Hawk Pitch Range

[theLane]

Hi all,

I just setup my Hawk and am wondering, could someone point me in the right direction to figure out why I am only getting +10/-6 Deg. pitch?

What should I be getting?h the stock setup?

Thanks,
Lane

[Coolice]

Hey,

Having just setup a Hawk PRO 50 I can try to answer this a bit.

The bottom line with bench setting up a heli is what kind of flying you intend to do andor what is your skill level.
For 3D we would need -10 ~ 0 ~ +10 degree's of pitch, for a beginner 0/-1 ~ 5 ~ +9/10 is the norm.

For a sports model capable of basic loops, rolls & circuits you'll only need -4/5 ~ 0 ~ +10.

On my own Hawk I have managed to acheive -11 ~ 0 ~ +11/12 the extra degree to make +12 is handy during autorotations. This was fairly easy to do with a little playing around with linkage lengths, but these will not be found in the manual I'm afraid.
.

[theLane]

Well, I want to do sport flying, but I want -10/+10 so I have the freedom to adjust it when I like at the radio.

I just don't understand why I would have +10/-5 if the swash is centered. Shouldn't it be equal then?

[ArthurKnowles]

I just don't understand why I would have +10/-5 if the swash is centered. Shouldn't it be equal then?

Just as an FYI, centering the swash may not work if the servos are not in the middle of their range when the swash is scentered. Or if the servo arms are not perfectly centered (i.e. perpendicular to the direction of movement).

I use the CCPM kit on my Hawk Pro can can get over 25 degrees of pitch travel and can get more if needed. I did not get that with the stock setup.

The basic way to set up the stock Hawk is to:

1) Center the servos. The Tx should be at mid-throttle.

2) Center the servo horns.

3) Connect the linkage between the servo & the belcranks.

4) Adjust the linkage between the servo & belcranks until the belcranks are parallel with the mainshaft on one side and perpendicular on the other.

5) Connect the linkage between the belcranks and swashplate & connect the elevator linkage tot he swashplate.

6) Adjust the linkages between the belcranks (elevator too) & swashplate until the swashplate is perfectly perpendicular to the shaft.

If you have done everything correctly and have configured your pitch at mid stick to 0 degrees then you should get equal pitch ranges on the top & bottom. If you don't, then you may wan to check all the linkages to make sure they are the correct length as described in the manual. Then review the above procedure. It's really not difficult to set up a heli so long as you keep your mind on the ball and follow basic setup procedures.

[Coolice]

Hey,

You just need to play around I am afraid to get the best setup you can, the supplied linkage lengths are probably not best for achieving what you are trying to achieve.
.

[theLane]

Actually, I DID do everything the way you all are describing and it didn't work, but I am using a JR radio and the PITCH setting defaults to 100%, but JR radios go to 150% so, I up'd it to 150% and now I have +10/-10% so I think it's good.

Only thing I did not do different was center the washout on the main shaft, but I think it's pretty much center anyway. I'll play around and see I guess.
Thanks for all the help.

~Lane

[ArthurKnowles]

If you are talking about servo ATV or EPA and have boosted your pitch servo to 150% be warned that you might be overdriving your servo. Most servos have a physical stop somewhere around 100 ~ 120 degrees of motion. I's suggest listening for a servo whine at the end of throw and possible plug in an amp meter to make sure you ar enot stalling the servo.

It's usually a better choise to just use a longer servo arm if you can and get more physical throw than to drive the servo so far. Aside form the physical stop issue, the arm travels in an arc so you get less linear throw the further from center that your servo travels.

[theLane]

Thanks for letting me know. I will revisit this for sure now. Someday I'll get this damn bird in the air :)

I could move the ball out one more hole on them. I am using the round circular arms (a complete circle) on the servos (JR DS821's).