Any "must have" tools for servicing?

[6cuda6]

Looking to pick up any of the must have tools for Bergen's before mine arrives. So what would you folks concider as must have for servicing and setup?

Thanks, Dean

[rbort]

Ball link plyers
Hardened Allen wrenches (like screwdrivers not the 90 degree bent ones)
Robart Pitch guage
Koll Rotor Pro blade balancer
High point balancer (for the fan for example)
Fan puller
Weha screw/nut drivers for all the sizes used on the heli.

I'm sure there are more good tools out there, those above I have and all I can think of at the moment. I'm sure others will chime in and add to the list!

-=>Raja.

[vinver]

Get yourself a really good set of metric hex drivers, not the cheap hardware store kind, but the special ones from a good hobby supplier. Thorp makes some of the best ones and have a long history of excellence. Also, a set of ball link pliers, and a set of ball link drivers will save your fingertips and make life easier.(Bergens have 42 ball links ends that need to be threaded on to the linkages)
I also just ordered a Revolution tool for making the ball linkages the same length, the Bergen Push-Pull linkages must be equal length to avoid binding in the linkages. I'm sure that Chris and the other more experienced builders can suggest a few things too.
Vince

[Brady Longmore]

Don't go without a Ball Link Sizer Tool!!!!

You want your ball link ends to have nice free travel, not all tight and pinchy.

All the other stuff too.

[6cuda6]

This is kinda an odd question....i have all the mechanical type tools but need the heli specific ones.

You guy's all recommend ball link pliers...yup can see that
You guy's recommend blade leveling devises...yup check
you guy's recommend ball link sizing tools???? what the F@@@??? I come from the on-road 1/8 scale racing seen, change hundreds of ball links but never have i had to re-size one, and i have never seen one that is to tight, to loose yes, but never tight.....what gives???

Thanks, Dean

[lperagallo]

Dean,

I've built two helicopters and rebuilt them numerous times after crashes. Every time I have to deal with a new ball link, it's tight. There are two schools of thought on this. One method to loosen it up is to squeeze it with pliers once mounted on the link. The other method is to resize it. On helicopters you need smooth links to reduce the load on the servos and help battery life. Tight links can cause binding, a big problem if it occurs on the tail, and troublesome everywhere else.

[cbergen]

Loose ball links can be just as bad, if not worse, than ones that are too tight.

Since it is easier to ream the ball links and fit them just perfect, than trying to add material to get the same effect :wink: , then typically ball links start out a little tight.

The ball links that we use, originally Rocket City Links, tend to take quite a while to "wear in", so we recommed reaming them using a ball link reaming tool, such as available from Horizon or Heliproz.

[6cuda6]

Thanks guy's....maybe the ones we use on the cars are not generic as we buy them from the manufacturer and they are exact measurements to the ball. I beleive that loose links are worse than tight ones...on cars they pop off under the steering loads!!!

Thanks Chris for the ball link wear info and looking forward to getting one of your heli's [i can't wait actualy...i feel like a kid waiting to go to the candy store!!!]

Any manufacturer recommendations on the link tool and pitch gauges???

Later, Dean

[cbergen]

http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=805415

http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=101725

[Brady Longmore]

I also came from the "on-road racing" scene, and had never heard of resizing a ball link till I got my heli.

You don't really have the same stresses on the links with helis that say a T-Maxx does with all the high speed turns, not to mention bone jarring landings from jumping.

With a heli, a freely moving ball link is good. It will make the heli more responsive, and smoother to fly, and it'll be easier on the servos