Just had 3 great flights today. Practiced flying slow pirouettes while flying some circles. Difficult, but fun if you can keep up with it.

The last flight the flybar link seperated from the swashplate. This has happend before, so I know what it sounds like when it happens. Set her down, but couldn't get to the idle up switch quick enough and now it needs a blade grip too, and possible new swashplate for the ball link. The question here is:

Has the plastic worn down to a point where its time to replace moving parts? Did the light machine oil cause the wear? Would white lithium grease prolong the parts? What are people using for lubrication on plastic? When do you replace the ball link connectors?

Hmmm???

Hey PL, I'm using [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKR90&P=ML]Hob-E-Lube white grease[/link] and it has worked really well. It doesn't affect the plastic at all.

On the swash and main gear I use a little bit of [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKR89&P=M]Hob-E-Lube Moly Grease[/link] because it stays put and isn't easily flung off.

Thanks Heliko,

Looks like white grease is the way to go, and that stuff is the stuff to get.

Just replaced all broken parts and test flew. Perfect balance, perfect tracking. Its never ran so good and so smooth. I still notice in normal mode when the collective is increased, the heli actually drops. Its like the blades are increasing pitch, but the motor is not increasing power. The added drag is slowing the head speed until lots of power is added, then it climbs and rotates. In Idleup mode, its as smooth as a babies bottom. I've been just flying in Idleup lately.

Crappy Day!

Took the bird to the local flying club field. Whirlwinds members mainly fly airplanes, so this was something new and I knew it would draw attention. Went to the edge of the field to stay out of the way of the airplanes. With the wind at my back, I tried to lift off of the short grass. The heli kept wanting to rotate as the wind was causing it to weathervane to side in. Also, the slight vibration was causing the collective to jump up and down about 2 feet. Flew some circuits then I had to land numberous times to adjust the tracking and to eliminate the vibration. Finally, the heli tried to rotate right, so I held a little left rudder (tail motor). Suddenly, the heli rotated around about 2 to 3 times quickly to the left. Barely got it under control and set it back down. Went home to tweak on it.

Home. Cannot find source of slight vibration. Balanced blades again, measured flybar to verify it was centered, checked flybar carrier, mainshaft, slide block mounting. NO vibration with the blades off, slight with them on. Even tried pieces of tape on either blade. With the vibration nearly gone, I went outside, began to fly when it again rotated quickly around 3 times + and I couldn't stop it. I think it went clockwise, which means the tailrotor was at full power. (again, it wanted to go left, so I added a little right) Lost it. Throttle down, flip off idle-up, watch dead chicken dance. Really pissed me off, so I put it up for a while. WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SMOOTH FLYING HELI? ARGH...
[:@][:'(][:-]

Heh, sorry to hear the bad luck. You gotta love the chicken dance though it is quite funny, the whole time your standing there going NOOOOOO... happened to me my first day. I can fly on the simulators with the Idle up on. but got freaked out when the heli suddenly went up after about 3 minutes into flying forgot idle up was on pulled the throttle down a little to far and wamp bam crash chicken dance.

Sorry to hear that PL. My Axe did the dance of death once too when I accidentially hit the idle-up. It actually didn't cause any mechanical damage, but the 3-in-1 smoked a bit. For me the worst thing about the stock Tx is no way to inhibit Idle-Up. My Axe hasn't done the dance since then again my 7C has both Idle-Ups inhibited.

I'm curious about your tail issues. If your using the 3-in-1 then that's most likely the cause, but if you went seperates then it's a real mystery. If you are running seperates what gyro are you using?

About the bad vibes. Measuring doesn't always work. Here's my method. First I balance the flybar then I install and balance the blades. Works every time.

My axe flies very similar to yours in that with normal mode I will get that drop on increased collective. Also, The difference in headspeed between normal and idle up is killing me. I just can't fly it well in normal because the stability is not there. I can adjust the head to get the rpm there in normal mode and then the heli wont lift off until 3/4 or more throttle. Flip into idle up there and it really seems to turn too much rpm. In idle up though, there is no vibe and the heli flies smooth and stable. What gives! I have just been flying in idle up instead because it makes that big a difference. Might check your feathering shaft. I have had a slight vibration coming from it, brand new shaft as well. It was bent from the factory I think, the allen wrench that came in the package with it was bent almost in half upon opening.

Its a balancing act between the pitch of the blades, and the throttle telling the motor what rpm (voltage) to run. I've tried to get your set up with 3/4 or higher throttle before liftoff, but the connections aren't long enough. The servo connections are adjusted long, and the seewaw/blade grip connections are adjusted short, but the head speed is still slow. I think the stock TX runs the motor in full power all the time in idle up and the blades only change pitch. When I switch to idleup, that head really gets spinning fast. (especially with neutral pitch)

Thanks for your kind words, guys. What gets me is it was flying great until the flybar link popped off. The high headspeed caused it to seperate, along with the fact it could be wearing thin.

Just have to face the fact that I'll have to tear everything down and start from scratch again. New main gear on up. Wish they sold a complete head unit, balanced and ready to install. You could pull the one bolt from the main gear, disconnect the flybar links and lift off the whole thing then slide the new one back in. I could do my own, but the cost. Man, I gotta get an attitude adjustment...

Thanks for letting me vent.

Pilotlight.. very cool man.. I got three flights in today, the first two were great! the third I lost a screw out of the seesaw and it kind of bundled itself up, no damage, found one of the screws, just need to get home and make the repairs.

Helliko - you are talking about lubing things? what exactly are you lubing? I'm going to try some of this stuff (I already have a big package of it) http://www.shootersolutions.com/mfdiykits.html I can let you know what I think of it (as a firearm product I am sold! I've seen the difference)

I had a great flight today. First day without the training gear. Took off did a little fast forward flight with some nose and tail in. flew up to around 80 ft. a couple big circles. then my landing was a little rough broke a blade grip. I knew I should of stocked up on a few when I was at the Hobby shop the other day. Everyone is right, the training gear actually holds you back. yea it's ok for learning to hover but for flying forget it. I started with them on. did a few 10ft hovers and a couple prilouttes then took them off to see how well she really flies. I'm very impressed.

Tore everything down and rebuilt from the Main gear on up. Found the feathing spindle had a very slight bend right at the tip. This was causing my tracking and vibration problems. The cause of the crash was the tailmotor needs replacing. It wasn't completely dead, but it definitely would not spool up to full speed. I have a spare, but it has a loose connection where the solder and wires connect. This holds the springs and burshes inside the motor. When I push on the wires, the motor increases in rpm. Somebody here has mentioned glueing the end of the motor to hold the brushes in place. The glue is drying as I type. I don't quite have the nerve to try a super cheap replacement yet, let alone upgrade to brushless and gyro. $25 [:'(]

Worked for about 2 flights. Half way through the third flight, noticed the tail was drifting worse and worse. Put her down and noticed the other wire was a bit loose. Just ordered lots of spares and another tail motor. Waiting on parts, again.

Seems like I stopped crashing but now the parts are wearing out. Just want to keep it in the air long enough to get comfortable again.

hey Pilotlight - I saw somwhere that they are using GWS motors for the tail, they are cheaper and last a bit longer.. I'm going to try one of those out next time I hit the shop for parts.. I'm thinking what am I out to lose? it's only 8 bucks..

OK, just opened a box with lots of spare parts. The heli is nearly back together, but I'll be 'outa' town for the weekend. Can't wait to get this thing back in the air. Next time I'm gonna try the cheaper tail motors. Got 2 spare OEMs now.

This thing needs a belt drive tail. Been thinkin about an external belt or shaft drive system. Can't come up with a workable solution as the frames too restrictive. Not enough working room. Winter project...

Been flying only about once a week. Too many mosquitos and too much wind. Went back to indoors just today. When I was rotating through nose in, the heli surprised me and I managed to loose control momentarily and scrape the blade on the floor again! Nothing broke, but has that "jumping up and down" thing again.

Its gonna be a long winter if the only flying to be had is inside.

Checked the motor and battery temps after a 10 minute flight with a digital laser thermometer. The motor was 121 degrees at the top and the battery was 105 both the hottest readings. Tail motor felt hot, but couldn't get a reading over 80. Must be the small size and reflective quality of the motor causing erroneous readings.

Tried nose out funnels and backwards flying. Got a ways to go before attempting another inverted hover.

Flew 3 flights last week in 55 degree weather with calm winds. After each flight I checked the temp of both motors by feel. Neither one was warm to the touch at all. I've got extra amounts of heat conducting compound on both motors and made sure their heat sinks were tight by bending them closer. So far, it seems to be working.

Now, the battery seemed a little warm. The last battery I bought with the least amount of time on it felt warm, almost hot, and showed a little swelling. I set it on a patio brick out away from the house to see what it would do. It cooled down and the swelling went away. The balance was normal according to the TP balancer. Charged it up under close supervision last night and it seemed to be normal.

What do you think? Fly it or trash it?