Today I had a Futaba S3004 fail in a Twist. Slowly the right aileron fully extended and stuck that way. My best efforts eventually failed and the Twist hit the ground in a spiraling dive. Long story! RIP Twist fuse.
A while back a S3003 servo would do the same but recover. Just loop for bit as it was the elevator servo. Took me a while to narrow it down to the servo as it was intermittent.
3 more S3004 have had to have new gears installed.
I have been flying a little over a year and my 3-D skills are modest. I rarely stress these things but with the barn door surfaces it apparently does not take much. Both the Twist and the Funtana were/are set up for max throws on the horns and arms but still short of max suggested. Used supplied arms with the servo's and included horns with those two planes. I use stiffer rods and more durable clevises. Also don't use the CA hinges, both have pinned hinges that swing freely.

I have read plenty today but there is much experience and honesty here!

Opinions on servo's from here will be greatly appreciated. What is dependable and; if possible; not incredibly pricy.
I have a 40 Funtana and that I fear to fly now as it has the S3004's in it and the Twist is repairable....same servo's.

I set myself up Futaba. 6APS pcm tx....fm and pcm rx's.

Thanks Michael

I don't know what you call pricy, but I have been using Futaba 9402 servos on 6V in both my Funtana 40 and 90, and have had no problem. In fact, I have been using them in all planes up to 1.20 size (or 1/4 scale) for almost 5 years, and had not a single one fail. I do fly a lot of 3D, so my servos do work hard.

All depends on your budget. My budget is a little tight with kids and a wife that thinks the Mall is home, so I stay away from digital. I used to swear by Futaba 3010's,I think they are $23 and at 6v 90oz. / .16sec. The way I fly, after 25-40 flights they would get really sloppy. So I switched to Hitec HS 635 HB's, they are the Carbonite geared ones, at 6v 83oz./ .15sec, they run about $29 each and come with high strength servo arms. I think I have over 130 flights on the first set of Hitec's, and they are just as tight as the first flight!

I use 3004's on 6V on all my .46 size profiles and have never had a problem. Stronger servos might solve the problem but try a little throttle management first

Not sure what I call pricy either. Its not a cheap hobby, just trying to keep it as inexpensive as possible without sacraficing qualty and reliabilty.
S3004 are inexepensive and in my experience cheap. 4 or 5 either electronically failed or the center small gear stripped each instance.
As for the throttle management advice. Good advise but I was floating along 1/4 throttle when this happened. It was out of trim so I was just attempting to trim it level it until my brain wraped around the fact I had a real problem when I had no dail trim left.


Thanks

I agree about the HB (hitec) servos. I have been using them since they first came out without any failures.

Thanks for the info on the Hi-tecs. Sounds like a plan.

Jim C.

i used a s3003s on my funtana .40 and flew it for well over 6 months and i put that thing through hell and never had a servo fail lol, running on 4.8v too!

My Funtana is fine thus far too and I have been flying it over a year. How about that!! I have had the S3004 strip in other planes. I would also like to point out the TX that day was on low rates.
Thanks for the opinions but I know the S3004's fail. It is the same gear each time and electronics twice.
Use the S3004 if they work for you. I have several to sell. They don't hold up for me. So drop suggesting that servo to me.

Try Futaba 3305's. They provide about 130 oz on 6v and are only about $40 each.

Going to replace all my 3-D or fun fly planes with Hitec 635 or better. Karbonite geared. Keep the Futaba 3004's for the throttles.
Digital High Torque are most desirable but that is what I call pricey.
Thanks
Michael