I have been browsing around on this site for quite a while now, since a few months ago when I first got into helis. Anyway, 100% of the time folks say to put something colorful on the blade tips to see which blade is high during tracking adjustment.

I have been using a different method you might like. Simply use a dry-erase marker. Spin the blades then SLOWLY lower the marker onto the spinning rotor at an angle pointing the same way as the blades rotate. The instant you feel contact, lift it up and stop the rotor. The high blade has a mark on it now. Adjust your links and spin again. If its still out of track visually, repeat the process. Now you will have 2 marks on the high blade or if theres a mark on the other blade you know its the new high blade.

On second thought maybe this is more complex, but anyway you dont need tape stuck to your blades, the marker wipes right off. I have used this with great success on small electrics, as well as .30 sized nitro.

Is this commonly used or did I discover something new?

Sounds like there might be more room for error with this method (what's stopping you from pushing your hand in at the last moment without realizing it and marking the wrong blade?). A visual check would still be in order to ensure proper tracking I think. Another method I saw awhile back instead of using tape, use some dry erase marker on the tips of the blades, it adds no weight and it gives you the color reference you need. Best of it all it washes off . Would only work properly on white blades of course, but still.

The blades should be under a load to properly track them.............
that means a stationary hover ( or runup stand ).

I dare you to reach over and mark the blades in a hover [8D]


Whack the cat !

Simple... attach the marker to the tip of your antenna. Then hover over your head and mark the bottom of the blades!

Nah, I usually spin them up till its just getting light so they are making some lift. I should have said that in the original post. If this isnt enough I guess you could stick a board through the skids or some other type of weight.

There is a safety issue of standing over a running helicopter that is light on the skids. One bump of the stick and you're mincemeat. Or a destructive tipover right in front of you. For this reason I would suggest an assistant use the marker.

lol...Just don't asd me to give you a hand with that one.

Even assuming that you're brave (dumb ) enough to do that, the rotor head unloads while it's in the air, so you wouldn't get an accurate reading with the helicopter rooted down to something solid.