This has to be an adjustment issue....

[Mudbug_Actual]

...but the guys at the local shop are scratching their heads.

Let me start off by saying I am a newbie to Helis but have been flying planes and running cars off and on my entire life.

The interaction of the flybar and the main rotor still has me a bit puzzled so that may be part of why I am failing to figure what needs to be tweaked. The actions seem out of sync or phase to me. But I degress...

The issue is as follows...

The 500 will hover just fine but if you start to fly forward, tail in, it drifts to the left as well. Its was confirmed by an experienced flier as well so its not "newb finger" on the stick and not realizing it. It is easy enough to correct with the stick just does not seem right.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
Craig

[Ozz58]

Are you sure you picked the correct swash in your radio? Needs to be 3 servo 120 degree.

[Mudbug_Actual]

Yep, swash is correct.....The drift is not drastic just annoying.

[dannylightning]

do you have any kind of mixing turned on in the radio, i have never played with mixes nor do i really know what all they do but from what i understand it can tie servos together so if you move the stick one way it might make a servo move in a way it normal would not causing some funny reactions if you do not set the mixing up correctly....

i dont really know what all the mixes do cus i have never felt the need to venture down that road, i fly just fine with out them..

that would be the first thing i would check and make sure they are all turned off.

[Mudbug_Actual]

Only mixing is the swash which are set at equal values for elevator and aileron so I don't see that as the cause. Though I certainly could be wrong

[Deet]

you need to measure the aileron and elevator pitches ans set the swash mixes so you get equal angles, not the same numbers in the radio

[Larry227]

you need to measure the aileron and elevator pitches ans set the swash mixes so you get equal angles, not the same numbers in the radio
Yeah, many people figure if their Elev swash mix is 60% they can just set the Aile to 60% or vice versa and be good. I seldom ended up with the same values when I had a flybar.

[lankey]

Can you confirm that your swash plate is level through the whole pitch range (using a swash leveling tool if poss)?

The left drift may well be down to the same left drift you get in a hover- ie thrust from the tail rotor?!

[Mon_t]

A heli will always want to drift to the left with a perfectly level swash.
As Lankey stated you get the drift from the tail rotor thrust, otherwise know as "Translational Lift".
Or something like that, Skiddz explained it a while back...

If the drift is the tail rotating to the left, then I'd suggest either poor gyro setup or a vibration.

[g2driver]

Perhaps a phasing issue?

[horigan]

As alluded to above, make sure your swash is level at the full high and full low points. After ensuring a level swash at mid-stick, use end points to get it level at the extremes up and down.

[Mudbug_Actual]

A heli will always want to drift to the left with a perfectly level swash.
As Lankey stated you get the drift from the tail rotor thrust, otherwise know as "Translational Lift".
Or something like that, Skiddz explained it a while back...

If the drift is the tail rotating to the left, then I'd suggest either poor gyro setup or a vibration.

Thanks for the suggestions folks.

The tail is not trying to turn it is holding steady and its a slow drift as it moves forward.

Is may very well be the tail rotor, it is larger then what they were flying. (Align Stock Plastic) I have a Align CF set I may put on and see if if changes anything.

The swash plate is as level as I can eyeball it through the full range I do not have a leveling tool.

[Anthony440]

Perhaps a phasing issue?

500 has no phase adjustment.

[Anthony440]

Has it been crashed and maybe something could be bent?

[rcflyerheli]

My best guess, is your swash going out of level when you get to full up on your collective. What are you seeing on just a collective increase (pitch pump)? If you see the heli lean one way or the other, it would indicate different servo throws on the pitch and aileron servos. Since you are flybar, adjust whichever one you need to get the swash level at full travel and see if that doesn't help the problem.

When you indicate drift, are you referring to the tail or to the whole heli. If it is staying level on the main rotor, but losing heading on the tail, you could either be rate mode, or just need more gain in your tail gyro.

Good luck

[Mudbug_Actual]

Sorry for the tardy responses...They seem to be reviewing my posts prior to them showing up. Not sure if that goes away at a certain post count or not.

No crashes to speak of its never been over a three foot hover, worst thing its seen is I trimmed a hedge a little bit before I got it shut down but it did even damage the blades that I can tell.

I will go back and recheck everything for level when i get home tonight

[Anthony440]

I don't mean to insult your intelligence... Have you put a swash leveling tool on and watched it was it goes up? Unlevel as it rises and the end points at full positive set so it's still level?

[Deet]

Buy a swash level tool, it will be the best $15 you will ever spend

[kwesty2008]

+1 for the swash tool and checking endpoints..


Cheers, Kallen.

[Lighty]

+1