Problems with servos
 

I have two problems with my servos. The first one is that my rudder/steer wheel servo seems to have a constant hum coming from it especially after moving the controls. If I move the servo arm manually slightly it will stop the hum. Will this effect anything such as battery drain etc? The other problem is that when I move my rudder the elevator will also move slightly. I do not think that it has anything to do with the control rods touching as far as I can see anyway and I thought it was as if the servos were picking up the signal from the other servo. Can this happen and can it be fixed?

Thanks again,

Troy.

Re: Problems with servos
 

What you are hearing is the servo straining to move to the postion dictated by the receiver. Disconnect the servo arm and check how much pressure is required to move the surface. There probably is a bind in the control linkage. Once eliminated the hum will generally go away. This condition can cause excessive battery drain and eventually a crash. Check this before flying!

As far as the cross controlling make sure you aren't moving the stick in more than one direction. There should be no crossover of controls.

EXCAP232

Problems with servos
 

Are you using a mode where the rudder and elevator is on one stick? If so, that may be the culprit. As far as the servo hum, make sure that you have the servo at a mechanical advantage. Trying to move the rudder and steering can over tax a low in servo.

Problems with servos
 

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you fly Mode 1 mostly in Oz???? If so then that's the problem, you're moving the elevator a bit with the rudder. Now sit and have a 12 & 20, a VB and ring the hobby man on the dog and bone and find out how to tighten the springs on the gimbal so you can feel where it's at. ;)

Problems with servos
 

Art,

A 12 and twenty is actually a four and twenty pie. And as for a VB thats cats urine so I will have an Emu draft which is the beer we drink here in Western Australia. But yes we can use the dog and bone to call someone but Im not sure what Mode 1 means. I do know how to tighten the sticks on my control unit though, is that all I need to do?

Thanks,

Troy.

Problems with servos
 

There's mode 1,2,3,and 4. Mode 1 and 2 are the most used,mode 1 has throttle and ailerons on the right stick,elevator and rudder on the left stick. Mode 2 has throttle and rudder on the left stick, ailerons and elevator on the right stick. tighten the springs,lengthen the sticks will help.Sometimes putting a pencil eraser on the sticks will help.
Have a goodun,John.

Problems with servos
 

I really need to start proof reading what I type, sorry about the 12, instead of 4. All I have ever been able to get my hands on is VB and sure would like to try that EMU draft. Try tightening the springs if you have elevator and rudder on the left stick, (Mode 1) and see if that helps any.

Problems with servos
 

Art,

I will tighten the springs and see if that makes a diference. However I am still having problems with one of my servos not centering itself properly. It is the servo that operates the rudder and steering wheel and I have noticed that when I turn to the left and let go it will return to the centre but when I turn to the right it will not centre itself properly and a slight hum is heard. If I give a small amount of left stick it stops the humming. I tried disconnecting the steering wheel and that fixed the problem but it returned when I re-connected it. I tried using different servo arms but that to was unsuccesful. The steering cable does seem to move through the tube okay and without any resistance so I cannot work out what is wrong. Will it be okay to just leave it on the assumption that I am not going to just be turning right anyway, and that as I make small left and right rudder corrections the servo wont be stuck just out of centre for very long anyway?
What do you think?

Thanks,

Troy.

Problems with servos
 

Troy:
Try removing that servo and putting in another one and see if the problem continues. also if it went away when you removed the servo arm then even thought the linkage feels good it's still probabaly hanging up near center and preventing the servo from finding center. Let me know what happens.

I agree..
 

Maybe your surfaces are binding. I agree w/ EXCAP232.

Good luck.