Im reassembling the b400 after checking the main shaft. Im finding the screw that goes into each side of the washout base must be too tight. I cant freely manuplate the washout base. Im finding that as I tighten those screws they add resistance to the movement. So what is the correct way to install these screws.


Also, Today while fly, it lost power. It was 95 degrees out. I was 3 min into flight on a fully charged battery. Put in another fully charged battery, same thing. Keep the ESC, it was really really hot... everything apprears to still work, wondering why that happened.

Thanks,

Casey

Hey Casey,

I have had that happen to to me once. It was after I changed the blade grip from a crash as I remember. What I did was just back them off a bit, a silly millimeter. If you feel they still have good bite in the plastic they should be OK, I have never had one work itself loose. I would also advise you to check the screws you are using. If you did a big tear down there are several screws that "look" like they go there but don't so check that out too.

Can't get into the ESC as I have never had that happen to me.

Good Luck JPee

Hey Casey,

I can't comment on the washout screws, haven't been there, done that yet. I think JPEE's advice is good, sounds like he's been down that road before.

I can comment on the ESC issue however...I'm right down a state from you, here in hot, sunny Maryland, and it was also about 93-95 today. I flew both of my B400's today, when the temp was still up there, probably at least still 92 or so, early evening...and did not have a single issue with either heli. The ESC and motors were HOT, but no shutdown....this was after 10 minute flights.

I wonder if you have something binding in the gear or belt train?

I don't know for sure, but it's not just the temps...something's amiss there somewhere.

Hope you can track it down.

Good luck with the rebuild.

Glenn

well i flew my reactor bipe today and had the same problem It powered down after a few mins. I still have complete control just no power. Its on the same pack that my b400 used. Im wondering if that is the problem. temp 96

Casey,

That is normal. The ESC shuts off before it gets damaged. I can attest to the ESC shutting off because it's too hot. The ambient temperature and the amount of power demand you're demanding from the heli directly affects how hot the ESC gets. I know that because I fly in 105+ degree weather all the time here in Iraq. I can't wait to see how long it'll last in 130+ weather. Just land it let it rest for a min and then continue flying it...no worries.

Good luck and have fun flying.

Kenn

Thanks for your service! and thanks for the reassurance. right now I just tore apart the blade grips to check the feathering shaft after a blade strke to the ground... No problems. Im going to check the main shaft, and maybe tare into the tail since its a little hot...I feel like a baby complaining about the heat compared to what you go through.[

quote]ORIGINAL: Crusader23


Casey,

That is normal. The ESC shuts off before it gets damaged. I can attest to the ESC shutting off because it's too hot. The ambient temperature and the amount of power demand you're demanding from the heli directly affects how hot the ESC gets. I know that because I fly in 105+ degree weather all the time here in Iraq. I can't wait to see how long it'll last in 130+ weather. Just land it let it rest for a min and then continue flying it...no worries.

Good luck and have fun flying.

Kenn
[/quote]

See my [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7602548/tm.htm]thread[/link] on the power cutting out when its hot.
Mine will fly for about 2 -3 minutes, then the power dies. I'm going to try discharging and recharging the batts, but this has happened with all three of my batts. The air temps have been in the lower to upper 90's. I have double checked my drive train and do not have any friction or binding. I would love to hear from someone knowledgeble about these ESC's to let us know if they have thermal cut-offs and at what temp etc..
Thanks for any ideas.

well I had the same thing happen on my bipe using a 2200 ma pack during the same day. And it has sincecooled to about 85 or so, and i have flown quite a bit, im not going to worry about it, since in 95 degree weather, I probably won't be flying that much. I did purchase a align esc to try but didnt bother and returned it when the same thing happened to my bipe.

I have an Align ESC and it gets up to 120 degrees and it won't shut off on me.

Nick

Nick - Did you install the 35 Amp ESC? If so, was there any mode to the ESC-motor connectors? Does it affect the battery life at all?

Casey - No worries about complaining when it's hot. I do it everyday...LOL. I'm probably complaining right now. Anyway, we tested a theory over here. When the weather is hot, the helicopter will feel warm after the flight. This includes the tailboom, motor, ESC, etc. - basically anything that rotates or has some current going through it. We tested the B400 both outdoors and indoors (with A/C). The temperature difference made such an impact on how hot the helicopter gets.

Kenn

Kenn,

Yes it was the 35A ESC. I can't remember the exact model number, but it had a 5V BEC and had a yellow heat sink on the outside. Then my other Align ESC on my T-Rex has a blue heat sink and there is a little bit of heat shrink on the outside of the heat sink. It stays a lot cooler around 90 degrees.

I don't really understand what you meant by mode to the ESC-motor connectors. It had the same color coding as my Belt CP motor and spun the correct way by matching the colors. I just used the bullet connectors from the Align ESC and put them on my motor and ESC.

I never really used my stock ESC from the Belt CP, because I heard people say they started on fire. So that is why I got the Align one. With hovering I can get around 10 minute flights. Then with mild flying I can get around 7. Then right now with me doing flips I am getting around 5 minutes. And all of my batteries have around 50 cycles on them.

Nick

I meant to say mod (modification). Stupid spell check didn't catch what I really meant...LOL. Thanks for the info.

Your welcome. I have become a big fan of the Align ESC's. They have been trouble free with all of my flights.

more then likely the chager is toast..
mine crapped out after about 6 uses.
you have to be very careful of not to over tighten almost everything that moves on the b400.
always check and recheck as put the moving parts back together.. making sure there is as little resistance as postible.
especially the belt
as you damage anything from a servo to a battery, motor or even the speed controller.