Another Hacker goes bad

[MLaBoyteaux]

Put two more flights on the E-Raptor yesterday. When I got home I noticed the motor was making a rattling sound when rotated. I noticed the fan was loose, when I tightened the four screws holding it on, it still sounded funny.

I pulled the motor and removed the fan. One of the bearings is apparently shot, I can hear the balls rattling when I rotate the motor.

AND once I pulled the fan off, I can see one of the windings is a little tall and has rubbed on the case. It isn't hitting it now, but a couple of the windings have their insulation worn off and have flat spots.

I've oiled the motor a couple of times by putting a few drops of oil in the slots at the top, which would only oil the top bearing. I don't see any way you could oil the bearing in the bottom without removing the fan to get access to it.

I tried oiling both bearings, but I can still hear some of the bearings rattling around in the cages. I've got too much to risk to put this motor back in service. It's going back to Hacker.

Maybe it's time to switch to an Actro.

Are these motors really able to work for AP?

I've only put about 16 flights on this motor because I keep re-designing the mount. That's about $10 per flight for the motor.

[AZ ChopperCam]

as you knwo My hacker bearings got "gritty" too. I'm positive the reason is they are running too damned hot. Mine has peaked at 225° in summer time and that was the can. The core was liekly well over 300° That'll cook the grease right out of those bearings.

Mine also had shown signes of the lower end of the can rubbing against the windings. There is VERY little clearance there. I've retired my A50-12L into an airplane where a complete failure is almost a non-event. Just can't take that chance with an AP heli.

Get the 24-5, switch to 9.56:1 gears on 10s and be done with it. I've flown mine with the Actro quite a few times now and every time I land I'm amazed that I can hold the motor with bare hands for as long as I desire. It's lukewarm.

I got mine from www.hobbyclub.com on reccomendation from Gary G. Lightening fast shipping!

Hacker's are just too hot in heli applications... especially AP heli's lifitng loads.

[R Hudson]

Mark,

Many of the guys running Jokers as AP ships have been using the Actros and I've never really heard of any complaints. It sounds like they stay nice and cool.

I'm thinking of one for my Logo perhaps;)

R

[miami6]

Didn't someone post a while back the replacement part number from boca bearings for the hacker motors that eliminates all these problems


I ll try to look for it

[AZ ChopperCam]

yep.. you may get some bearings from Boca but by the time you buy them and tear into the Hacker and replace them (not an easy task) you'll still have a motor that runs about 85° hotter than it should.

[MLaBoyteaux]

Got a Actro 24-5 on it's way. I heard Gary is working on a new conversion which puts the motor behind the main shaft. I've got another R50 frame I'm going to use for my #2 bird. I want to set it up with a front mount and dedicated for video. I'll probably give this new conversion a try because it'll help move a little more weight rearward and also allow the use of several different gear sets.

Everyone I know who is using the Hacker for AP has had some sort of issue with them. Mostly the bearings. I've got too much to loose to continue field testing the Hacker motor.

The Actro purchase has put my Canon 10~22 lens purchase on hold, but it seems to have a better track record so I think it's worth it. I think I'm finally working towards an acceptable platform for aerial video. It's still not "perfect" but I think it will be acceptable.

We're fortunate to have someone like DJ who'll share his success with us :noteworthy

[fitenfyr]

I hate to say I told you guys so.....:D

Ok so I won't. :D :D

Seriously I am glad the "Hacker gremlins" didn't cause a crash, but you are doing the right thing with swapping to the Actro's.
Those motors are BULLET PROOF and worth every penny of the premium price.

I will not fly AP with any other motor until somebody with more money and time than I finds one that will solidly out perform the Actro 24 or 32 series heli motors.

[dreslism]

Man, you guys are gonna make me go buy one of these too aren't you...

[AZ ChopperCam]

Man, you guys are gonna make me go buy one of these too aren't you...

no we won't make you.... what will is the forced auto that is headed your way. not if but when. :lol:

after you fly the Actro you will wish you made the switch long ago.

[MLaBoyteaux]

Man, there's a long running thread I found on another Heli forum where these guys are fighting the bearing problem on the Hacker A50's in their Raptors. They said their motors sound like a baby rattle. That's exactly how mine sounds!

One guy had found a sealed bearing that seems to be holding up.

If I send the motor to Hacker, they're going to put the same cheap bearings back in the motor. I don't have a large plank project to put it in. I guess I could replace the bearings myself and keep it for a backup. Then, there's always Ebay......

[AZ ChopperCam]

I don't have a large plank project to put it in.

I never use that as excuse to not do something.... that's the perfect excuse to get yourself a large plank! ;)

a 25%Cub or Taylorcraft with that motor on 6s and an 18x6 ought to do nicely

[dreslism]

Having personally had one hacker go bad already, my next question is...

So what exactly do I need to do this, to pull out the hacker and drop in the actro, down to bolts if needed?

1 actro heli 24-5
9.56:1 ( That is the 50 gearing right?)
??????

Thanks!

[AZ ChopperCam]

that is the 30 gearing and yes use it. on 10s with 9.56:1 you get about 1750-1800 rpm at 100%

I have my esc backed down to about 88% cause I like a headspeed around 1650

you will also need a 5mm pinion adapter from Gary.

[MLaBoyteaux]

I'm going to stick with the R30 gearing and I ordered a 5mm pinion adapter from Gary. I should be able to run a 10S pack and govern the head down just a tad and have a headspeed in the 1700 range.

As soon as I'm able to see if the 10S pack works out, I'm going to get another charger and set up another pack or two. If I could have 4 packs set up and two chargers I should be able to do multiple shot shoots. :D

I'm flying down to San Antonio tomorrow for a meeting to bid on videoing several golf courses. If I can land the jobs, it'll involve several full day shoots. I'd rather do it with the Raptor instead of the Gassers, but right now, I only have 2 packs and a worn out hacker.

[AZ ChopperCam]

Mark, I've got enough sets of 10s configs to shoot 6 flights. Each flight at about 10 minutes is 60 minutes. I can just about shoot continuous with short breaks between.

two 1010 chargers with 5 sets and it's doable. But make sure you have an AC outlet nearby or run your truck while charging.

I use an Iota 55amp power supply and it can handle 2 1010's going at full bore and not even get hot.

[WillJames]

I am one of those people whose Hacker runs HOT AS HELL but has not failed yet..... guess I need to just go ahead and get a 24-5??? :(

[fitenfyr]

Yes Will drop the money now before you have to buy a motor and the parts to repair the ship.

I hate to say it, but the Hackers are just not there yet for heli motors.
They work great in Planks, but helis are bad news for "purple" motors. :D

[MLaBoyteaux]

The new Actro showed up today. Does it require a fan? Doesn't have one, but I didn't know if it's an accessory you have to ask for.....

[AZ ChopperCam]

no fan to speak of on mine... just the open ended can. I'd guess that with some form of fan the motors would run even cooler.

[askman]

there is internal fan built in to the heli version of the actros. you will see that it moves lot of air. don't need external ones.

[fitenfyr]

Ditto on the fan....

The heli motors run cool as can be so long as you keep them in their limits.
Proper gearing, V's and A's sort of thing. :D

You guys are going to love those Actros.

[WillJames]

I never removed the end cap on my 32-3 in my Ion-X and it has never run hot, with no fan, and has been flown by the hardest 3D guys flying and is still running strong after 350+ flights. As Jason says, it is hard to beat the Kohler Motors.