R30 Headspeed

[Chris ODonoghue]

How do I know if my headspeed is too low or too high ?

I'm using woodies on my 30 at the moment, and there's a lot of blade flapping noise and the engine sounds like it's screaming, but I wouldn't know if it was too high as I'm only starting out in this hobby. I've set the heli up as best I can using Ray's manual for 3/4 stick hovering and 50% throttle at hover point.

I then changed my pitch/throttle curves on the radio to have -2,6,12 and 0,50,100

Is there a process that I can follow or do I need to use a tach ?

:?: :?:

[WillJames]

Tach's sure make it easy but you need a second person to use the tach while you fly.

I had a R30 and flew it 3 times.... it came already setup from Shannon, so unfortunately I don't have a clue.

With the R60's, if you get the pushrod the lengths in the specs and setup your throttle so it is at or slightly below 50% barrel opening at mid stick using straight line for normal 0-50-100 and V curves for the Idleups you are close to right headspeed 1700 to 1800 or so.

Sorry I can't help much,
:?:

[Chris ODonoghue]

I'm only hovering at the moment (side on and side to side so far) so I might try out a tach as I found that to set it up for 3/4 stick hover I had to adjust the lengths of the pushrods quite a bit during the process.

[Shannon Davis]

if you don't have access to a tach- just slow the head down until it "feels" comfortable- your only hovering- you do not need a lot of head speed.

If the heli starts to wobble under the main blades- your HS is too slow.

[big-al]

I set the headspeed on a R30 one time by raising the throttle curve till it started hovering. when it was tached later, it was pretty close.

[Shannon Davis]

That sounds like an excellent way- it should hover at around 5-6 deg of pitch. Set that at the stick position you want and raise the throttle curve till it hovers. thats simple

[Chris ODonoghue]

thanks guys, i'll give it a go

[Matthew]

Chris:

Try this link it is Drunk Monks web site. He is in the UK and maybe able to help you out better with your set up. http://www.prestonhelicopters.co.uk/ 12 deg at the top pitch is a bit much for a 30 size. You want to start out on a level playing field. When I started I didn't mess with the curves at all. I made everything linear. On the throttle and the pitch. This will help with the stability of the heli. You will see that you don't get big jumps in pitch or throttle in the stick movements, and will make the heli transitions smooth. Also what type of fuel are you using and what is the needle on your carb set at. Running it a little richer might help slow your head speed down.
Any way my 2 cents.

[Chris ODonoghue]

hiya, the engine was setup by Nigel Fraser Ker for me, so I'm pretty confident that it's good (he's a very good 3D flyer and competes at the 3D Masters each year so he knows a thing or two about engine tuning)

I don't get that high up in the pitch range at the moment, as I'm only hovering and the engine never gets to 100%. As for fuel, at the moment, I'm using Al's Hobbies (LHS) own fuel, but I've nearly finished that lot and I'll be moving on to Wildcat (which is in the shed).

Thanks for the link, I'll see if there's anyting on there, although IIRC DrunkMonk is from Preston, which is the other end of the country from me :)

[Matthew]

Yea I didn't know were you were I only new the drunk monk was in the UK. 30% nitro will really make an engine sing. For just hovering and a little FF flight 15% is all you need and the cost is less. I know with my Raptor 30 that when I put the higher nitro in it I had problems with over speed when going through 0 deg of pitch.

[Alfred]

If you can get your hand on a tacho then try to adjust the headspeed to 1550rpm as this will help you learn to hover due to the heli being more gentle on it's reaction to stick movement.

The more gentle response gives you more time to correct any mistakes while you are learning to hover.

When you start your first circuits you can then raise it to 1650rpm as this will give you more control authority, It's also good for aerobatics.

I do flips, rolls and inverted at 1650rpm and 20% Nitro with no problem using the TT36H engine.
This is using stock paddles and blades.