DX7 non-ratchet throttle spring rubbery

[th3tick]

So, I've been trying the non-ratchet throttle spring, but it was too "soft". It seemed like it was moving just too easily, and I couldn't quite keep a handle on it staying steady, especially with any rudder movements (flying a TRex 450SE v2).

So, I got some fuel tubing and put it on the spring. Now it's too "jumpy". I overcome the friction of the tubing and BUMP it jumps too high, so I pull back and BUMP it jumps too low, like the rubber is gripping it, then releasing it only after some level of tension.

Next I tried loosening the spring as much as possible (trying it both sides down to find the looser side), and applied some silicone grease to it. It's better, but I still feel like I'm "leaning" the stick around in one spot on the rubber, and if I really need it to move, I risk it really jumping up higher or lower.

Is there any way to get it to move smoothly over the tubing? The stuff I'm using was given to me for free by the LHS cut new off their spool of "bright green" (I don't remember anything else about what kind it was).

[Danal Estes]

Try different tubing.

Or...

In most modified transmitters I use the original spring (since there's not a smooth one shipped with most TXs) with a piece of plastic cut from a retail "peg pack" in between. So find anything you've bought recently that comes in one of those transparent plastic blister packs that are so %@#* difficult to open. Cut a rectangular strip of plastic just barely bigger than the metal spring in all dimensions. Poke or drill a hole in one end, remove the spring, and replace with the plastic underneath.

A bit of bending of the spring to get the pressure right and you can have a smooth, but very slightly still detented, and I mean very slightly, with enough grip to avoid unexpeted movement.

You can truly find tune the feel (if it's worth your time) by trying different thicknesses of plastic and different spring tensions.

[th3tick]

Thank you very much! I'll start watching for the next blister pack...

[th3tick]

One last comment...

I found some of that plastic (PVC) on a one-gallon Chick-Fil-A lemonade jug, and clipped out a chunk. While its very light on the tension, it gives a VERY nice feel to the stick, such that I can feel when it starts to move which is what I was lacking with the bare metal. I don't get any feel of the remaining plastic ratchet, but that's what I was after in the first place.

THANKS!

[Sonny]

I did something similar with a piece of thin aluminum between the original spring and the wheel. But I turned the original spring over to get less detent coming thru to the wheel.

[Skiddz]

Just did the fuel tube trick to mine but "unbent" the metal spring a bit to ease up the friction between the fuel tubing and the ratchet. Super smooth and the tension is just right for me.

[odieser]

try putting heat shrink tubing over the spring and reattach it gives a good resistance and smooth flow
just my 2 cents

[Hughes500Bob]

I re-did mine (again) using a piece of smooth plastic I cut from a milk jug. I sandwiched it under the stock smooth spring. I drilled the 2 holes first and then cut it to size.

I was also getting movement on throttle/collective when I was applying rudder.

This mod has really made a nice difference and it is not grabby at all. I used enough tension so that it feels the same as the elev/aileron stick. Thumbs are much happier! :mrgreen:

[Helifarns]

Now it's too "jumpy". I overcome the friction of the tubing and BUMP it jumps too high, so I pull back and BUMP it jumps too low, like the rubber is gripping it, then releasing it only after some level of tension.

My DX7 is like this now....i noticed it when I was doing some real precise hovering.....I need to lossen it up a bit or maybe use the plastic sleeve trick.