HDX 450 Build Videos will be here

[BarnOwl]

Am i better to use the my Align 430L motor or the one that came in the kit ?

Either motor will be ok. I just think the 25a ESC is too lite. You will need a 35a ESC for the Align. It will run, but don't push it.

I found the Futaba S9650 to be verry big compared to a HS56 that i have at home, the rod that goes from the s9650 to the tail link seem to be too long, the servo is almost touching the Heli frame where the boom enter, is it normal ? do i have to cut the rod a bit ?


You can cut the rod or get one of the Futaba wheels, I use the wheel and it is about 8mm from centre servo to ball link.

[RcSuperSales]

I have a new HDX 450 and I can't get the links to thread on the shortest of the links joiner part. Also some of your build is not the same as my kit. The anti rotation parts are different. There are no slots in the side frame pieces but there is an extra aluminum brace like the ones on the bottom of the frame, Am I supposed to use that along with the anti rotation part and screw it in to the side frame pieces???

Thanks for your help in advance.

HELIFREAK ROCKS!!!!!

You hit it on the nose. Yes you connect the anti-rotation guid to one of the skinny blue bars and attach it right behind the canopy holders to the frame. It is a better design if you ask me. Not sure what you mean by "links joiner part." I just used the T-REX ball links since they are cheap and the plastic seems to be a little better.

Kyle Allred
Rc Super Sales

[stefe]

I have a new HDX 450 and I can't get the links to thread on the shortest of the links joiner part. Also some of your build is not the same as my kit. The anti rotation parts are different. There are no slots in the side frame pieces but there is an extra aluminum brace like the ones on the bottom of the frame, Am I supposed to use that along with the anti rotation part and screw it in to the side frame pieces???

Thanks for your help in advance.

HELIFREAK ROCKS!!!!!

I have exactly the same problem with my shortest links, i was able to thread only one of the two. I used one from Align that i already have in spare parts. I followed advice on this forum and ordered an Align link kit and Aligh metal balls.

Stefe

[austintyler]

Is there a certain procedure to adjust the proper amount of belt tension? How can I tell if the belt tension is good?

Thanks

[Phishnvdub]

Hi guys, I'm pretty new here to Helifreak. I frequent RC Groups a lot, but I just got a HDX 450 SE V3 used three days ago and this looks like the best thread going on it. I haven't had time to read through the whole thread yet so I have just a quick question until I have time to. I have been going through the whole heli with the help of Finless' vids (very helpful, you are awesome) making sure things are set up correctly. The main problem I'm having with getting it set up properly is it being tail heavy. Here's how it's set up. I'm using a TP 2100 lipo mounted on the front battery tray as far forward as possible, an Align 35 amp ESC mounted on the tray over it, the stock 3500kv motor, JR SM22 on cyclic for now, Hitec Electron 6 on the bottom behind the motor, GY240 on the gyro plate, HS 81MG on the Align CF tail boom. Sorry for writing this all out, I'll try to get some pics up tomorrow. I had to add almost 1.5 oz. of weight to the nose inside the canopy for the heli to balance on the COG. Is there something in my setup that seems wrong? I think that my battery may be a little light, besides that I have no clue why it's so tail heavy. Any thoughts or suggestions would be really appreciated. Thanks, Shaun

[BarnOwl]

Hi guys, I'm pretty new here to Helifreak. I frequent RC Groups a lot, but I just got a HDX 450 SE V3 used three days ago and this looks like the best thread going on it. I haven't had time to read through the whole thread yet so I have just a quick question until I have time to. I have been going through the whole heli with the help of Finless' vids (very helpful, you are awesome) making sure things are set up correctly. The main problem I'm having with getting it set up properly is it being tail heavy. Here's how it's set up. I'm using a TP 2100 lipo mounted on the front battery tray as far forward as possible, an Align 35 amp ESC mounted on the tray over it, the stock 3500kv motor, JR SM22 on cyclic for now, Hitec Electron 6 on the bottom behind the motor, GY240 on the gyro plate, HS 81MG on the Align CF tail boom. Sorry for writing this all out, I'll try to get some pics up tomorrow. I had to add almost 1.5 oz. of weight to the nose inside the canopy for the heli to balance on the COG. Is there something in my setup that seems wrong? I think that my battery may be a little light, besides that I have no clue why it's so tail heavy. Any thoughts or suggestions would be really appreciated. Thanks, Shaun

Hi Shaun, there is actually a HDX forum in here, but I won't move it, I leave that to Bob....:wink: As this issue also applies to the Aligns, I thinks it's a allright here.

Don't worry too much about your bird being tail heavy, actually all my birds are a bit tail heavy and they fly fantastic!
I cannot imagine your HDX is too tailheavy, because your electronic layout look ok to me. I don't know if the HDX still comes with a pretty short tail rod, but by moving the tailservo as forward as possible your CG will also move forward.
So all I suggest id get a longer tailrod........

[Phishnvdub]

Thanks for the info Barnowl. Sorry about posting in the wrong forum, I'll look for the HDX one. Shaun

[Prospero]

Good day all, I am new to heli's but not to RC in general. I've opted to roll with the HDX450 since the price was on point with my wife's pre-set limit on getting into another new hobby. (Too many hobbies in her opinion...) Anyhow, I have what I could only assume is the V3 and am ready to start with the head assembly.

After reading 100+ pages on this forum and watching the videos by Finless, which are super handy, I am stuck. The endlinks to my head are all unassembeled and there is absolutely no manual with my bird!? So, I've heard that there were some things to look for when building these links, like a set of coarse measurements? Does anyone here know what to roughly "pre-build" these links to and better yet, can someone help explain what the finished product should look like on the heli?

I literally am just now learning the nomenclature...so simple descriptions will be welcome, just at least till I can figure out what is what, that is! :oops:

I'm itching to go flying this weekend if at all possible...but the links not being assembled is causing me some headache. Any help is greatly appreciated and any other tips are welcome too!

Thanks all and cheers!
Prospero

[Prospero]

Ahh, my bad. I watched the entire DVD and now see the measurement are later on in the disk.

I do have a new question now though...it is hard to tell; but are the measurements based on the center of the holes or end-to-end?

Thanks!
Prospero

[veegor]

measure from the edge of theball link to the other starting out as Finless DVD suggest i believe it was 50 mm from servo hornto swash , 48mm from swash to mixer arm and mixer lever to blade holder was 27mm i think..but use as reference .It is pretty close

[EricR]

how do u get the video?

[Prospero]

Thanks for the help. I've learned that this could go a few ways and in the end the most important thing is to watch the entire DVD before asking questions.

Thanks all and cheers>
Prospero

[Prospero]

how do u get the video?
Go to the last page of this topic...they are right there in front...

Cheers,
Prospero

[warrengrob]

Hey guys
I'm new to all the heli business. My HDX had been flying great for me till I put it in the ground a few days ago, the dirt brakes work really well on it.:lol: Everything that was damaged had been repaired and the bird flies better than ever. BUT, the motor keeps cutting out on me....:mad: It'll be flying perfect and then for just a second the motor will cut out and start up again.
This has happened at the beginning, middle and end of a flight so it's not the battery getting low. What could it be?
Any ideas????

[Prospero]

Hey guys
I'm new to all the heli business. My HDX had been flying great for me till I put it in the ground a few days ago, the dirt brakes work really well on it.:lol: Everything that was damaged had been repaired and the bird flies better than ever. BUT, the motor keeps cutting out on me....:mad: It'll be flying perfect and then for just a second the motor will cut out and start up again.
This has happened at the beginning, middle and end of a flight so it's not the battery getting low. What could it be?
Any ideas????
Sorry to hear that you tested the dirt brakes! They work well but should only be used once in a lifetime.

So when your bird cuts out, do you still have control of the other functions? (IOW will the servos still move?)

Have you tried to run the heli on the bench at 1/2 stick to see if you can duplicate the problem?

Personally I would make sure that the ESC is not getting too hot because of excess friction in the gears as well as check with an ohm-meter the conncetions just to be sure that you have solid connectivity.

Other areas to look at are the soft-settings on the ESC, just to be safe.

Anyhow, good luck and cheers,
Prospero

[warrengrob]

Thanks Prospero (http://www.helifreak.com/member.php?u=36456)
I tested the heli and couldn't get the motor to cut again. I just fiddled with the ESC/motor connectors again and I think that might have solved the problem. I've hovered two batteries through it with no problem so far.... TOUCH WOOD.
Thanks again.

[Prospero]

Thanks Prospero (http://www.helifreak.com/member.php?u=36456)
I tested the heli and couldn't get the motor to cut again. I just fiddled with the ESC/motor connectors again and I think that might have solved the problem. I've hovered two batteries through it with no problem so far.... TOUCH WOOD.
Thanks again.
Cool, good job finding the issues.

Good luck with it and just be careful with it for the next few flights. If I may be as bold to suggest using a pair of pliars to oblong the round female connectors just to be safe...

Good luck and cheers,
Prospero

[warrengrob]

Cool that makes sense... Thanks again:noteworthy

[Camp]

All I can say is thank you. I have a couple of years on RR but really could never never break thru the mystic barrier. I got orientation via a co-axial which I think is not a bad way to budget it through but I found a TREX 450SE for $40 at a garage sale complete with motor and ESC and I am so into these instructional videos.

I also have a Venom 3DXL that I could not get to fly untill I put a new radio and alot of Align parts into. These videos helped me work through the problems with the Venom which I would like to spend some time on before I try to fly the Trex and I finally got it in the air. Bottom line, thanks Bob. You really are making a difference with the new flyers.

[warrengrob]

Well the HDX is treating me amazingly. Doing some slow FF and trying to get forward figure eights down....

So is there a compatibility chart for the Align/HDX??? I cant seem to find one here. If there is one, sorry for the dumb post... If not lets just start a list now!

[warrengrob]

I'm going to make up a compatibility list and post it on here! If you have replaced or tried to replace any parts with Align parts please let me know....

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?p=428752#post428752

Thanks

[Rogerdee]

Have converted and XL and an SE V1 to the STK Superframes.
Use all Align parts except for :
HDX 450-GS106T-Main gear/tail drive set-great gears,have only stripped one in a year
HDX450-LS-Linkage and ball sets-get 2 so you have the 3 servo to swash links
HDX 450-BO 2 -Main shaft bearings-because they say so.
Everything else is Align.

I think the HDX feathering shaft may be a different length to the Align one.

Works well.

Roger

[austintyler]

Quick question for you Bob, in your HDX head set up video, you address trying to line up the different sections of the head. As for the washout arms, i cant figure out what I'm trying to line up. I think I'm supposed to line up the ball links on each arm, making them even with each other at 50% stick. Is that right? I'm almost ready to fly after a rebuild

Thank you very much

Austin

[olyskier]

Has anyone run into this - Just got my HDX450se kit with tabs on the tail gear block assembly. After mounting to one side of the frame, I found that the notches in the other side of the frame were too small for the tabs. I filed them out so they would fit, but when I screw in the assembly, the tail gear drive binds pretty bad, Not smooth at all. It seems that the holes in the frame don;t quite match up, and as soon as you tighten the screws, they torque the tail block assembly just enough to make it bind. I've tried drilling out the frame holes slightly, but still no luck? Also, the tail gear engages the main gear about 50-75%, that is, it doesn't really line up when it meshes.
Comments anywone?

Thanks.

[RcSuperSales]

Have converted and XL and an SE V1 to the STK Superframes.
Use all Align parts except for :
HDX 450-GS106T-Main gear/tail drive set-great gears,have only stripped one in a year
HDX450-LS-Linkage and ball sets-get 2 so you have the 3 servo to swash links
HDX 450-BO 2 -Main shaft bearings-because they say so.
Everything else is Align.

I think the HDX feathering shaft may be a different length to the Align one.

Works well.

Roger

Yes the Spindle/Feathering shaft is different than the Align one's. You can only use the Spindle Shafts for the HDX 450 Head with the HDX head, not the align heads. Also just a quick note. The HDX 450 Spindle Shafts will work with the CNC rotor head for the King 2/Belt CP. Just found that out a couple days ago.

Quick question for you Bob, in your HDX head set up video, you address trying to line up the different sections of the head. As for the washout arms, i cant figure out what I'm trying to line up. I think I'm supposed to line up the ball links on each arm, making them even with each other at 50% stick. Is that right? I'm almost ready to fly after a rebuild

Thank you very much

Austin

I Know I am not Bob but I can help you out here. When you are at 50% throttle and Blade Pitch is at 0 your washout arms should be parallel and level with one another. Adjust the linkages to get them set correctly. If they weren't level then obviously the flybar carrier would not be level either. Hope that helps.

Has anyone run into this - Just got my HDX450se kit with tabs on the tail gear block assembly. After mounting to one side of the frame, I found that the notches in the other side of the frame were too small for the tabs. I filed them out so they would fit, but when I screw in the assembly, the tail gear drive binds pretty bad, Not smooth at all. It seems that the holes in the frame don;t quite match up, and as soon as you tighten the screws, they torque the tail block assembly just enough to make it bind. I've tried drilling out the frame holes slightly, but still no luck? Also, the tail gear engages the main gear about 50-75%, that is, it doesn't really line up when it meshes.
Comments anywone?

Thanks.

Sounds like you definitely have an issue there. Yeah these things happen, not much you can do about it. I can see that if it didn't all line up correctly that your mesh would be all off. Mine was just a little tight but went together flawlessly. I would contact whoever you got it from and get a new frame. I know that is what I would do and I would hook my customers up without a question in that case also. So if you got it from Heli Direct they will work with you no doubt. They are great. They are always quick to help me and my customers when there is an issue. Hope that helps.

Kyle