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View Full Version : HDX450 SE maidened


gorn
06-26-2006, 02:09 PM
Hi guys
Well I finally got my act together and got my 450 flying.
Aside from wondering why the esc was not starting properly (shrink wrap on esc wire had pulled up and was shorting on skid :shock: ) Im very happy.
Here is my run down of how my HDX build went.
Received kit, very nice, drool drool.
Received spare parts package that I ordered. Mostly just got one of each battery tray and esc tray, etc + 5 feathering shafts, main shafts and flybars.
First downer, all 5 flybars were bent, and I MEAN bent, and all in the exact same way.
Laid them all side by side and they all matched! Emailed HD, got discount coupon code (to be continued later in post)
So I get cracking and put the heli together in 1 night, looks very nice.
Turn main gear, ummmm I dont think its supposed to hit the tail output shaft eh?
Another email to HD lol.
Go to LHS and get Align main gear.
DOH, should have seen the sucker punch, same prob.
Find out that Align gears are known to not be round.
If I wanted eggs I woulda bought some I could actually eat!......mmm fried eggs.....where was I..
Order Microheli main gear after fighting with accountant living in my head lol.
Meantime I buy some wire from LHS thats same size as flybar. Dremel to length, should work well (more later)
Microheli gear arrives, hmmm green eh? Colour grows on me.
No more main gear rub, yay!
Install HS65MG's, doing it in the wee small hours of the morning, and of course drill the hole out too big in the servo arm DOH!, use allen head screws that are leftover in the kit. Looks daft but works.
Go to hook up swash to servo links....length of about 35mm not 50 thats required :bomb:
Find 2 rods from a Shogun I had, get another from LHS, fixed.
Install rest of head
Measure all rod lengths, adjust to suit.
Washout levers are not parallel. Measure from arm to link end, not the same. These are not adjustable :bomb:
I take off the links measure, identical. Must be a machining error in the actual arm. File ball link to completed lenght of other arm and ball link.
No fingerprints left from filing lol.
Spool up with no blades.....major head wobble and same at main gear (no rubbing though so thats a plus)
Post here and get a few replies.
Take out main shaft and replace with Align main shaft.
Hold breath....spool up.... PRESTO a wobble machine lol.
Post here again lol.
Seems that some thing, but once rpm comes up stops wobbling.....errrrr ok.
Ballance blades, man thats a lot of tape on there lol.
Job done, spool up, wobble wobble.
Get just past half stick...ohhhhh wobble has stopped! eureka!
Check blade tracking, perfect.
Took to work tonight (Im on hols, but nice still air in warehouse is perfect for test flights)
Setup gyro and tail blade pitch
Hover hover big smile and almighty sigh of relief and pride that I got it flying :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Now then, would I do it again after what seems like a bad review?
Hmmmmm, yes I would. Especially seeing as I know what to look for and expect.
Im not running the kits motor and esc either.
Here's my specs:

Motor: Medusa 3400 11 tooth pinion
Esc Quark 33 V1
Servo's: 3x HS65MG
Tail servo: Airtronics 94761Z
Gyro: 401
RX: Hitec Electron 6

Im a happy chappy here, and short of something bad happening now after Ive opened my big gob, then I'll stay happy.
Going to try some carbon paddles later in the week along with some other carbon blades I got from HD. These are the 325mm with white painted tips, no name jobbies.
I tach'd the heli tonight at 2480rpm at full pitch, which I think is only 9deg at the moment. Will have to work that up to 10, no idea on neg pitch yet, slack lol.
Special thanks go to Bob White AKA Finless.
Thankyou so much for firstly your video's, and secondly for your friendly and very helpful advice that you gave me after many questions.
As they say Bob.......YoU ArE ThE MaN!!! :glasses2: :mrgreen: :glasses2:
Cheers guys :mrgreen:

Rick Rotorhead
06-26-2006, 06:17 PM
Good post, I'm yet to get my 450SE, but when I do I'll have some idea of where the build snags are gonna come from (assuming that your bird is essentially similar to a 450SE)! Great to hear another heli has been born - just be sure to soak up all the good useful warnings from HF posts about the Trex before things go wrong, like tail parts flying off or belt rubbing etc maybe the stable door can be shut before the horse bolts eh (Its always cheaper to learn by other people's experience). Happy flying :)

gorn
06-26-2006, 11:55 PM
Thanks Rick
Im always doing a whole lot of reading on here for the exact reason you stated.
Without these forums the heli industry would not be in anywhere near the good shape its in IMO.

overhead
08-04-2006, 12:59 PM
Hi,

I just finished my HDX450.

I had the same problems with the wrong lenght swashplate to servo rods. Luckily I was able to steal some off my old Shogun.

I did find a minor problem with the tail rotor assembly. It made this strange click once per revolution. I think it is caused by the pitch change arm not being installed properly on the brass slider tube. I tried to fix it but am unable to dissassemble it. I am not sure if it is threaded on or locktited or what but I didn't want to damage it so I left it.

I did notice that the bearing in the washout links were loose but I was able to fix that. See this post (http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=16964)

When I test flew it I was bit dissappointed. My tail was jumpimg backing and forth quite abit. All other controls were fine. I am using the esc bec. I wonder if the power to the 401 is poor?

I am also using the stock motor and Otter esc. So far I am not impressed with the power. Just wondering if anybody esle using this combo and what they think?

Other that that the kit went together very well and the quality is very good.

Dennis