RE: ball link binding
I had the same problem. After a repair and replacement of some linkages, the new ones would bind and not allow the props to pitch correctly until a ridiculous RPM then my Axe would shoot off the ground like a rocket. The only fix I could come up with was honing out the linkage very slightly with a scapel blade and putting some machine oil on the ball links themselves. That corrected the problem for me. Somebody needs to be more attentive to specs at the factory!!
Good Luck,
EM