Best Futaba Digital servo for GY401?

[zorka]

I have a Titan Hyper raptor 50 and want to replace the digital servo the GY 401 combo came with that I have currently installed. I want to replace it with best futaba available servo for complete tail authority! Any suggestions? Other brands are also being considered but like Futaba better:)

Thx

[bgjames111]

I'm not sure what you didn't like about the 9254 servo that came with it, but that's the best servo to use with that gyro. The 9254 was designed to work with the 401.

[zorka]

I'm not sure what you didn't like about the 9254 servo that came with it, but that's the best servo to use with that gyro. The 9254 was designed to work with the 401.

It worked fine for about 50 flights. After those 50 flights it workeds great first flight of the day but after some additonal flights during the day it gets slow on the right turn input. The more I continue to fly during the day the less right turn response I get! Have checked my tail links, belt tension etc and all is same as during first flight of day but always get a slower response servo after sevaral flights in a day. Gain is 60 so is not excesive gain.

I flight mostly mild 3d most of the times.

[Bayou Talker]

Is it slow when you give it stick input or when the gyro gives it the input? If it is the gyro, try replacing the gyro tape. It could be getting soft or partly unglued and not allowing the gyro to correctly sense the movement of the heli and react.

[bgjames111]

something else is wrong. the servo should last quite a while, much more than 50 flights. Is it tail boom mounted? It could be soaked with oil. I've had a servo fail from that.

[OICU812]

Hitec 6965 is a nice alternative fyi.

[zorka]

something else is wrong. the servo should last quite a while, much more than 50 flights. Is it tail boom mounted? It could be soaked with oil. I've had a servo fail from that.

James, Soaked with oil inside the casing? Or just ouside? How did you fix the problem then?

Thx

[zorka]

Is it slow when you give it stick input or when the gyro gives it the input? If it is the gyro, try replacing the gyro tape. It could be getting soft or partly unglued and not allowing the gyro to correctly sense the movement of the heli and react.

Cliff is slow when I give it stick input to the right only and after a few flights in the day. left inoput is great always. Tape seems OK.

Thx

[Laurens]

Gain too high maybe?

[zorka]

Gain too high maybe?

Gain is 60 normal and 55 Idle1 so dont thin thats the problem :(

[BarracudaHockey]

Tail mounted servo?

[zorka]

Tail mounted servo?

Yep tail mounted servo.

[flyinfool]

If you open the servo you will likely find a lot of oil has seeped in there.
I have brought several 9254 servos back to life by thoroughly spraying them out with Brake Cleaner from an auto parts store. Make sure to spray through the motor, I direct a good blast in at the top of the motor where the gear is.
This will remove ALL oil and grease from the servo and the motor will now be running on dry bearings.
Once the servo starts to slow down it is putting a huge load on the motor that will burn the servo motor out in a short time.
This is only a temporary fix.
The only permanent fix that I have found so far is to use a Hitec HS 6965.
If set up correctly there is no difference in tail response.

Futaba does not warrant their sealed servos against leaking oil in to the case, Hitec does.

[zorka]

The only permanent fix that I have found so far is to use a Hitec HS 6965.
If set up correctly there is no difference in tail response.

Futaba does not warrant their sealed servos against leaking oil in to the case, Hitec does.

Thx Jeff. Does the HS6965 works fine with the GY401?

[flyinfool]

It works great.
The setup needs to be done a little different to get the same performance but it does work great.
You can also run it in DS mode and 6V.
I have been running the 401/HS 6965 for about a year now with the only problem being my old slow thumbs. :oops:

If I get time tonight I'll do a writeup on what I do different for the 6965 set up.

[zorka]

Thx Jeff. Appreciate the help. Will order the HS 6965. Look forward to set up tips.

[flyinfool]

OK this got to be pretty long so I will make it an attachment.

I wrote a full description of how I set up my tails.
There are a number of ways to do the tail setup and everyone has their favorite.

The short answer of how to set up the servo is to put the ball 1.33 times (1.67 for 4.8V) farther out on the HS6965 than you did with the 9254. this will give you the same effective speed if you now run a 6V system including the tail.

Using the second method in the attached doc I can not tell any difference in performance of the tail compared to the 9254. I did not notice any difference in performance using the first method but to be fair, I only flew it that way for 3 flights the first of which was mostly a trim and carb adjusting flight.

My typing finger hurts now. I ain't a typwriterist kind of person. :oops:

[zorka]

Thx Jeff! Setup intructions are very clear. I was under the impresion that GY401 gyro do not like 6V or at least Futaba recommeds 4.8V. Are you using yours with 6V?

[Tomas Ahl]

The gyro itself is fine with 6 V, it is the S9254 that can't cope with 6 V.

[flyinfool]

What Tomas said.
It works great.

[bgjames111]

I think I'd stick with the futaba gear. I used shoe goo to seal the servo, and a dab of grease around the output shaft. and that seemed to work. Otherwise, I think I'll be running my servos up front from now on.

I'm sorry, but there's just no way I'd put hitec servos in my heli. :arggg:

[flyinfool]

I'm sorry, but there's just no way I'd put Hitec servos in my heli. :arggg:

After the number of 9254 failures that I have seen there is no way I'll put another 9254 in my helis.
I have a box full of dead 9254 servos and have yet to see a Hitec 6965 servo fail.

But that is why we have choices.

If you get the new Titan or some other helies, there is no place to run the tail servo up front.

Futaba was considered a cheap junk radio back in the 70's when it first came out.
Back then Kraft and Pro-Line were at the top.

Hitec has been making great strides in improving both there product and customer service in the last couple of years.

[bgjames111]

Well, I actually have some friend that work for Hitec here in Poway, Ca. and some of them don't even use hitec gear in their own models. To me, that says a lot. I won't name names though.

[flyinfool]

And that is why we have choices.

[BarracudaHockey]

have a box full of dead 9254 servos and have yet to see a Hitec 6965 servo fail.

Can I give you my mailing address I could use some gears :D and it is Christmast time after all, you can quit worrying about what to get me.