Why does it screech like that?
 

Why does it screech like that? It wont even move now.

See video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWRAnjC1M2o

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

Is the battery fully charged?

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

From the way the prop was freewheeling at the end of the video my guess would be that the prop isn't tightly secured to the shaft. The "screeching" is the prop slipping on the shaft as it the motor is turning.

Ken

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

thanks for replies. not sure if its fully charged. been charging and messing with it all day. can't get it off the ground. just ran into this issue. oddly enough i had to replace a propeller because it spun out and flipped on take off and broke the propeller. if its tightning of the propeller, i surelly will try that. at least i hope that is what is causing that. how come it didnt move though. wouldnt it at least get enough wind behind it from all the spinning to move a little? i even took the propeller off twice and put back on.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

Not sure but I have heard miswired motors howl or a bent shaft? definitely sounds unhappy[:o] is the controller matched correctly?

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

everything was fine a minute ago, and then i tried to get it to fly and bam, SCREECH. all that happened is i ran off the driveway into the grass lawn which is cut and it did not flip or clip anything.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

It looks like there is a gearbox between the prop and the motor?

Did they provide any instructions on adjusting the gear lash in the gearbox?

They are adjusted by loosening a couple of bolts or screws and slipping the gears closer together or farther apart. When they're correctly spaced, they are quieter. When they're not, they make more noise and often waste power within themselves and steal it from the prop.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

Gearing often can be screwed up by taxiing a spinning prop into high grass. The grass tries to stop the prop while the motor tries to speed it back up. The two different forces often push the gear adjustment out until the gears start to slip. And the slipping stops the pushing and you wind up with poor gear mesh.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

i think it's a gear mesh problem too.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

that can be fixed? the gear mesh? instructions dont identify the gears and so on. doesnt even talk about the motor. so dont want to start taking stuff apart, without some guidance. :)

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

could have a small piece of debris in the teeth of the gears jamming them so they can't move.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

Can you take a closeup picture of that airplane.

I'm not even positive the black lump behind the prop actually is a gearbox. But it looks like one. A closeup might even show where the gearmesh can be adjusted.

If it is, the motor is usually attached to the gearbox with a couple of machine screws. The screws usually go through elongated holes. You move the motor so that it's drive gear meshes properly with the driven gear of the gearbox, and tighten the machine screws. If the motor gear isn't properly meshing, it will scream. Sometimes it's too tighly meshed and grinds. Sometimes too loose and usually makes a higher pitched noise, sometimes not. Depends on the gear materials and the cut of the teeth.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

Okay. Back in business. Replaced the motor and the gear housing for the propeller. Went to go fly it and it actually went straight this time and started to lift a few inches off the ground. Thats my problem now. Not sure if batteries just not fully charged, or im trying the take off wrong. I attempted to have the wife hand throw the plane into wind at horizon level as i understand; however it quickly did a nose dive and i broke my last propeller. darn. well stores are closed and will have to buy a new propeller tomorrow. anyone have recommendations? current one i have is a 9 inch "orange kind where nut fits right in and tightens down by spinning it". Should i buy something different? Better. Anything out there that dont break (smile).

Also, how come i couldnt get off the ground? It actually wanted to this time. I was so excited. Must of went about 20-25 feet forward before i stopped it. It kept going up and bouncing back down and then up.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

Many of the RTF electrics barely have enough power to fly. Many of them need to have the batteries cycled at least once or maybe twice before you get peak performance out of them. (refering to NmHi) Was your take of roll out faced into the wind? It needs to be. Is you model ballenced properly per the instructions? Out of ballence models can be difficult to fly.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

well, i ran the plane in my house to drain the batteries. you know, with no propeller (since i broke my last one). anyway, charging the batteries again. from responses looks like i got a 3 hour charge ahead of me.

the plane seems to be balanced. i assume there is a quick do it yourself way of testing balance?

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

If it's a RTF and all the parts are in their original place and the battery is the recommended one, you shouldn't need to do any CG adjustment. If it came with instructions, they should show you where it should be however.

It is important to make sure you're taking off these less powerful models directly into the wind. Anything other than straight into the wind and they're often worthless.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

The gear mesh was definetly off. Taking off and not really being able to get off the ground is the batteries. I started with a plane very similar and if the batteries are not up it will just act like it is going to lift off and settle back down. Good learning plane though you should have a fun time with it. They fix easy with hot glue also. Had the same problem a couple times when batt. was not full. They won't fly but about 5-8 min. You can get just a slighlty bigger batt. for them with I think 8 cells instead of 7 and they fly them just a tad better. I put a 480 brushles on mine and it hauled the mail pretty good. Still fly it now and then. Probabaly should still be flying JUST it lol.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

the way you describe fitting the prop had me thinking.'the nut fits right in and tightens down by spinning it'???????
i presume it is a gws style prop with hexagonal mouldings each side,if so i may have figured out the screeching sound.there should be a nut on the motor/gearbox shaft,the prop engages with this nut,you then place a washer onto the shaft and use another nut to secure the prop.is this what you are doing?

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

big chap. i just may be doing it backwards. 1st there is the nut and washer, and then i put the prop on and a nut inside it. thats backwards right?
believe thats backwards from what you mentioned above.

yup, they are the gws style. do they make a better one? or the way im doing it is the reason its breaking?

thanks for responses everyone. this is a very helpful sight. other sights dont like to help the new guy out. i love this site. thanks.

RE: Why does it screech like that?
 

yep,you're doing it backwards!it will put more stress on the prop the way you are doing it.gws props are just fine for your model.