OK, so i searched all over the place and I can't find what I'm looking for. My new HBK2 doesn't have anywhere near enough wieght on the nose. when I lift it up, the tail is too heavy and it drifts backwards. Adjusting the swashplate is not what i want to do, I want it perfect. Suggestions???

Yup.... DON'T add weight... Slide the battery as far forward as it will go. I'm assuming you are using the same batteries that came with the heli. They are on the small side. You can make a small battery tray extension from tin or something light that will allow you to move ur battery further forward. Its that simple.

Happy fly'n

I tried that though! I used the velcro strap to get it all the way foreward and it still leans backwards. I don't get it.

What i did is buy an after market canopy from castlerock hobbies.com.That along with moving the battery makes every thing a-ok.Oh yeah the 400 size canopy looks really cool too..........................

Question. Does moving the battery location to a slanted orientation improve nose weight? If it does, I'll probably make a mount for it.

It helps drastically! not only does it put the necessary weight forward to get a proper CG, it raises the cg closer to the blades making the heli more responsive and faster on cyclic response. If you can't make one, try either upgrading to the xtreme CF frame and getting the slanted batt. tray, or getting the frame stiffener and the batt tray. either will work of course I am all for going big soi reccomend the CF frame, that's my next upgrade.

Originally with my stock HBK2 I had exactly the same problem. No way to get it balanced with the stock 1000mah battery... I assumed that they expected that you'd have a bigger motor and battery... So I added two big washers (about and inch and a half diameter) to the little platform in front of the motor, which did balance it much better...

I like Dawg's idea of extending the battery tray - maybe with a popsicle stick or something.

Now that I've upgraded just about all of the components and have a 1800mah battery - it balances very well without any additional weights!

Eventually (after I learn to fly!) I'll add my small wireless camera (and 9V battery) too - all of which will have to be centered...

Sort of a pain that they don't make it balance correctly right out of the box!

I can't get the battery any more foreward though! i put the canopy on and it pushes the battery back in. that's how far the battery is sticking out. I guess i will just need to make a new battery mount for it. Suggestions for materials???

imalama, what gyro and tail servo do you have? I have a Telebee gyro and E-sky 8g servo and mine will balnace with the 3S1250 battery mounted as far forward on the ledge as the canopy will allow. I use velcro plus a rubber band around the battery and tray. It also balances fine with a Zippy 3S1800 pushed all the way back.

Try to get it balanced without the canopy on first, then worry about keeping everything in the right spot when the canopy is put on again.

My 1800mah battery is SIGNIFICANTLY bigger than the stock 1000mah battery, so I was surprised that it could fit OK under the canopy. Is the canopy really forcing the battery back in, or could the battery stay there if it was held better? If that is the case, stick a metal nail file under the battery to support it (you can attach it with a small zip-tie), and then stick a block of styrofoam behind it in the battery tray - so it can't easily be forced back by the canopy.

Got to be soime way to make it balance!

I'm using the stock gyro and servo. I'm just gonna build an angled battery mount for this beast. I think that will work.

try the angled battery mount or... get a bigger battery, it helps with the flying times anyway.

I dont know if this is recommended... but it works...
It still wont be perfect but it gets it really close with the canopy on. CANOPY MUST BE ON. Add some velcro and you should be up and hovering.

I suggest you just add an extender, flat piece of plastic or aluminum so you can strap that battery in correctly.

Not sure where you intend to mount a angled battery but if you attach it to the area in front of the motor mount you can be sure that on a hard landing you will break your frame behind the motor and wipe out your main gear and a servo or two. I tried that and replaced 2 frames (I was using 1500mh batteries).
Put in the fram stiffener for about 16$ before you attach anything to the front of the motor mount area.
Actually a lot easier to just use a 2 toung depressors and zip tie it to the frame to support the battery, nd put some foam tape under the front of them to angle it up so it fits the tapered canopy.

I use bigger batteries. If you are still in the hovering, figure 8s stages and not doing any 3D flying just go with bigger batteries. That way you don't have to worry about angled trays, extenders or anything else. I put in a bit of styrofoam at the back of the battery tray to position my batteries everytime I put in a new battery for flying. I simply push in a new battery until it touches the foam, strap in down and fly. I use my stock batteries for setups and I have 6 2200 - 30A batteries for flying.. all the same size. So I found the CG for one, setup that and all the others are set to go as well. cheap and easy

happy fly'n