Stratus Open Tail Gears

[Turbo Dave]

Im starting to see a bit of burring on my tail gears but its only on one side of the gear, just wondering how long they should last?

It is very dry where I have been flying so the heli has seen a bit of dust and has done about 40-50 flights on these gears.

Cheers Dave

[Bonsai]

Turbo:
these gears will take one hellofva beating. I tried hard to wear a set out while I lived in Kuwait. with all the sand and girt and I flew them daily for about 6 months .Yes they showed signs of wear but I just kept adjusting the play as per MA's instructions and kept on flying. I finaly went on vaction and took the gearbox assy with me to MA and had the factory replace them. When they looked at them they told me they were fine but I replaced them anyway since I was there... I would guess that , that set of gears had 300 flights on them or better.
Dean

[buburub]

Hi Dave,
The gears are strong but they can break with no warning....not strip...break. You're better off getting the upgraded delrin and aluminum tail gears combination from miniature that just came out. I heard that Burt and Eric from MA flew these aggressively for over a year with no issues what so ever!
Best Regards,
Edmund

[DavidH]

You're better off getting the upgraded delrin and aluminum tail gears combination from miniature that just came out.

Edmund,
It is only one gear that is changing. The output shaft gear is metal. The input shaft gear is still the material it has always been. If pilots want the metal output shaft gear. That is the only gear they will have to buy.

David

[buburub]

Hi David,
Hmm that's weird. The original gears that came with my Stratus was a plastic output gear with a grey self lublicating input gear. The new tail gear set from miniature (#123-96 Machined Delrin/ Alloy Gear Set) included the metal output gear that you've mentioned but the input gear is made of delrin and is colored white. Please advise.

Best Regards,
Edmund

[DavidH]

All the pilots I have seen using the metal output gear. The input gear has been grey plastic. I have not seen any white input gear.

All the plastic gears as they are called have been made of delrin from the first generation to the current. The first plastic gears were black, then the composition of the material was changed and the color changed to grey.

Can't find part number 123-96


David

[buburub]

Hi David,
I just got it from Miniature a week ago, they told me that it just came out. I believe it costs about 50 - 60 beans.
Best Regards,
Edmund

[DavidH]

Ok most of the Team Pilots I have seen using the metal output gear are still using the grey input molded gear. Don't see the reason to use a CNC plastic gear when the molded runs nice. But Tim is just offering them since he had to have the metal one machined also.

David

[misio]

I believe it costs about 50 - 60 beans



for two gears ? ups that is a lot $$$$

[Kinger]

$60 certainly isn't cheap for two gears, but on the other hand the price would be manageable if the gears were pretty much set and forget or were not easily damaged in a crash.

[DavidH]

The alloy gear and the delrin gear above are CNC'd. So by them being machined instead of molded as the other gears. They will be higher in cost. There is other brands that have $18-20 each for one gear also.
I believe he ordered the gear set above directly from MA so he paid full retail also.

As for the set and forget. I doubt it will be that way. Even the metal gears in the closed box have to be adjusted a couple of times when they are new.

David

[bkervaski]

I just ordered two sets of the new gears and they were $49/ea.

I flew this weekend and somebody else pointed out that I had a few teeth missing from my tail gear. I didn't even notice it, lol (oops!)

[misio]

where did you order from ?

[bkervaski]

Direct from MA. I begged for the "dedicated customer" discount but I think Tim rolled out of his chair laughing, lol

[misio]

Ok thanks for reply, so we all have to ask for "dedicated customer" discount


pick up your phone and call MA

[bkervaski]

misio: I didn't actually GET the dedicated customer discount, but I did beg and plead.

[misio]

We all do beg and plead. :lol:

[kthane]

The gears are strong but they can break with no warning....not strip...break.


Roger that... Sitting here wrenching... Lost tail while inverted... HUUWEEEH, that thing can spin when tail lets go. There was absolutely no warning. The input shaft gear split almost in half.

[buburub]

Hi Kthane,
I'm so sorry to hear about your Stratus. I hope the damage is not as bad as I think it is. My other friend also had the same thing happen and it was astounding that the gear just split and not strip. He was flying it at 30 degrees weather. Maybe it was a little too cold for the gear. He subsequently replaced it with the new delrin/alum gear set and had been flying it in sub 20 degrees weather with no issues. Again, sorry to see such a beautiful bird go down for no good reason. :(

Best Regards,
Bub

[wattybotts]

Seems like the newer tail gears are holding together alot better than the older ones did. With the new ones, just make sure you keep a good mesh. It is the same material as the main gear and crown gear, and this delrin material seems to expand and contract quite a bit in extreme temps. As long as your mesh is tight, you should have no problems flying in cold weather.

[Alfred]

I have got a set of the metal/CNC delrin on it's way, but it seems that in need this rollpin insertion/removal tool?

[misio]

http://www.ronlund.com/images/ma/ma0555.jpg


7.50$ at Rick's, MA#0555

[THX1138]

I was doing my spring overhaul on my stratus and found two missing teeth on the input gear of the open tail box. I saw Larson flying the new gear set at IRCHA and he said he was happy with them so far. The roll pin tool looks killer too. I will order both this thursday and we'll see what happens.

Lou