Axe CP loose tail boom  
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Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/24/2008 12:35:30 AM   
9hamflyer


 

Posts: 4
Joined: 3/24/2008
From: Joliet, IL, USA
Status: offline 		I hate posting my problems without having helped anybody else first, but hopefully I will eventually get the chance to get better and help others. Until then.....
I have had many hard landings with my Axe CP. Several sets of blades and some other small parts later, I finally got up the gall to get it higher in the air (6 ft.). Well, it took off and hit a wall. Now I need several more parts.
To get to the point, I have noticed that the tail boom seems to be loose and twists very easily. When I have a "hard landing", the vertical fin taps the floor and the boom twists again. The four screws that hold it in don't seem to tighten down much. It is almost like they are stripped. Should I replace the frame? What about changing it to nut and bolt instead of bolt into plastic?
For what I have put it through, it is a pretty tough bird. I would rather small parts break instead of larger, more expensive ones.
Are there any other changes I should make to this before I try to get it in the air again?

Thanks for your help,
Kevin
       Post #: 1

RE: Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/24/2008 2:06:17 AM   
Shadow99


 

Posts: 385
Joined: 8/23/2007
From: Southwick, MA, USA
Status: offline 		I replaced the 4 stock screws with 4 M2x25 socket head cap screws & nuts (locktited on). I had to drill out some counterbores for the nuts to fit in, but there's plenty of material there, just go slow. The other fix I've used was to squeeze a piece of double-sided tape between the rear frame members & the tail boom end.
Walmart carries 8mm x 14" long knitting needles in a variety of colors, 2 for under 4 bucks. Cut the head off, measure length of original boom & cut needle to length. Drill out one end to 7mm (for tail motor stud), & cross drill a hole for the tail motor stud retaining bolt. Then you'll have an almost indestructable tail boom for cheap money, and they used to fit better in the frame.

Shadow


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"Growing older is MANDATORY... Growing up is OPTIONAL!"

(in reply to 9hamflyer)
       Post #: 2

RE: Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/24/2008 11:52:31 AM   
Flying Foot Doc


 

Posts: 344
Joined: 7/11/2002
From: Jupiter, FL, USA
Status: offline 		I did the knitting needle replacement. I ended up drilling thru the mounting block and putting in a screw to stop the twisiting. Be careful of the wires, Doc

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Trex 450SA In GATOR colors, Raptor 30, I can hover now! JR Airskipper 50 kit next build

(in reply to Shadow99)
       Post #: 3

RE: Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/24/2008 1:47:06 PM   
rcollector


 

Posts: 95
Joined: 12/1/2004
From: , FL, USA
Status: offline 		On mine I found that no matter how tight you got the four screws the boom would still move so I drilled a small hole between two of the stock screws and threaded a 4-40 set screw in that tightens down against the boom and locks it in place. Works great!

< Message edited by rcollector -- 3/24/2008 2:00:10 PM >

(in reply to Flying Foot Doc)
       Post #: 4

RE: Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/24/2008 9:22:59 PM   
PilotLight



Posts: 837
Joined: 8/15/2003
From: Benton Harbor, MI, USA
Status: offline 		I forgot I had the same problem quite a long time ago. I CAREFULLY tightened the four screws in the frame that hold the boom. Then I tried the same technique with the vertical fin. Sure enough, the piece of plastic that goes across the fin broke. The final result was to glue the small piece of plastic and the fin to the tail boom. No more rotating tail boom problems since.

Tweak it 'till its perfect, crash, rebuild, repeat.

(in reply to rcollector)
       Post #: 5

RE: Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/24/2008 10:28:33 PM   
MMatheny


 

Posts: 805
Joined: 1/23/2003
From: Dickinson, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I just wrapped the tailboom with cellophane tape where it fits into the rear of the heli.

_____________________________

Mike
"Never use your shins as a blade tracking device" - Mike

(in reply to PilotLight)
       Post #: 6

RE: Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/25/2008 10:00:12 AM   
Rotor13B


 

Posts: 253
Joined: 5/19/2003
From: Co
Status: offline 		Get some Dubro 2x6 self tapping cap screws, They fit perfectly.

(in reply to MMatheny)
       Post #: 7

RE: Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/25/2008 4:33:05 PM   
MMatheny


 

Posts: 805
Joined: 1/23/2003
From: Dickinson, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Yeah, but that isn't the problem - if you use the knitting needle tail booms, they are SLIGHTLY smaller in diameter, and even a vise won't clamp it tight!

_____________________________

Mike
"Never use your shins as a blade tracking device" - Mike

(in reply to Rotor13B)
       Post #: 8

RE: Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/27/2008 3:07:13 PM   
Mavrik1


 

Posts: 42
Joined: 2/3/2008
From: none, NM, USA
Status: offline 		Flair the end with the shaft of a punch.

Scotch tape is the easiest, one doesn't have to take the boom off.

(in reply to MMatheny)
       Post #: 9

RE: Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/30/2008 3:44:29 AM   
9hamflyer


 

Posts: 4
Joined: 3/24/2008
From: Joliet, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks all for the ideas. I replaced the 4 screws with m4's. Yes, they were bigger, so they threaded in more tightly. AFter I did that, I found that the tail boom was still loose (too late to go back to the smaller screws now!). I drilled another hole through the chassis and in to the boom. Screwed in a shorter screw and the boom is snug as ever.
I learned a lot about taking this thing apart throughout this repair. I had it looking like the exploded parts view at one point. Hopefully I will never have to take it that far apart again. That being said, I'm sure I will....
Thanks again for the ideas.

Kevin

(in reply to Mavrik1)
       Post #: 10

RE: Axe CP loose tail boom - 3/30/2008 4:57:42 AM   
Flying Foot Doc


 

Posts: 344
Joined: 7/11/2002
From: Jupiter, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Good for you, these are trainers and they give their lives to teach us. It usually doesn't make them any prettier, but they fly better like that... Doc

_____________________________

Trex 450SA In GATOR colors, Raptor 30, I can hover now! JR Airskipper 50 kit next build

(in reply to 9hamflyer)
       Post #: 11

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