I have a full days work ahead of me on 2 helis, I am balancing the
fans- Run-out on the Clutch-Clearance-Gear Mesh etc. I used to do this on all my older Xcell's but I guess I got a bit lazier over the years. Hard to be without a dial indicator but someone borrowed it and I got it back just last month. Ready to get busy tonight.

I felt a bit rough & couldn't sleep , I got one completed checked out & balanced tonight. I'll do the other this weekend.

Culverson,
What heli? How did it come out? I like to dial and balance too!

I have 4 Shuttle 3 ZXX's-one of these is the RG.
So I did this.

One the first ZXX (wifes heli), I removed the fan hub and checked it on my hi-point balancer. It was badly out of balance (aftermarket too) so I removed a small amount with a 90 degree drill I use.

With the the fan completely assembled I checked run-out without having the clutch installed if it was in specs. I never noticed my fuel foaming so I thought it might be ok. I cleaned everything with cleaner and locktited everything too. Rechecked until was was ok. Run out-.004 roughly when done.

I noticed excessive clutch clearance so I put a new liner in to bring me with specs there. Too much clearance can cause a clutch to over flex and break due to excessive flexing. It already has a heavy duty clutch installed-factory liner-Later I'll have to check and and see how the clutch engages.


Main gear mesh was very good for the heli so I was ok there.

I tried to balance the TR blade assy. by pulling out the blades straight and balanced on the hi-point by only grinding a bit off one screw holding the TBlades on.\ Before doing this I used the gram scale to get the weight exact from one blade to another. They were off a bit.

Then I moved on to the fiberglass blades, I weighed them on a gram scale they were slightly off so I only had to add just a bit of tape to correct this. I also use a clean dull edge to check the blades for balance (CG) check. We have used razor blades before. I know there are more technical ways but I'm old school I suppose LoL.
I hovered it right before it rained today-I noticed a vertical vibration and I had the blades slightly out of track a bit. Not a lot of vibration afterwards, looked very smooth.

My wifes heli had her belt so tight when I bought it had thrown the tail output shaft out slightly, so I got the belt fairly loose were it will just about let it nearly jump a belt tooth when a bit of pressure is exerted turning the gear and holding tail rotors. But never sloppy type of looseness. Before adjusting you could feel a clicking feel when the belt was turning (too tight) and her TB would not free wheeling when sitting down. Too much friction being tight..


Would you believe my wife, checked most everything on the heli her self when we bought it used with only 2 flights on it. She did great, but got het belt way too tight. I noticed a vibration and check her output shaft was slightly warped, so I installed a Quick stainless output shaft and aftermarket pulley on the heli.

I was a lot pickier on my Xcells though I guess.
Just a quick check LoL.