How straight is your shaft?

[Phoebe]

After I have a mishap, I chuck my main shaft into a drill press, indicate it, and tweak it straight. I go for total runout of less than .005". Since this is a tighter tolerance than most can detect rolling over a piece of glass, I'm wondering how you guys straighten your shafts, and, how you know they're actually straight!

Anybody else actually measure as opposed to just going by "experience"?

[Heli_freak]

My wife gets my shaft pretty straight for me :lol: :thumbup:

[ccieslin]

LOL mine has a slight curvature!!!!!

[Phoebe]

So I get the feeling nobody measures, but just rolls it on a flat surface until it's "good enough"?

[helidude3]

sounds about right.

[zen]

I use the Eisenhard tool, eyeballing the shaft for straightness:

http://summer.phpwebhosting.com/~healtharts/heli/fix/mainshaft.html

Then I mount it in the frame and spin the motor to see if the end of the shaft blurs. I usually get it so there is no perceptible vibration during flight.

[ccieslin]

Ok seriously.....what i do is take the rotor head completely off but leave swashplate on then just eyeball it from the top and give it some throttle..........if it's bent you'll see it hope that helps.

[Rotorjim]

After I have a mishap, I chuck my main shaft into a drill press, indicate it, and tweak it straight. I go for total runout of less than .005". Since this is a tighter tolerance than most can detect rolling over a piece of glass, I'm wondering how you guys straighten your shafts, and, how you know they're actually straight!

Anybody else actually measure as opposed to just going by "experience"?

You can straighten a shaft to run out of .005? I don't see the point though. Actual effort and time to due so cost an hour of labor and its is still going to have some runout. That means the tip path plane will never be on. Cheaper to buy an extra pack of 2 for $4.95 each time you make a trip to the hobby shop. That way you never dead head for a shaft. Then you can make zip guns with all the bent ones, or make a pinion seater or a feather axle bearing pusher of place them in cool aid and freeze to make popsicles. The best way to check it for run out is between two centers over the length of the shaft. Not one end while the other is held firm. Don't forget that it has to be true through three main bearings not just one...No but really I don't think its worth it

[CDFrog29]

LOL... ask heli guys about shafts! This thread is going to get very entertaining :)

[helidude3]

it already has:)

[Phoebe]

Rotorjim,

An hour? If it took half that long I might be inclined to agree, but I obviously work much faster than you.

My Blade is set up with a Microheli Autorotation Gear. I just pull the pin/remove the head, loosen the shaft collar, slide the shaft out, chuck it, indicate, bend, and I'm back in the air in less than half an hour assuming there's no other damage.

Other points? I don't know of any way to hold a shaft of that diameter between centers, and a TIR of .005 is already better than most of the new shafts I've checked. With all those molded plastic bits in the head, a tighter tolerance would be overkill. As I'm sure you know, the Blade is just not that precise a machine to begin with.

Cheers,

Phoebe

[Whoami]

I use the Eisenhard tool, eyeballing the shaft for straightness:

http://summer.phpwebhosting.com/~healtharts/heli/fix/mainshaft.html

Then I mount it in the frame and spin the motor to see if the end of the shaft blurs. I usually get it so there is no perceptible vibration during flight.

Eisenhard tool hasn't been on ebay since I've been looking. Got any contacts with the guy or did he give up selling?

[boomer6]

Try sending an E-Mail to ..............eisenhard@mchsi.com................I did and I got the tool. Haven`t had to use it yet.

[klab233]

i never can getbthem straight, i just keep a stockof new ones on hand

[boomer6]

Had a chance to use the shaft straigthening tool (eisenhard@mchsi.com) today.Works great.Kinda slow fisrt time using it.Will get the hang of it over time.Will save money in the long run.

[klab233]

how much do they usually cost?

[boomer6]

Couple of months ago $27.95 thru pay-pal.Just send him an e-mail and he will give you the details.