Eflite Alu tail bearings

[CoolKD]

I just started getting a brutal high pitched vibration in the tail at full throttle after a rebuild.
The vibe comes and goes. 98% of the time it's there, depends if I speed up quick or slow.
The tail is always fine up to around 70% stick, but if the vibe sets in it stays even when I poll the stick down to 50-40%.
I'm almost sure its the tail case bearing that is not good.
Tail blades are Eflite carbons and are in balance, and the shaft/belt is also ok.
The thing is I cant seem to find what sort of bearings thats on the original Eflite Aluminium tail case upgrade. They look bigger then on the stock plastic case.
Any ideas?

Part number for the Alu tailcase EFLH1463A

[Cailid]

These are the bearings you need http://www.helidirect.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=EFLH1412&x=12&y=10

[Ronbo]

or try these abec 3 bearings. should be better?

http://www.helidirect.com/abec3-flange-bearings-3x8x3f-mf83zz-p-1202.hdx

[ingrahal]

If it turns out not to be the bearings take a close look at the grips and hub. I've had the same vibe and found it to be the hub once and bent grip screws, watch the blades when the vibe starts and see if the blades are out of track. Check by removing the blades and turning one of the grip screws while holding the hub and see if the other grip wobbles. Like checking for a bent feathering shaft on the main rotor.

[1BADAIR]

my bearings in that case lasted like 10 flights. switch to boca's but only used it like 2 flights after that. the bocas cost as much as the case did

[supra6]

Another thing to check is the tail drive gear in the frame, tough to see with out removing it. The top plastic gear on this shaft will wear out and either split or seperate either way as it is going bad it will give the indications you speak of.

[CoolKD]

Thanks for all the replies:)
If the original bearings is that bad I would realy start thinking of getting a Trex tail for it, but the thing is I just completed the upgrade of the tail to full Eflite alu. So it would be a realy waste of money to switch the hole thing out now.
The tailcase here costs 44,45$ here, and ewery thing else is much higher priced the in the states.
Do ReadyHeli.com have better bearings for this Eflite Tail? Would be nice since I have an acaount there, to bad I have to pay about 33$ just for the shipping to get it all the way to Norway.:arggg:
As for the alu grips, I see one is out of track now. The center hub is just replaced and got no flights on it so it should be fine. I will take a closer look at the front tail drive shaft for wear and tear.

[Cailid]

You can also get them from here. http://www.rc-bearings.com/catalog/index.php

They have a complete set of abec 3 bearings for a stock B400 as well.

[Norseman1]

Hi CoolKD

Sent you a PM on the cheapest Blade 400 parts I have found. Matching US prices in Canadian dollars on most parts and some even cheaper........

Regards
Paul

[fast400]

Thanks for all the replies:)
If the original bearings is that bad I would realy start thinking of getting a Trex tail for it, but the thing is I just completed the upgrade of the tail to full Eflite alu. So it would be a realy waste of money to switch the hole thing out now.
The tailcase here costs 44,45$ here, and ewery thing else is much higher priced the in the states.
Do ReadyHeli.com have better bearings for this Eflite Tail? Would be nice since I have an acaount there, to bad I have to pay about 33$ just for the shipping to get it all the way to Norway.:arggg:
As for the alu grips, I see one is out of track now. The center hub is just replaced and got no flights on it so it should be fine. I will take a closer look at the front tail drive shaft for wear and tear.

you will end up swapping out the e-flite crap sooner or later, everyone i know that has used the e-flite complete tail includeing me has had it fail really quick.
the guide pin`s fall out of the pitch lever
the bearing fall`s out of the pitch slider
the bearings in the tail grip`s go bad very fast, and will not come out to be replaced.
the case doesnt stay tight on the boom, you`ll end up drilling a hole in it for a set screw to keep it in place.
all applies to the complete head setup as well, e-flite and copterX has the most cnc junk on the market.
it look`s nice, but doesnt last long at all.

[Cailid]

you will end up swapping out the e-flite crap sooner or later, everyone i know that has used the e-flite complete tail includeing me has had it fail really quick.
the guide pin`s fall out of the pitch lever
the bearing fall`s out of the pitch slider
the bearings in the tail grip`s go bad very fast, and will not come out to be replaced.
the case doesnt stay tight on the boom, you`ll end up drilling a hole in it for a set screw to keep it in place.
all applies to the complete head setup as well, e-flite and copterX has the most cnc junk on the market.
it look`s nice, but doesnt last long at all.

I've been using mine for a while now and I like it.
Never had the pins fall out of the pitch lever. The pitch slider wore out real fast so I put the plastic one back in though.
Haven't had any troubles with the tail staying in place on the boom. I use the metal boom and just put a bit of blue loctite on the tail. That seems to hold it in place fine.

[fast400]

I've been using mine for a while now and I like it.
Never had the pins fall out of the pitch lever. The pitch slider wore out real fast so I put the plastic one back in though.
Haven't had any troubles with the tail staying in place on the boom. I use the metal boom and just put a bit of blue loctite on the tail. That seems to hold it in place fine.

well you loctited the case to the boom, so you solved that issue.
you`re on borrowed time with the pitch lever, keep an eye on the guide pin`s for real.
you confirmed the pitch slider.
mine and many other`s useing e-flite cnc has had them go out within month`s.
my pitch slider, pitch lever, and tail grip`s have given out in 2 months top`s.

[Wiggles85]

so is it better to just stick with the stock plastic parts?

[fast400]

so is it better to just stick with the stock plastic parts?

honestly?
i would if you want e-flite part`s, but their are a few good after market cnc stuff out there, like the sonix`s.
i read many post`s on the e-flite cnc stuff being crap, but i had to try it anyway, it was junk.
the sonix`s cnc stuff is real nice, i have had it to. i sold it, the e-flite cnc went in the trash.

you will never know though unless you try it out for yourself.

[1BADAIR]

after having every eflite alum part and wearing them out, I only recommend the alum flybar cage ends

[Tommygunn]

so is it better to just stick with the stock plastic parts?

I use a little of both...

I've got the tock plastic tail housing and use the CNC hub and rotor grips. you have to change the balls over to the smaller Eflite size, but it works great. I too had problems with the Eflite Alum crap. The only bearing I've had go out is in the motor.

[Ronbo]

what about just using the the alu head block?

[ingrahal]

I use a little of both...

I've got the tock plastic tail housing and use the CNC hub and rotor grips. you have to change the balls over to the smaller Eflite size, but it works great. I too had problems with the Eflite Alum crap. The only bearing I've had go out is in the motor.

+1 I get less tail vibes with the aluminum tail grips and steel hub vs the plastic grips and aluminum hub. Tweaked one hub due to a crash and Fast400 is right about the bearings in the grips. I think you could make a tool to get them out but I replaced the whole assy. I also stayed with the plastic tail case, it has held up well.

[FMJB]

I went through two Eflite plastic tail case's due to bearing failure.
First bearing failure was with stock Eflite bearings.
Second bearing failure was with ABC bearings.
So I went with the Sonix tail set up and so far very happy.

[CoolKD]

About getting the grip bearings out, add some heat to the ALU around the bearing you want to remove. Be sure not to get the heat in so deep that the bearing also gets warm, then the metal will expand too and you wont get it out. Just a tip;)

I'm getting the new bearings today(new set of Eflite's), so let you all know how it goes.

If the bearings and other stuff starts FU#%!! with me, I'm going for a full Trex tail.
Too bad about wasted money :(

[ingrahal]

I went through two Eflite plastic tail case's due to bearing failure.
First bearing failure was with stock Eflite bearings.
Second bearing failure was with ABC bearings.
So I went with the Sonix tail set up and so far very happy.

Isn't strange how one person can have a problem with something like that and another never does. To date I have only had 3 bearings fail, the lower motor, the middle main and one of the flybar seesaw bearings. Maybe it has to do with whether you fly on concrete/asphalt or grass/dirt.

[fast400]

beside`s normal ware, the only time i had a tail case bearing in the plastic case fail was do to the spacer`s being to wide, this put to much side preasure on the bearing`s cause them to over heat and lock up. which did result in the bearing chewing up the case.

[ingrahal]

beside`s normal ware, the only time i had a tail case bearing in the plastic case fail was do to the spacer`s being to wide, this put to much side preasure on the bearing`s cause them to over heat and lock up. which did result in the bearing chewing up the case.

Yeah good point I remember a couple of posts where the tail case broke into due to the same thing.

[FMJB]

beside`s normal ware, the only time i had a tail case bearing in the plastic case fail was do to the spacer`s being to wide, this put to much side preasure on the bearing`s cause them to over heat and lock up. which did result in the bearing chewing up the case.

I found that issue too, so I machined the brass bushings to fit properly. I did this quite a few times over the past year due to bad landings and bent tail shafts.

Maybe on the last few I didn't give it enough clearance-

No matter, I really like the Sonix tail and do not plan on going back to the eflite plastic.

[fast400]

yeah man, that sonix`s cnc stuff is really sweet. i wish i had kept mine, but things happen.
i have to say the sonix`s tail and head has to be the best cnc on the market, well atleast that i have seen for the blade anyway.