GYRO PROBLEM...HELP!!!

[bakersfish]

OK...so I'm new to all this Heli stuff but I've managed to learn to hover tail in and nose in. Today I flew my TREX 500 for the first time without training gear and it's still in one piece!!!

Here's my set-up...Futaba 7C 2.4ghz, Stock Trex 500 with a Turnigy 3300mah battery, and a Futaba GY401 gyro.

I've been hovering this machine for a couple of months and everything was working fine. Today, I was getting some tail drift (probably the wind) but being an airplane guy, I put in some rudder trim. I think that was a mistake because now my gyro won't "initialize." At least the red led continues to flash...one flash at a time...and it won't go steady. I checked my gyro sensitivity and it's the same...60 and there are none of the mixers turned on. It was OK for the first 6 flights and I made that adjustment on the 7th flight and that's where things went awry. When I try to hover, the tail flips around rapidly before I get off the ground.

Anyone have some ideas I can try to get this back to normal...at least as normal as I can make it!!! I've picked up so many pointers from everyone on this site but now I'm in need of specific help.

Thanks in advance...

[T/CHunter2009]

re center the trim tabs. Do not use trim with a GY401 Then if needed re bind heli or flip the radios gyro {rate/ head hold} switch back and forth 4 times to memorize center once again.{ Ending in head hold } Good luck

[bakersfish]

Thanks...I'll give that a try. I thought about re-installing it all together.

[lankey]

I agree with T/CHunter2009.

The 401 needs a center pulse width from the rudder channel on power up to initialize properly.... this is something you've shifted by adding trim. You have then taken the bird up without the gyro being in HH, so unless you set it up to hold in rate mode it will yaw as it's not correcting for torque!

Take this opportunity to also check that your gyro and rudder reversing are correct.

[bakersfish]

That solved my problem. Can't thank you guys enough for the help. This is why HeliFreak is so vital. I learn something everytime I go to the site.

THANKS AGAIN!!!

[T/CHunter2009]

set the gyro up in rate mode so it hold the noses straight , do this by adjusting the tail servo rod, keep making a mechanical adjustment until it holds the nose pretty straight then flip it into H.H and you should be good to go. Like I said no sub trim with this Gyro. You may need to readjust your limits in both directions., Make sure your not binding in both directions.You dont want servo buzzing at its limits. The Gy401 is a great Old School Gyro . Good luck Once you get it to hold well , up the Gain until it the tail wags then back it off 1 or 2 numbers. :cheers

[Keyboards]

set the gyro up in rate mode so it hold the noses straight , do this by adjusting the tail servo rod, keep making a mechanical adjustment until it holds the nose pretty straight then flip it into H.H and you should be good to go. Like I said no sub trim with this Gyro. You may need to readjust your limits in both directions., Make sure your not binding in both directions.You dont want servo buzzing at its limits. The Gy401 is a great Old School Gyro . Good luck Once you get it to hold well , up the Gain until it the tail wags then back it off 1 or 2 numbers. :cheers

Sorry if I seem to be hijacking this thread but I am having a similar problem with my 450. First. T/C, you are a great source of info.!! You have helped me with a couple of other problems. The 500 has a very slight drift but not enough to even bother with but the 450 drifts more than I would like clockwise. I have checked belt tension and have set the tail in rate mode with the blades straight and have decreased the problem quite a bit but continue to get some drift. I think the problem may be that I have used the rudder trim switch a few times trying to correct the problem. I thought that was its' purpose. How do I take the trim out since I have nothing on my DX7 to tell me how much I put in??

[Keyboards]

Sorry if I seem to be hijacking this thread but I am having a similar problem with my 450. First. T/C, you are a great source of info.!! You have helped me with a couple of other problems. The 500 has a very slight drift but not enough to even bother with but the 450 drifts more than I would like clockwise. I have checked belt tension and have set the tail in rate mode with the blades straight and have decreased the problem quite a bit but continue to get some drift. I think the problem may be that I have used the rudder trim switch a few times trying to correct the problem. I thought that was its' purpose. How do I take the trim out since I have nothing on my DX7 to tell me how much I put in??
UHH OHH!! I just realized you were referring to the sub-trim in the radio settings T/C and not the trim switches on the radio itself. Please forgive the foolish question.