Raptor 90SE Radio problems - Help!

[RobO]

I have a new 90SE that has had radio glitching problems since it was new. I have now replaced EVERY piece of electronics in the thing with known good working gear and I am still getting hits and lockouts.

In addition I have changed engines and swapped tail boom assemblies with my other 90SE.

Radio is a Futaba 9CHP with R149DP receiver.

At this point I believe it must be something mechanical that is causing the problem.

Has anyone else experienced radio problems that turned out not to be in the electronics?

Rob

[ChiefWilson]

Have you checked your main shaft and start shaft bearings?

[Spog]

I had a similar problem with my 50 until I fixed the clutch/fan runout. It was 5 thou (good enough according to Ray's manual). Problem went away after runout set to .5 thou.

[Altimat]

I had a mysterious glitch in my pitch servo and it went away when I grounded my frames. Use a servo wire pigtail, pull the positive and signal out, and ground to negative to the frames. Confirm a good ground with an ohmmeter. Cheap and easily removed if it doesn't help.

[RobO]

I've had 2 different engines in the heli, an OS and now a YS with different fans, both were balanced very well and had good run-out.

I've pulled the main shaft and the main bearings seem to be very smooth by feel.

I may replace the clutch/start shaft bearings with that new metal 3 bearing unit.

Rob

[bigdwalker]

try using a drop or 2of silicon lubricant on the tail pulley, this will stop the tail picking up a static charge which may cause the glitches.

let me know
Dave

[RobO]

There is no tail pulley, it's a drive shaft geared setup.

Well, I have now completely taken the heli apart, back to kit condition. I cannot find any bearings that feel bad, everything is smooth...

Now I'm wondering what parts to replace in an attempt to fix this damn probelm........

Any more suggestions out there?

[alexander]

Rob0,

What exactly are you doing when it glitches? Referencing the loads for desnaging information might help you isolate the problem. Are you using a rear servo for the tail rotor?

I've had smooth feeling mast bearings glitch and greasing them fixed the problem. Broken boom supports, slop in the mast, shouldered wear on the mast collar are areas to look at. Sometimes the spindle can chatter on the center teeter pin when
worn out. A clutch rubbing on the bell from an incorrect engine installation will cause problems.

Maybe the radio needs to be swapped out for testing just incase.

Stephen

[BarracudaHockey]

149dp's have been known to have a vibration problem with their filters, have you tried a differt model of reciever?

[RobO]

The heli has actually had a JR receiver and PCM10x TX. There does not seem to be a pattern to the clitches, it has glitched on a hard climb, a descent and just hovering.

The entire tail w/boom supports has been swapped out with a known good working tail.

The clutch seems free, there is no wear on the inside top of the clutch bell.

The spindle center pivot has been removed for use with Infinivation dampners.

Again, every piece of electronics has been changed out, receiver, battery, switch, servos, govenor, gyro, everything!!

I've had an OS and a YS engine in the thing.

The head has been torn down twice now and everything seems OK.....

I am at my witts end! I have put a ton of effort in this thing for only about a dozen flights!!

I appreciate all your input, please keep throwing out any thoughts you may have.

[Trev]

Hi Rob0,
A freind of mine had similar problems on another model and it turned out be the routing of the antenna wire.

He had it routed up the boom supports/stays (which were carbon fibre). When removed and left to hang down it cured the problem.

Regards

Trev

[RobO]

Trev,

The antenna was in a plastic tube that ran back and about the last 4" had a piece of fuel tubing on it that was then strapped to the boom support.

I have done the same thing with the Raptor 50s for years but those were all aluminum boom suupports with plastic ends, do you think the CF with the metal ends make a difference?

Thanks for the input, that's as likely as anything! When I put this thing back together I will definitely space the antenna farther away from the boom support.

Rob

[DsWright]

There are many forms of interference that aren't related to your model.

We had to stop using channels 13, 17, and 21 at our airfield after we verified interference on those channels. It would do exactly as you described, couldn't find any reason, and several members all had problems on those channels.

Try a different channel before you go and spend more $$. If you have to use a loaner radio, do it. If all you cahnge is channel and it's gone, you can be sure of that. If you have to use a different radio and the glitching is gone it at least eliminates anything on the heli and you know you have either a channel or tx/rx issue.

Just replacing parts at random isn't a logical approach after everything you have done yet. You must check your channel and tx/rx by swapping them.

[RobO]

The heli has been on 52 (JR) , 03 (50Mhz Futaba) and 47 (Futaba). All known good frequencies in our ares and it continues to have probelms.

If you read the above posts I have stated a couple times I HAVE CHANGED EVERY PIECE OF ELECTRONICS IN THE HELI twice now!

Not just a different receiver or servo. The Receiver, Transmitter (along with channel), All servos, Gyro, Govenor, switch, battery, extensions EVERYTHING has been replaced twice now, all at once with known good working equipment from other good working helis.

In addition to that, it has had 2 dompletely different engines in it, an OS and a YS.

[mplourde]

Rob0, Do you know another person near of you having a Raptor 90 SE and fly it??? If yes, ask it to help you with rebuilting the Raptor and look some fly to help you to relsove all the problem.

I think this will be the best path to follow for you. Maybe it's a component when you have built the Rappy, maybe not. Try to find another person who's having a Raptor 90 SE too, and he is near from you.

Good luck, :wink:

[Seeker]

I would say if you still have it torn down, replace the main bearings while your in there. Even if they do feel smooth as you stated. I've read too often about those being a cause.

[q8hobbytime]

OK we had the same issue and we have came out with 2 results
check the regulator if you are running LIPOs
2nd is we had the tail servo in the back and the linkage was rubbing on metal so look for 2 metal parts rubbing with seach other

[Modifyit15]

I am not sure where You have your battery Pack on your heli but if you wrap your R149DP receiver with your battery and place them both on the top of the radio tray the R149DP receiver does not Range check worth a D#$% :arggg: . so Make sure you have it wraped individually and place the battery under the Radio tray and the R149DP receiver on the Top. :D

This is what help me in with my set.

9C super, R149DP receiver, R90SE, GY401, GV-1, Voltwatch.

Hope this helps.

[Modifyit15]

O yea Mine Range checks @ 172 Feet :glasses2:

Before it would'nt get 50 feet. :badair: