Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Hi all... Hope your new year is starting off great!! Well, as for me
mine started with a little glitch:-( At the field today my ailirons
had a few glitches (all other controls were fine) (Even with my 4*
pulling into a hover at about 10-15' right after lift-off:-).. Sorry I
had to throw that in.. That was a first for me:))))))))))
It would every now and then drop the right wing and or jerk
without me moving the stick. And when correcting after this glitch
I seem to have complete control. Thought it was maybe wind, but
no as it did it again with little to no wind, after acouple min. I landed
and checked everything on the plane except in the wing (extension
plugs) also did range check with and without engine running and it
all checked out great at 100'+ I also replaced the batteries in the
trans. and onboard battery, well I quick charged the onboard but it
tested ok before that.. And my Freq. was clear.. But samething on
my next min. or so flight... Guess I'll pull the wing servos and look
at the connectors/wires.. Any other things to check do.. Plane has
not crashed and RD 8000/pack is under 9mo. old and have been
checked once already by airtronics about 5mo. ago after I dropped
my radio on the carpet and broke the throttle gimbal:-( Thanks
in advance for tips/help... Have a Great New Year People!!

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

It will be hard to say ... my SU31 does that a lot and I could not get to the bottom of it. On another set up I got it bad and I lost 3 planes ... found out my 'glitch' was caused by my RX antenna being cut in half (always make sure you have something to take the strain off the antenna, use a button or old horn to keep the antenna being pulled out of the plane). That causes low range and when the ends touch it causes a glitch. Just my 2 cents ...

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Hi again tIANci... The ant. wire is fine, fully extended and has strain
relief(horns) at both the inlet tube and exit at tail wheel from the
begining of my 4* life. Which I hope will continue for a long while
more:-)... But I'm thinking maybe not... now:-(

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Suggest checking radio with engine running, and do it at all throttle settings. Had similiar situation, couldn't find problem, passed range check, but turned out that as you increased throttle, servo moved as well. Turned out that servo lead had rubbed on mounting screw and worn thru insulation. Wires would only short when vibration from engine moved them. Very puzzling and almost lost airplane over it.


Andy

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

I lost a 4* 60 with identical symptoms. It done the exact same thing as yours just before the ailerons locked into full throw position and it rolled over and went in. Post crash revealed the servo extension connector inside the wing had a bad connection. Since I was using a Y harness it affected both ailerons causing them to lock into one position.

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

WCB.. Bad connection??.. wires pulled out of connector, chafing bare wire?
I just removed the receiver and checked all the wires/plugs etc.,( I'm using
two channels only because I wanted to see if flaps would help flat spinning
of the 4*...No) all looked in perfect shape including ant. and ant wire is as
far away as possible. So I stringed and taped the wire of the wing servo and
pulled the rt. side out, again all looked to be brand new and fully connected..
So I moved the wing somewhat ^%$#*&^ and the weight of the servo
wire started it sliding off the wing.... And #@*(&%$^... NO.. I did not tie
something to the other side of the string:-( I made it Soooo long, I thought
it would be OK and it was, except it was not long enought to go from the table
to the floor and still say in the wing... Anyway at least I know all is good with
the Rt. side, I'm still going to ohm the wires and move them around just in
case.. But the way it looks, I don't think I'll find anything wrong.. So now
starting to think how big a cut I need to make so I can get the wire back in:-(
And because of that... I will continue tomorrow.... Darn another no fly day....

Andy... I was moving the throttle (while airborn) when I had the problem
just to see if that had anything to cause it.. And you know it did seem to
stop the problem when I was at idle but I really did not test that long.. It's
kind of a funny feeling:-( So I landed.. But I did cycle the engine along with
moving the ailirons with the trans ant. down from about 50' on the bench
and no problems?? Well if you read above... my Rt. side looks to be good
But because I was so dumb.... I had to stop and will continue tomorrow:-(

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

My connection "looked ok" too, but when I wiggled the servo leads at the connector the ailerons starting going crazy then locked into position. Apparently the connector at the servo extension was bad.

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Raideron, did the " glitch " happen near the same spot area over the ground each time ?
The reason I ask is the field where I fly has some violent updrafts and down drafts on calm days in one area. The first time I hit them I just knew I was having a mechanical malfunction or a radio hit, until I realized that no matter what the servos did my plane was not capable of maneuvers like the ones it was doing.
Just a thought.

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Thanks again WCB.. I still need to check it that way.. After what
happened I had to call it a day.. I hope it's something simple as
that.. Because now that I think about this... I remember the last
time I was out flying and moved the flap switch while on the bench
my ailirons went up instead of down... And that should not have
changed.. Anyway the checks will go on :-) and if nothing is found
guess I'll have a longer wait to fly again:-(

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

SeaDog, As a matter of fact it was about in the same area(2)..
But I thought the same thing, So I was trying to remain calm
and fly in that area.. But than a fellow member saw what the
plane was doing on my third try and he said it was not the wind,
needless to say I got alittle more nervous so I just came in for
a landing to take it home and check it out before trying again..
I must admit I've flown this plane quite a lot, in different conditions
and I have never have it act the way it did today...

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Yes, better safe than sorry.. Even though I had been warned about the updrafts months prior to the event I still almost wet myself when I saw my plane try to flip its self onto its back while shooting strait up like a rocket. [&:]
FWIW I have found that at my field the updrafts run along the tree line, and down draft is common where the water is standing after rain, or sometimes the end of the runway where the concrete meets the grass.[X(]
Anyway where there's an updraft, there will be a down draft too, that's why I prefer a breeze. when I fly[8D]

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Thanks SeaDog... Well I still have not made it back to working/testing
on my 4*60.. But will...., I did use my radio on my Dazzler yesterday
with no problems... But I use a "Y" on the Dazzler, And two channels on
the 4*.... And today it's raining in the desert.. Didn't think it did that here:)
In any case I still have not made it to work on it yet.. But looks like I have
time... And I'm still trying to find a cheap Twist/ 70-82 4c along with floats
for my Avistar:-)

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

You may have a pot in the one servo going sour. Try swapping in another servo. See if the problem goes away. If It does then you have it. You may also want to try a heavyer guage wire in the extension. Sometimes on long extensions you get too much resistance and the servo's cannot draw enough power and kinda go nuts. I hope this helps.

Mark Shuman

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Thank's Mark.. If I don't find any other problems I might try switching
the servos.. I have the bushing one's on my Avistar, Don't think I'll
try the ones in the Dazzler there the non "Z" type... But.. Anyway
thanks... But one thing wounldn't the servo do the problem when I was
testing it on the bench... All worked great while on the ground, Trans.
ant. down from about 100' with and without the engine running????
Anyway, It maybe a little longer before I get back to it.. Have to head
to Vegas for more work on the "bosses" back and we may stay a few
days:-(....

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Sounds to me like a problem with corsion in the aileron extensions or a servo pot going bad.

Both of those problems can cause a servo to act funny at odd times, including working fine most of the time, but randomly jittering, or missing center or responding slowly once in a while.

On your aileron extensions, are you using gold connectors, or are the connector pins and sockets silver in color? Gold connectors don't corode, so they are better when you won't be plugging and unplugging frequently (the plugging and unplugging can rub the connectors clean somtimes).

I'd pull the servo(s) and the extenstions.

Are you using 2 extensions per servo? One from the RX to the wing (where you disconnect it), and another inside the wing? If so, you might consider cutting the servo lead and soldering on long leads that go all the way through the wing, getting rid of one connection (and failure point). Obviously, if you aren't comfortable with a soldering iron, this isn't the time to learn.

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Oh, as for getting the aileron lead back in the wing... Try gluing a bit of string to a 2-56 bolt and holding the wing up on a wingtip. You should be able to drop it down the wing. You might have to shake the wing around a little to get it to bounce the right way, but with a little work, you can get a string back through there. (been there, done that)

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Hey Kirk. Yeah two gold extensions per... I may solder it.. Good point. I
hope the pot isn't bad, there only about 7 months old, But they did
get quite a work out in that time, 3-6 flights 3-4 days a week.. Is there
a way to test the pot??? Hate to just randomly change them if I don't
find anything else wrong.. I do know the rt. ext. is not corroded and it
all looks brand new..
I alsohad practice on dropping the string out then back in while I was putting
the 4* together... Seems like I would have learnt better

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Well, Just an update.. I'm sure noone wants to here:-).. Well I inspected
checked, pulled and twisted wires/connections and all just works fine while
bench testing, nothing really found.. Did find Lt. wing extension "slightly"
pulled apart... Not sure if it happened while taking it out.. But anyway I
found something so guess I'll give it a try... Wish me luck people.. Not sure
when my test flight will be since it's suppose to rain for the next three days
here in the desert... But the plane is on the charger and as ready as I now
can get it... So what the hey, we're going for it:-)

RE: Tips and thoughts:-)
 

Dang it's just me again... Can't fly... Result... More posting:-(

Well this should be my last on this subject.. Hey now be nice...
I made it to the field before the rain:-) My flight only lasted about
5 minutes:-(.... and my glitch reared it's awful self again... Darn...
Anyway we landed with no problem... So now "all" my radio gear is
heading to Airtronics for a "free" check up.... Is it a guarantee that
they will find the problem????????????????
Have a Great one All..... Be Safe and Have Fun... Me I'm waiting:(