View Full Version : Kasama Head on R50
AZ ChopperCam
09-12-2006, 12:23 AM
what a fine piece! I had noticed a small vibe working its way into my Raptor over the past 3 or 4 fligths. After talking with Will who was experiencing the same thing I decided to take a close look at the stock platic head block. Found the problem as plain as day. It was able to rock back and forth about the jesus bolt by about .050" at the top of the block.
So I ordered up a Kasama head on Saturday. It arrived today! Fast service!
It's probably one of the best looking aluminum heads I've seen for the Raptor and the clamping head block design is just what the doctor ordered. It's a tight fit on the main shaft. I had to tap it on with a plastic mallet. There is ZERO slop anywhere in any of the linkages. All mixing arm and washout arms bearings are of the flange type.
Took the ship out for a test run. vibes gone. Not only are the vibes gone but it appears to be smoother than ever before. like it's not even in a helicopter.... as if you were holding the camera in your hand.
here's a clip... and get this, I'm not running any vibe isolation at all. this is with the mount hard bolted to the helicopter and the camera hard mounted to the gimbal. damn these electric Raptors are smooth.
http://azchoppercam.com/kasama_test.wmv
sorry.... it's more footage of my back yard :roll: I promise in about 3 weeks when we start getting cooler weather I'm going to be a video shooting nut! I'm gonna go all over town and in the desert and go crazy. :D :D
For aerial video with Raptor I really think this head is needed. Without it you'll end up with a sloppy head block and vibes will work their way into the system.
MLaBoyteaux
09-12-2006, 01:06 AM
I looked at his website last week and I'll swear he showed them being back ordered! So I ordered a TT metal head instead. It's got the clamping block, but I've read the Kasama head is really nice. Looks like another upgrade once I get the E-Raptor earning it's keep :D
So I ordered a TT metal head instead. It's got the clamping block,
Nope. The TT metal head has nothing holding it on to the shaft but the jesus bolt.
Clamping head refers to a head clamping onto the shaft due to extra bolts making a vise-like action such that the head wouldn't come off easily even without a jesus bolt in there at all. The TT head doesn't do this.
MLaBoyteaux
09-12-2006, 08:45 AM
On the bottom of the head block, it has two splits up the side with a clamping ring that clamps the bottom of the head on the shaft (along with a Jesus bolt). Isn't this what you're talking about?
There are two TT heads listed on onlyraptors.com, maybe this is a new version? I'll post pics of it tonight, maybe I'm mis-understanding what you're talking about?
Here's the one I bought.
http://onlyraptors.com/new_moreinfo.php?part=TTRPV0484&x=26&y=6
AZ ChopperCam
09-12-2006, 09:28 AM
it appears that only thing that gets clamped on that head is the ring with anti rotation pins not the head block itself.
Those bolts are in the wrong plane to provide the necessary clamping force.
"clamping head block" bolts would need to be parallel to the jesus bolt but squeezing the head together around the shaft.
If the bolts you're looking at were clamping the head on, the only way they would be doing so is by applying a load to the jesus bolt...that'd be a bad thing...
MLaBoyteaux
09-19-2006, 08:48 AM
Since I had already ordered the TT head block, I went ahead and put it on the Raptor. You're right, it doesn't clamp the main shaft. In fact, last night I noticed that it doesn't fit the main shaft well. It has a loose fit, and with the Jesus bolt tight and the lower ring clamped down tight, the head still wiggles a little on the main shaft.
So ALL of the forces are loaded on the 3mm Jesus bolt. With the wiggle, I think it's just a matter of time before the head block shears the bolt. At least with the plastic block, it would deform and clamp down on the shaft, but not this metal one.
Looks like I'll be ordering a Kasama head and trying to get a refund on this one from OnlyRaptors.com.
WillJames
09-19-2006, 08:53 AM
The QUK headblocks are great as well. that is what I have coming eventually for mine.....
MLaBoyteaux
09-20-2006, 02:21 PM
Talk about service! I ordered a Kasama head at midnight last night and I picked it up from Johan's Mom at lunch. Awesome, she's giving me pointers and tips on assembly.
z-rc.com ROCKS!
tcgliderguy
09-20-2006, 04:02 PM
Hey Mark.... or whoever.....
What is the mainshaft diameter on a Raptor?..... I'm wondering if I could get that Kasama head to work on my Tiger 50?
-Taylor
MLaBoyteaux
09-20-2006, 04:09 PM
I'm pretty sure it's 10mm. The same as my Vario and Condor.
I know the Raptor 90 has a 12mm shaft.
I bet your Tiger is the same.
One thing, Johan emailed me that the bore in the main grips for the bearings are a little tight. He is having some new grips made with a little more clearance which will be available next week. The option is to polish the id of the grips with some polishing compound and a buffer wheel on a dremel to get a nice fit for the bearings.
Since I want to get the Raptor back in the air ASAP, I decided I was willing to deal with it.
I'm sitting here at work with the head pieces spread out on my desk. They're a work of art.
While I have no doubt the Kasama head is superior, for my "play" ship I can't justify the funds right now - if I went with the kasama block, I'd need the full kit. ;)
As to the TT parts, I guess I got a good one and you got a bad one. There's ~ .001 in. diff between my main shaft & the TT metal block.
And yes... it's 10mm
I must amend my previous opinion regarding the TT metal head block.
I just installed the metal head on my play/practice raptor.
I fitted the jesus bolt in place (without the lock nut) and installed the head on the shaft and clamped down the phasing ring.
I then removed the Jesus bolt and applied at _least_ 80-90 pounds of pull and probably 100 plus. I have a 60# draw compound bow and the amount of strength I was pulling on that heli far exceeded my bow.
The head didn't move. After several pulls, I put it down and the jesus bolt slid in and out freely - the head hadn't budged at the equivalent of 8-10 Gs of sustained pull.
If it'll take > 10 Gs before it even _starts_ applying force to the jesus bolt...I'm not worried.
It doesn't clamp the whole head block like the Kasama, but it DOES clamp down on the portion of the head that the phasing ring fits over, where the head block is slit to allow compression.
T
MLaBoyteaux
09-21-2006, 08:43 AM
That's what I thought it should do, but when I tightened the phasing ring, and I mean I wound up tightening it way more than it should've required, the head still wobbled. I pulled the Jesus bolt out and the head slipped right off the shaft.
It seems the id on the head block I received is too large. It's obviously not a Raptor 90 part, it's a 10mm, but I think it's defective.
Gotcha.
On mine, it was clear that it wasn't an interference fit - the block slipped easily onto the shaft....but before I put the phasing ring on, there was only the most absolute miniscule rocking the head would do.
With movement after applying the phasing ring, there's clearly a difference between the blocks we got.
Ohhhhh I see what the difference is...what I don't see is why the're different.
You bought PV0484 - the SE head with the metal button.
I bought PV0338 - the "metal head for V2".
As the SE _IS_ a "V2" design, the heads are definitely made for the same main shaft...but why the cheaper, non buttonhead is "better" than the SE head I have no idea...
Teej