Problems with my Edge.
03-28-2006 | 11:51 PM
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From: Grimes,
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Problems with my Edge.
Okay, so I've got the Aeroworks .46-.60 sized Edge 540T. I put an OS .61FX in it, a Futaba 6EXA, broke it in with a 12x6 prop and recently switched to an 11x7.
As of this morning I had about 4 flights on it and it was a very well-mannered plane. This afternoon, I took it out, gassed it up and took off. Flew the pattern for four or five laps to make sure it was still trimmed out etc...
I finally worked up the nerve to switch on the high rates, rolled inverted and yanked it through an outside loop. This is where things went south... After the loop, it decided it wanted to roll hard left. I tried to correct it, but it did it again. Switched it back to low rates and it still did it. About this time I have every R/C pilot's worst nightmare, an out of control plane headed for the pits. I cut the throttle and pointed it at the ground. Bent the crap out of the landing gear, but better it than some person.
After I bent the landing gear back, I checked the plane over for anything obvious that might be causing this. It's balanced fine, no loose covering that I could find, range tested it again and it passed, no slop in the control surfaces, nothing loose anywhere that I could find, no metal that could vibrate together to cause radio interference, stabilizers didn't come loose and are still straight. In short, it appeared that nothing was wrong.
I decided to put it back in the air to see if it did it again, thinking that maybe I just took a radio hit. I took off and it rolled hard left. Got it trimmed out so that it would fly straight and level again at about 1/2 throttle. I had to trim it way too much to get it to stay straight. And now, if I speed up, either with the throttle or in a dive, it still tries to roll left. If I stay around 1/2 - 2/3 throttle, it behaves.
Any suggestions?[sm=confused.gif]
As of this morning I had about 4 flights on it and it was a very well-mannered plane. This afternoon, I took it out, gassed it up and took off. Flew the pattern for four or five laps to make sure it was still trimmed out etc...
I finally worked up the nerve to switch on the high rates, rolled inverted and yanked it through an outside loop. This is where things went south... After the loop, it decided it wanted to roll hard left. I tried to correct it, but it did it again. Switched it back to low rates and it still did it. About this time I have every R/C pilot's worst nightmare, an out of control plane headed for the pits. I cut the throttle and pointed it at the ground. Bent the crap out of the landing gear, but better it than some person.
After I bent the landing gear back, I checked the plane over for anything obvious that might be causing this. It's balanced fine, no loose covering that I could find, range tested it again and it passed, no slop in the control surfaces, nothing loose anywhere that I could find, no metal that could vibrate together to cause radio interference, stabilizers didn't come loose and are still straight. In short, it appeared that nothing was wrong.
I decided to put it back in the air to see if it did it again, thinking that maybe I just took a radio hit. I took off and it rolled hard left. Got it trimmed out so that it would fly straight and level again at about 1/2 throttle. I had to trim it way too much to get it to stay straight. And now, if I speed up, either with the throttle or in a dive, it still tries to roll left. If I stay around 1/2 - 2/3 throttle, it behaves.
Any suggestions?[sm=confused.gif]
03-29-2006 | 07:57 AM
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From: hingham, MA
RE: Problems with my Edge.
on the tail surfaces did you check both sides of the elevator to make sure they both respond equally and with enough force. I have had one elevator break its connection before and it can look fine but get some dynamic airflow over it and it won't move and the other side moving makes it want to roll.
03-29-2006 | 09:24 AM
#5
RE: Problems with my Edge.
Check to make sure you don't have some broken teeth in one of the elevator servos. Sometimes engine vibration can cause one with broken teeth to slip. Also, if it has a couple of broken teeth they may only be apparent within a specific range - so when flying, you hit that "area" on the gear train and it can't hold its position.
Sounds like both elevator halves are not in synch to me. Considering it was flying fine and didn't do this until the outside loop makes me think something happened on that specific flight. Might be something other than the teeth but... is this two servos on the elevator or just one? What kind of linkage is it if its just a single servo?
Sounds like both elevator halves are not in synch to me. Considering it was flying fine and didn't do this until the outside loop makes me think something happened on that specific flight. Might be something other than the teeth but... is this two servos on the elevator or just one? What kind of linkage is it if its just a single servo?
03-29-2006 | 11:07 AM
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From: Grimes,
IA
RE: Problems with my Edge.
ORIGINAL: shakes268
Check to make sure you don't have some broken teeth in one of the elevator servos. Sometimes engine vibration can cause one with broken teeth to slip. Also, if it has a couple of broken teeth they may only be apparent within a specific range - so when flying, you hit that "area" on the gear train and it can't hold its position.
Sounds like both elevator halves are not in synch to me. Considering it was flying fine and didn't do this until the outside loop makes me think something happened on that specific flight. Might be something other than the teeth but... is this two servos on the elevator or just one? What kind of linkage is it if its just a single servo?
Check to make sure you don't have some broken teeth in one of the elevator servos. Sometimes engine vibration can cause one with broken teeth to slip. Also, if it has a couple of broken teeth they may only be apparent within a specific range - so when flying, you hit that "area" on the gear train and it can't hold its position.
Sounds like both elevator halves are not in synch to me. Considering it was flying fine and didn't do this until the outside loop makes me think something happened on that specific flight. Might be something other than the teeth but... is this two servos on the elevator or just one? What kind of linkage is it if its just a single servo?
You can kinda see the elevator in this pic from Aerowork's website.
03-29-2006 | 11:20 AM
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From: Trafford,
PA
RE: Problems with my Edge.
Dual aileron servos right? Is one of the servo mounts loose, or broken? screws loose for the servos? Could be something like this, if it is happening with increase in speed.
03-29-2006 | 11:32 AM
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From: Grimes,
IA
RE: Problems with my Edge.
Yeah. Dual aileron servos. I'll add that to my list of stuff to check when I get home from work tonight.
I'm gonna say it looks like I need to seal my hinge gaps too.
I'm gonna say it looks like I need to seal my hinge gaps too.
03-29-2006 | 11:53 AM
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From: Trafford,
PA
RE: Problems with my Edge.
With you saying it happens with an increase in speed i would go through hardware, horns, push rods, servos, and mounting, and yes always a good idea to have those gaps sealed.
03-29-2006 | 12:15 PM
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From: Spring Hill,
TN
RE: Problems with my Edge.
Is their a problem with the wood spar that connects the elevator halves? I have a Tiger 2 and the wooden spar got fuel soaked. The wooden spar did not break, but twist very easy. I had to disconnect it and added another push rod to connect another servo to the other elevator half. My $.02 worth.
Good Luck
Good Luck
03-29-2006 | 01:07 PM
#11
RE: Problems with my Edge.
Any mixing/coupling that isn't supposed to occur? Try dry flying the plane on the ground with the engine running (restrain plane) and watch for uncommanded movement of any surfaces. recheck all clevis's and pushrod attachments.
04-02-2006 | 09:12 PM
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From: Grimes,
IA
RE: Problems with my Edge.
Alright. Looked it over real good over the weekend. Tore everything apart. Went over the whole plane with an iron again, sealed the hinge gaps and reset my radio. I'll dry fly it then put it up and see what happens as soon as the weather cooperates.
04-02-2006 | 09:29 PM
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From: Minnetonka,
MN
RE: Problems with my Edge.
ORIGINAL: wraith0078
Okay, so I've got the Aeroworks .46-.60 sized Edge 540T. I put an OS .61FX in it, a Futaba 6EXA, broke it in with a 12x6 prop and recently switched to an 11x7.
As of this morning I had about 4 flights on it and it was a very well-mannered plane. This afternoon, I took it out, gassed it up and took off. Flew the pattern for four or five laps to make sure it was still trimmed out etc...
I finally worked up the nerve to switch on the high rates, rolled inverted and yanked it through an outside loop. This is where things went south... After the loop, it decided it wanted to roll hard left. I tried to correct it, but it did it again. Switched it back to low rates and it still did it. About this time I have every R/C pilot's worst nightmare, an out of control plane headed for the pits. I cut the throttle and pointed it at the ground. Bent the crap out of the landing gear, but better it than some person.
After I bent the landing gear back, I checked the plane over for anything obvious that might be causing this. It's balanced fine, no loose covering that I could find, range tested it again and it passed, no slop in the control surfaces, nothing loose anywhere that I could find, no metal that could vibrate together to cause radio interference, stabilizers didn't come loose and are still straight. In short, it appeared that nothing was wrong.
I decided to put it back in the air to see if it did it again, thinking that maybe I just took a radio hit. I took off and it rolled hard left. Got it trimmed out so that it would fly straight and level again at about 1/2 throttle. I had to trim it way too much to get it to stay straight. And now, if I speed up, either with the throttle or in a dive, it still tries to roll left. If I stay around 1/2 - 2/3 throttle, it behaves.
Any suggestions?[sm=confused.gif]
Okay, so I've got the Aeroworks .46-.60 sized Edge 540T. I put an OS .61FX in it, a Futaba 6EXA, broke it in with a 12x6 prop and recently switched to an 11x7.
As of this morning I had about 4 flights on it and it was a very well-mannered plane. This afternoon, I took it out, gassed it up and took off. Flew the pattern for four or five laps to make sure it was still trimmed out etc...
I finally worked up the nerve to switch on the high rates, rolled inverted and yanked it through an outside loop. This is where things went south... After the loop, it decided it wanted to roll hard left. I tried to correct it, but it did it again. Switched it back to low rates and it still did it. About this time I have every R/C pilot's worst nightmare, an out of control plane headed for the pits. I cut the throttle and pointed it at the ground. Bent the crap out of the landing gear, but better it than some person.
After I bent the landing gear back, I checked the plane over for anything obvious that might be causing this. It's balanced fine, no loose covering that I could find, range tested it again and it passed, no slop in the control surfaces, nothing loose anywhere that I could find, no metal that could vibrate together to cause radio interference, stabilizers didn't come loose and are still straight. In short, it appeared that nothing was wrong.
I decided to put it back in the air to see if it did it again, thinking that maybe I just took a radio hit. I took off and it rolled hard left. Got it trimmed out so that it would fly straight and level again at about 1/2 throttle. I had to trim it way too much to get it to stay straight. And now, if I speed up, either with the throttle or in a dive, it still tries to roll left. If I stay around 1/2 - 2/3 throttle, it behaves.
Any suggestions?[sm=confused.gif]
04-05-2006 | 01:30 PM
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From: Grimes,
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RE: Problems with my Edge.
Problem solved.
I sealed the hinge gaps and she flies fine with a little LEFT trim in the ailerons, which is as it should be since the wing came out slightly tweaked after I joined it.
I also learned in reading around that my Futaba S3004s were too weak, as they only put out 44oz of torque at 4.8 volts and Aeroworks recommends a servo with 60oz for 3D flight. The S3004 puts out 57oz at 6 volts, so I just bought a 6 volt receiver battery. I don't really do 3D outside of the simulator anyway, so that should do the trick. Oh, and I stuck a 13x5 prop on there. The plane behaves itself perfectly at all speeds now.
I sealed the hinge gaps and she flies fine with a little LEFT trim in the ailerons, which is as it should be since the wing came out slightly tweaked after I joined it.
I also learned in reading around that my Futaba S3004s were too weak, as they only put out 44oz of torque at 4.8 volts and Aeroworks recommends a servo with 60oz for 3D flight. The S3004 puts out 57oz at 6 volts, so I just bought a 6 volt receiver battery. I don't really do 3D outside of the simulator anyway, so that should do the trick. Oh, and I stuck a 13x5 prop on there. The plane behaves itself perfectly at all speeds now.
