How important is it too resize ball links?

[Jimbo45]

I guess it really depends on how tight your links are, right? Mine are a bit on the snug side, but I can't help but think that they will wear in, and loosen up with 5-10 flights. Won't they?

I have bought all kinds of build and setup tools so far, and the resizer tool is the only thing I don't have. I guess I am just wanting to hear that they will be fine the way they are. But, I am trying to do everything right, and this is starting to bug me....:arggg:

[crashagain]

I flew mine for a while when the links were tight and they did not seem to wear in. Had to resize them.
They move such a little amount that it would take a long time to break in on their own.
The heli flew ok, but it was bugging me knowing that they were too tight. A little snug is ok but to tight is not good..

[Ragman]

you are correct , just build it and the ball links will loosen up after a few flights.
if you try to resize them now to where they are free , then after a few flights the links will be so sloppy that they might pop off in flight.

[Jimbo45]

you are correct , just build it and the ball links will loosen up after a few flights.
if you try to resize them now to where they are free , then after a few flights the links will be so sloppy that they might pop off in flight.
Ah, good point! Besides, mine aren't really that tight, they just don't flop down after tapping on the swash, like in the Finless vid.

So, fly for it for several packs, and if they don't loosen up, THEN resize. I like that. Prevents cutting them down farther than necessary. I am going with this method! :thumbup:

[CraigM]

Why wouldn't you size them? If you pop a link onto the ball it should be able to fall on it's own weight. If you don't have the tool then put a ball on an old servo arm, make a few vertical score marks with a hobby knife and size them with that. You don't have to size them, but you are putting added strain on your servos and possibly slowing your cyclic response. I have never had a link pop off in flight and only popped one off in a pretty bad crash.

[ChrisH]

I also do the "it'll loosen up in flight" technique. They almost always do, and if they don't then you have the chance to size them.

I never liked sizing links anyway, YES it will make it a bit smoother but it's very easy to over do it and it's just making the links have a shorter lifetime.

[MXRACERX43]

Sizing your ball links is a big part in having a smooth helicopter. You definatley want to do it. As long as you don't get carried away the will not pop off, just have a few spares until you get the hang of it.

[Patriek]

Just how tight are they?

When I had initially build my 450, they were so tight that when I would move the cyclic around in throttle hold, the head would spin around a bit because it didn't move freely, after resizing the head was all free, I can now move the cyclic in throttle hold and everything stays put, just moves the head parts.

And it definately flies better after resizing :smokin:

Just my 2C

[lankey]

Hi guys

I'm building a CopterX head onto an HDX Superframe. I'd say if the links are tight it's a must to size them correctly. Spent about an hour going over my links, getting them just so. In the process decided the castings on the CX links were rubbish and swapped out the whole lot to those Align stainless hex head balls and links... amazed that the links were all perfectly sized. Head moves an absolute treat now:thumbup:

Steve

[Bob O]

Sizing your ball links is a big part in having a smooth helicopter. You definatley want to do it. As long as you don't get carried away the will not pop off, just have a few spares until you get the hang of it.+1

A smooth plastic surface is not likely to "break in" or "wear in" when it's mating surface is smooth stainless steel.

[pwoodyp]

Yup it's a good theory, well at least when I say to my self or I let it rattle around inside my head for a little while... However the inside of my head is not the real world... Generally the Gurus will say adjust teh links for flight and then check periodically for any abnormality, like maybe during the pre-flight. Your heli needs to fly NOW, do not set your baby up for any future condition that may or may not show itself! That's what the pre-flight is for, finding these little issues that could cause a crash, right. ;) I could be wrong but I'm certainly opinionated :YeaBaby:

[Skarn]

It's interesting seeing the differences of opinion on this!

I personally have NEVER sized a ball link on any of my heli's and don't think there is a need to.

But to each his own.

Skarn

[lankey]

Skarn

When I first got my CopterX head, in my excitement to get the heli up and running I connected up all the linkages, powered up, messed around with my servo reversing etc. It was then I noticed one of the servo to swash links was bent being driven by the servo! Thats how tight the links were through out the head!

I know this is an extreme example and the CX is no Align in quality, and even if you are a sizer fan or not... checking those links is essential as part of build/setup.

Cheers
Steve

[Jimbo45]

Skarn

When I first got my CopterX head, in my excitement to get the heli up and running I connected up all the linkages, powered up, messed around with my servo reversing etc. It was then I noticed one of the servo to swash links was bent being driven by the servo! Thats how tight the links were through out the head!

I know this is an extreme example and the CX is no Align in quality, and even if you are a sizer fan or not... checking those links is essential as part of build/setup.

Cheers
Steve

Wow, I find that almost unbelievable. Considering the servo to swash, ball and links don't actually rotate that much during movement. Exactly how tight was this link to cause a bent arm!? Was it CA'd in place? How could you not notice a link tight enough to bend a rod during assembly? Are Align links really that superior in quality?

Thanks for the replies, folks. My links are not all that tight, but in the spirit of learning, and doing it right, I will be shopping for a link sizer. Any recommendations, and what size do I need, a 3.5mm?

[Lota Fun R]

Ah, good point! Besides, mine aren't really that tight, they just don't flop down after tapping on the swash, like in the Finless vid.

So, fly for it for several packs, and if they don't loosen up, THEN resize. I like that. Prevents cutting them down farther than necessary. I am going with this method! :thumbup:

Sounds to me like you're just being lazy?

For me: It's nice to know that everything is as it should be. Sizing your links does make a difference in flight performance, as in SMOOTH!. :thumbup:

[Jimbo45]

Sounds to me like you're just being lazy?

For me: It's nice to know that everything is as it should be. Sizing your links does make a difference in flight performance, as in SMOOTH!. :thumbup:

Oh my, I wouldn't expect to be called lazy, with this extremely slow, meticulous build. I just don't want to overdue the sizing. I would think a tad snug would be better than a loose link.

With that said, I am placing an order, that includes a link sizer (4.7mm, I hope that is correct, since I can't get a positive confirmation), just to make it all good. :o

[lankey]

Jimbo45

The CopterX links were unbelievably tight. You could pick up the whole head by a swash link and it wouldn't fall!! Saying that I think the link rods were made of spaghetti... really soft! Using Align stainless now:thumbup:

When sizing the links I noticed that the actual plastic seemed quite soft. What really got me was small lumps missing from the inside surface of the links. Bubbles in the molten plastic, bad batch, who knows. I do know the Align links were a much harder plastic with perfect moulding.

Coming from a belt cp the quality of Align is just spectacular:D

Steve

[Jimbo45]

Jimbo45

The CopterX links were unbelievably tight. You could pick up the whole head by a swash link and it wouldn't fall!! Saying that I think the link rods were made of spaghetti... really soft! Using Align stainless now:thumbup:

When sizing the links I noticed that the actual plastic seemed quite soft. What really got me was small lumps missing from the inside surface of the links. Bubbles in the molten plastic, bad batch, who knows. I do know the Align links were a much harder plastic with perfect moulding.

Coming from a belt cp the quality of Align is just spectacular:D

Steve
So what size link sizer do I need, 4.5-4.7mm? I am ready to order!

[ckoelliker]

I do not size my links, and they will break in. If they didn't I would never have to change the links.

[Lota Fun R]

Oh my, I wouldn't expect to be called lazy, with this extremely slow, meticulous build. I just don't want to overdue the sizing. I would think a tad snug would be better than a loose link.

With that said, I am placing an order, that includes a link sizer (4.7mm, I hope that is correct, since I can't get a positive confirmation), just to make it all good. :o

4.7mm....invest in some cheap digital calipers.

You would be surprised how long it takes to wear in a ball link that is tight. They will loosen up over time but it takes a lot of flying to make that happen, I'd rather have it right for the first 50 flights and change them out later, rather than fly it with bound up links and wait for it to be right. Links are super cheap and not a cost issue, labor, sure.

Don't do it, what do I care, it's not my heli. Most people don't listen anyways.

Good luck. :thumbup:

[Jimbo45]

4.7mm....invest in some cheap digital calipers.

You would be surprised how long it takes to wear in a ball link that is tight. They will loosen up over time but it takes a lot of flying to make that happen, I'd rather have it right for the first 50 flights and change them out later, rather than fly it with bound up links and wait for it to be right. Links are super cheap and not a cost issue, labor, sure.

Don't do it, what do I care, it's not my heli. Most people don't listen anyways.

Good luck. :thumbup:

Thanks for the measurement. I have a real nice set of precision micometer/calipers, but they are not readily available, and I want to pull the trigger on this order.

If you notice my last post, I am ordering the sizer to do the job, and I ALWAYS LISTEN (but don't always agree). :YeaBaby:

[Lota Fun R]

Cool.

Take it easy with the sizer, give it one or two turns and then check it, get used to how much your sizer takes out per rev.

If you screw up a link, toss it in the garbage, they are cheap.

Shake it up! :banana

[Lota Fun R]

My perspective: Listen to the old guys, try it their way first, try your way later, then go back to what they told you because they were right. ;)

[Skarn]

My perspective: Listen to the old guys, try it their way first, try your way later, then go back to what they told you because they were right. ;)


LOL! But I'm an "old" guy and I have never sized my links. What does he do now? ;)

Again to each his own :)

Skarn

[markleyland]

I could be wrong but I'm certainly opinionated :YeaBaby:

Where have I read this before Lol :thinking