RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (Full Version)

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xodarap1 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (3/16/2008 1:43:28 PM)

quote:

7s A123 (2300mah) 4-7 min
6s 2200 3-6 min
6s 3300 7-10 min

It highly depends on your flying style. If you notice the range also depends on your gearing, blade (CF or wood)... etc etc.\

The 3300s are my favorite, power and long flight times + perfect CG to boot.


I'm running the metal head, Z20A motor with 16T pinion. My run times are about the same with the carbon or wood blades. The rest of the heli is stock.
The Kong Power 2200 25C batteries that i'm running in series are cheaper by far bang for the buck (compared to every other battery option I've seen listed in H550 threads) and haven't showed any signs of puffing or getting weak and i fly the heck out of em. I'm getting 5:40 to 6:00 of flight time doing a combo of sport and 3-d flying and still have power to spare when i land.



xodarap1 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (3/27/2008 4:48:25 AM)

Here are two short video clips of the H550 that were taken with my razor cell phone (the quality of the video is dumpy.. sorry). My 11yr old daughter was the camera person so it's not real steady heheh.. but she tried. I've gotta find someone with a better camera to take some vids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edia8am6stM&feature=user

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkzsp7P1Kik&feature=user



blk822 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (3/27/2008 5:38:48 AM)

I'm using Kong Powers 2200nah 25c and hovered yesterday for 8 min. and still had 11.6 volts.



xodarap1 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (3/27/2008 6:46:34 AM)

quote:

I'm using Kong Powers 2200nah 25c and hovered yesterday for 8 min. and still had 11.6 volts.


I don't doubt that. I just never tried to hover for 8 min in normal or idle up modes. The reason I'm getting the shorter flight times I do with the 2200's is because I'm running a larger than stock pinion at high s1 and s2 curves, have the Rex 600 landing gear, dual lipo alarms.. and I usually am a little hard on the collective :)



xodarap1 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (3/28/2008 1:58:55 AM)

Well, I guess I'm hard on the cyclic as well lol.. not that hard 3-D should snap links in flight though.

Today I had a close call with the H550. I was coming out of a loop into level flight, then did a double roll. As I was completing the second roll the heli's blades started making a wicked flapping noise and it was difficult to control.

I switched back to normal mode and was able to set her down easy without any damage. Upon inspection I found a broken 204538 Double Link (L30). If you know this heli and what that part does, it's amazing that i got it on the ground without crashing it. The loud flapping noise was the one carbon blade fluttering because it was only being controlled by the adjustable linkage rod! The RCP blades are heavy blades and i was amazed that the linkage and ends held together without the double link attached at all.

I replaced the Gaui stock L30 Double Links with a RCmart genuine replacement parts and then tested them out doing the same double roll maneuver again.. it held fine (at least for now). Did a few inverted hovers with hard punch outs into rolls and it still held..

Looking at the stock Gaui link that wasn't broken i could see in the middle of the link where there are marks from the molding process. It would seem that there is a weak spot in the middle of these links.

* Please be sure to check your L30 links so you don't have a similar part failure.

This heli was never crashed and the head is set up properly, so there is no reason that my hard flying should have been able to cause this kind of part failure in the air.

If anyone knows of a vendor that carries stronger double link sets for the H550, please let me know because I'm not feeling peachy about flying hard with these double links anymore.



mjdee14 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (3/30/2008 4:22:38 AM)

Just make your own link with two end links



Druss -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (3/30/2008 5:15:11 AM)

those links are pretty small, not sure if you can even do that... it would have to be a full threaded rod.



xodarap1 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (3/30/2008 6:47:29 PM)

Making a link with threaded rod and link ends should work fine, but there is a lot of stress on that thick plastic part and it might be the reason Gaui went with that instead of the thinner walled link ends and rod (which are ok push and pull, but i don't know about any twisting loads.. the link ends might split/spin/crack?). It is a funky mixing setup where the L-30's attach and i can only observe how it functions when it's on the bench.

Who knows.. maybe I just happened to get a dud L-30 part..?

The only concern i had with making a replacement link with rod and ends was in using ca in the link ends to hold them in the positions to match the stock bone (i don't know if the link ends breaking free and turning in flight would matter for a link in this location and application) and any twisting force that it may encounter during flight.

Well, I hated to sit and ruin new parts, but after the other day when this thing snapped, I'd rather test this stuff on the ground instead of in the air where the failure could hurt someone (or worse).

I decided to brush on a fine coat of epoxy onto the mid section of one of the double links and then a coating of gorilla glue on another and clear nail polish on yet another to test to see if it would make them stronger without increasing the diameter of the shaft that much. By adding too much, the clearance of the flybar cage could then be an issue at extreme travel ranges. *The L-30's should not hit/pressure the flybar cage when the controls are moved to their extremes if the head is set up/adjusted properly.

To test, I secured one end of the L-30 with the middle of the link over a straight edge, then added weights on a cable to the other end to stress test it with a 30 degree pendulum weight swing . Did the same with another new one without the coatings..and two of the coatings did help to make it stronger. The epoxy coating worked best, then the nail polish (believe it or not lol), then the gorilla glue (the gorilla glule one failed close to the uncoated L-30). The epoxy coated one was the hardest one to snap. *I have not tested a threaded rod w/ plastic link end yet to be able to compare those results.
The important thing to mention after all this long winded stuff is that ALL of the L-30's took a LOT of weight before they snapped.. With AND without the coatings. This tells me that those parts are under some serious stress in flight, especially in a high powered roll or other moves at high head speed.

I'm really leaning towards my just getting pack of weak parts or weak batch as the cause of this failure. I guess it wasn't a total waste of parts and time.. What I did learn from all of this is that coating the L-30's (and other links) with a quick brush of epoxy or nail polish will make the links a bit stronger So.. until someone comes out with stronger links, you can have em in a few seconds.

Since it's first hover though, the H550 continues to be a great performer (except for this one part failure). It is smooth, has lots of power and is very good in heavy winds. I've had no issues with the other H550 with the carbon frame, but both have metal heads, same 500 RCP blades..

If anyone has a L-30 part failure or any other failure in the H550 parts, (besides the gears from using monster power setups), please let me know.

Thanks!

Steve :)



blk822 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/5/2008 3:10:33 AM)

I laid over my 550 landing and broke the grips and levers, replaced them and then tried to fly again and during spin down the blades got out of alignment and it started to shake and fell over again and broke the same parts. I think I need to tighten the blade grips some more.But when hovering it is sooooooo smooth.



xodarap1 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/5/2008 7:58:59 AM)

I was concerned about that same kinda thing happening because I take off and land em in a bumpy grass field. As soon as I got the H550's I got two sets of the T-Rex 600 gear and it works well on em.. a bit more weight, but more stable. I think the stock gear is too narrow, especially for the taller carbon framed 550.. I guess the stock gear is fine if you have a golf course kinda lawn or paved smooth area to fly at, but I don't.



fw190 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/5/2008 8:59:07 AM)

The big Trex 600 landing do help a lot specially with visibility. I am learning to end my flights in autorotate 1 feet at a time and the wide gears help tremendously.

Here is a video I just uploaded, I fly high because I am still learning tricks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR7BEUS35-w

My current setup

Z30, 8sA123 2600HS at 100% flat, 2400HS at 85% flat 3.5-4 min flight
ESC-CC85HV
RCPII 500 Blade
Short Tail Kit
Trex 600 gears and tail grips
Custom Heli Parts - Carbon Frame
GY401, 9254 tail
S9650 Cyclic



ArrowNaughtic -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/16/2008 4:29:00 AM)

Heres a vid of blk822''s Hurricane.......... His is so smooth and docile compared to my Swift 16. I gotta say he did a fine rebuild..twice.......lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G67aQ7FwRM


_____________________________________________________________________________________


Of all the things I ever lost....................................... I miss my mind the most!



RC David -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/16/2008 7:59:38 AM)

Hey guys!

Glad you''re really liking your Hurricane 550''s.

I''ve read a couple reviews (and all your posts) and I''m trying to hold back ;-)

If you''ve also flown a Thunder Tiger E550 Raptor, please read my new thread and let me know your opinions on how they compare. The only other one I''m considering (in 3rd place so to speak) is the HDX550 from HeliDirect.

This will only be my 2nd heli so it will have to keep me satisfied (until next year anyway ;-) )

THANKS!!!


Dave D.



ea01bg -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/16/2008 11:40:10 PM)

I just got in my first forward flight! I did several halfmoons, I would start out hovering at about 20 ft. trun it to the right and drop the nose. i'd fly about 50ft gaining a bit of alt. and do a gentle 180 turn to the left fly aross the field another 50 or 60 ft. then chicken out and bring it to a tail in hover drop some alt and bring it tail in back then side in to the starting point. I didnt feel comfortable enought to nose in yet. I repeated this for 9 min. I LOVE THIS HOBBY!!!![:D]

Over the winter i swaped out the stock plastice canopy for the red and white fibrerglass and picked up four zappy or zippy 3300 mah batteries from Hobby City. I'm getting 10 min out of them with my flying and the stock motor they are just barely warm to the touch post flight, not bad for a $45 battery[X(] Somewhere during the flight I lost the nuts on the front landing skid mounts. I'm going to give the whole heli a good post flight to be sure othing else lossened up. I think my next upgrades will be a set of T-Rex 600 skids (or just the brackets 0 and a z-20 motor.



ea01bg -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/16/2008 11:47:25 PM)

ArrowNaughtic ,
wouldnt he have an easyer time if he got it a bit higher, out of ground effect?



ea01bg -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/16/2008 11:50:38 PM)

fw190 ,
On the T-Rex landing gear, Did you just replace the brackets or the whole thing (tubes and all)?
At one point during my forward flight the Heli got out there a bit and I started to loss orintation. Better visibility would be a big plus.
Thanks
Brian G



blk822 -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/17/2008 2:02:55 AM)

Hi I have the trex 600 landing gear on the the video Arow posted. I had to hog out the holes just a bit to make them fit. They are alot more stout than the stock gear and I think they look good. And the heli hovers just as good at low level as it does at higher level. I'm still trying to get my hover higher, I just get real nervous getting higher. I'm just starting to do Forward flight with the HBK2. I just don't want to crash my new Baby. And Arrow is a great pilot and he's doing pretty good with his swift also.



ea01bg -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/18/2008 12:30:29 AM)

Well my asking about the landing gear was fortuitus, I took the day off work today, Its was a nice spring day to fly and I wanted to rpeat my forward flights from yesterday. I got into a 10 ft or so hover and was about to get started when the motor quit. The heli hit hard, this is the 1st time Ive had a motor quit on me. she hit hard. The only damage I found was the broken skid mount. I've ordered the Trek skids as a replacment. When I got the heli home I took the skids off and the blades and it spun up like nothing was wrong. Any Ideas on what could have caused this?



bigairlife -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/18/2008 12:58:35 AM)

Were all your connectors connected properly. Maybe you just had a bad radio glitch. What radio are you using?



Kaelan -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/18/2008 1:03:55 AM)

maybe the ESC wasn't connected firmly in the receiver... the hard landing reseated it



RC David -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/18/2008 6:36:52 AM)

Steve,

Forgive this delayed question but in ref to:

<Since it's first hover though, the H550 continues to be a great performer (except for this one part failure). It is smooth, has lots of power and is very good in heavy winds. I've had no issues with the other H550 with the carbon frame, but both have metal heads, same 500 RCP blades.. >

Where did you find a Hurricane 550 with CF frame AND metal heads? I read the review in the Feb. RC Heli and the reviewer said that GAUI did not yet make that combination (CF frame/metal head).

I'm comparing it to the Thunder Tiger E550 Raptor (I have the mini-Titan) but I'm really liking the H550.

If it's still only available in...

A) Plastic frame/aluminum head

OR

B) CF frame/plastic head, which would you recommend for me (you remember I'm a noob right -))


No 3D here. I just want STABLE hover/flight with the most strength in the "weakest" areas.

Anyone else (Druss) want to make a recommendation?

The version reviewed in RC Heli was the XES Pro SE


Thanks,

Dave D.



ea01bg -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/18/2008 2:28:15 PM)

bigairlife ,
I'm using a Futaba 2.4 ghz should be glitch free. I'm going to check the antena placement again. to make sure I wasnt the victim of shadowing. I should have the landing skids fixed by this weekend so I'll be able to test everythink.
Thanks
Brian G



Kaelan -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/18/2008 5:53:19 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RC David

Steve,

Forgive this delayed question but in ref to:

<Since it's first hover though, the H550 continues to be a great performer (except for this one part failure). It is smooth, has lots of power and is very good in heavy winds. I've had no issues with the other H550 with the carbon frame, but both have metal heads, same 500 RCP blades.. >

Where did you find a Hurricane 550 with CF frame AND metal heads? I read the review in the Feb. RC Heli and the reviewer said that GAUI did not yet make that combination (CF frame/metal head).

I'm comparing it to the Thunder Tiger E550 Raptor (I have the mini-Titan) but I'm really liking the H550.

If it's still only available in...

A) Plastic frame/aluminum head

OR

B) CF frame/plastic head, which would you recommend for me (you remember I'm a noob right -))


No 3D here. I just want STABLE hover/flight with the most strength in the "weakest" areas.

Anyone else (Druss) want to make a recommendation?

The version reviewed in RC Heli was the XES Pro SE


Thanks,

Dave D.




you can buy the metal head separate and install it on the CF version. there are a few sites that sell a "SE" version of the CF Hurricane, that includes a complete metal head as a bonus (for an extra fee).. is it a kit that is offered by Gaui in that configuration... No... but it's out there. http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_30_36&products_id=1954 that's just one example..

I'm fairly new to heli's as well.. I don't do 3D and have just started playing with FF on my 450. I'm ordering the CF version of the H550.. why, because CF is stronger and lighter than plastic. is CF a must have?? no, not at all. there are a lot of H550 pilots that have the plastic frame and love it. CF does cost a LOT more if you break it in a crash. Metal isn't needed to learn to fly.. neither is CF.. I would suggest upgrading the elevator and pitch/roll arms to CNC ones to eliminate the offset as well as a different motor. I'll be using the z20a-980.. it has plenty of power and is easy on the lipos.. 2200mah 25-30c is fine for that motor... a 13t or 14 pinion and the head speed is in the 1800-2000rpm range which is more than enough to fly with. if you plan on a head speed over that, then start thinking about upgrading to metal grips and CF blades. another upgrade would be the OWB. the 19t OWB is known to have problems.. slipping and splitting.. the 20T OWB seams a lot stronger and I haven't seen any reports of that one slipping .



ea01bg -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/18/2008 11:42:09 PM)

Update The gear came in today i got it installed put the blades back on and did an 8 min hover. Everything was fine. I may never know for sure what happened. The Trex-600 skids are nice. It raised the Heli a bit and the wider stance is nice.
I'm going to take it out and do some high hovers tomarrow. If everything goes well its back to learning ff.



RC David -> RE: My Hurricane 550's first Hover (4/19/2008 7:56:07 AM)

Thanks Kaelan.

I had a feeling that special combo might be available somewhere.

My problem now is that I've read some horror stories about a major tail problem that is causing crashes. I think the guys are swapping in a T-Rex 600 tail. I don't really want to buy a new heli that NEEDS this (or any) upgrade just to fly without a part failure so I think I'll watch this issue for a while.

Not that I was going to buy the H550 next week but I was thinking maybe early summer.

What is the OWB?

I found out that the Thunder Tiger E550 REQUIRES a 6s 4000 Mah+ Li-Po so at the moment this H550 is the only heli that I'm interested in. Mainly because I don't want to have to spend $1,000.00 on 3 6s Li-Po's and $200.00 on a 5-6 cell balancing charger.


Dave D.



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