:35:59 PM   
ltoosilly


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 12/29/2005
From: , AB, CANADA
Status: offline 		I can't speak for Pilot but in my case it would appear to be more than just mechanical in nature. If I hold the skids I can watch the servos jump at certain throttle settings. I have swapped out the crystals with others I know work properly so I'm pretty sure they are not the source of the problem. I wish I had thought about swapping the entire transmitter as hellomynameisdookie suggested when I was at the hobby shop earlier as this would have at least ruled that out as a possible cause.

(in reply to drdoom)
       Post #: 9

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/3/2006 3:27:12 AM   
ltoosilly


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 12/29/2005
From: , AB, CANADA
Status: offline 		As it turns out replacing the main motor did resolve the problem and my Blade is now stable (well at least as stable as this new pilot can make it). I won't pretend to understand the full reasoning behind it but, it would seem that the motor was creating the interferance.

If anyone else is having this problem I would suggest that they at least try swapping motors as a possible fix. It also sounds like bad tail motors might have the same effect.

(in reply to ltoosilly)
       Post #: 10

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/3/2006 11:38:11 PM   
sfinckster



Posts: 140
Joined: 10/24/2005
From: Shasta Lake, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I had the same issue, I swapped the tail motor for a new one and it was much better. Maybe my main motor needs replacing too as it still does it occasionally. At least we are starting to get to the bottom of this as it seems to be a common problem.

(in reply to ltoosilly)
       Post #: 11

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/3/2006 11:48:33 PM   
bdavison


 

Posts: 3344
Joined: 8/23/2004
From: Warner Robins, GA, USA
Status: offline 		That wouldnt surprise me....it the brushes in the motor are arcing...there's probably tons of EMI coming out of those cans.

_____________________________

teamflyingcircus.com

(in reply to sfinckster)
       Post #: 12

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/4/2006 12:33:44 AM   
ltoosilly


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 12/29/2005
From: , AB, CANADA
Status: offline 		If this becomes a problem again I was thinking it may be a good excuse to try a small brushless setup. I'm making the assumption that without brushes there would be no arcing and therefore no interferance of the kind I experienced from the motors.

From what I've seen it wouldn't be too difficult of a mod and the stock 4 in 1 could still be used along with a brushless motor and ESC wired into channel 3 on the unit.

(in reply to bdavison)
       Post #: 13

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/4/2006 2:20:15 PM   
roadracer698


 

Posts: 6
Joined: 2/17/2006
From: Lady Lake, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I got the same problem! My blade takes almost full trottle to get off the ground, I can recover that and hold it in a rock steady hover for about 5 seconds, then it will shoot straight up 1- 2 feet, I'll try to recover but it'll drop back down, then up, etc

For the record I'm using the aero kit and a lipo 900

I took the head apart as I thought it was the collective but it doesn't help. I've got a new tail motor and my stock motor, guess I'll stick the stock main motor back in first to see if it fixes it then on to the tail, and things were going so good with this little bird...

(in reply to ltoosilly)
       Post #: 14

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/4/2006 5:10:54 PM   
ltoosilly


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 12/29/2005
From: , AB, CANADA
Status: offline 		Roadracer,

It almost sounds like you have the sticky collective problem that others have encountered. Or possibly a combination of the two problems. When did you buy your Blade? The Blade CP blade grips originally only had 2 bearings each while more recent versions have 3. Mine always lifted off at 2/3 to 3/4 throttle with the stock battery and and motor. Have you checked the pitch of your blades?

To determine if you are having the same problem as I did (interference from the motor) charge up the battery and run the throttle up and down. At specific throttle settings you would be able to see the servos jumping all over the place.

Good luck

(in reply to roadracer698)
       Post #: 15

RE: Blade CP Rapid and Random Altitude loss - 3/5/2006 12:44:25 AM   
roadracer698


 

Posts: 6
Joined: 2/17/2006
From: Lady Lake, FL, USA
Status: offline