Swash too tight - Problem solved

[Bayward]

The stock Align swash on one of my 600n's has become too stiff or tight. It is the center pivot ball that is tight, even after oiling.

Is the swash trash, or can I repair it ? What might have caused this ? There is no apparent damage to the swash.

Bob

Here are pictures of the swash partially disassembled. The swash ball is sandwiched between two plastic bushings. The tension can be adjusted on these bushings by loosening or tightening the nut on the bottom of the swash. The nut is glued (?) to the swash inner ball bearing race. I put the tips of a small pair of needle nose pliers in the two recesses drilled in the nut and turned the nut with the pliers. Took less than ten seconds to make the adjustment to the tight swash ball, once I figured out how the swash was made.

Bob

[Hekicopter]

The outer race that the ball rides in is a 2 piece unit that's pressed into the housing of the swash plate. I had a similar issue on a used swash I recently purchased. I was able to free it up by placing the swash on a bench and using a socket the size of the ball to tap down on the ball. This loosened the ball slightly and now it's nice and smooth. Give it a try.

[Bayward]

Thanks, I will give the hammer and socket a try.

Strange thing is this swash has been a good working swash. No crashes or anything, it just tightened up on its own.

Bob

[gehrbox]

Originally Posted by Bayward

Thanks, I will give the hammer and socket a try.

Strange thing is this swash has been a good working swash. No crashes or anything, it just tightened up on its own.

Bob

I had the same thing happen on my 600 last year. The ball would bind up at some angles. Thought it might be a reaction of the plastic to 3in1 oil that ran down on the ball when I lubed the main shaft.

I bought a new swash and stopped using the oil. Started using Triflow oil sparingly.

[dmcn2010@hotmail.com]

I had an overly loose swashplate and had to adjust it by pressing the lower bushing closer to the top. Just note the lower bushing is loktited, pressed in to the point of ball has free movement. You can tap it to separate the two bushings but keep an eye on it to make sure the loctite has not broken loose.

good luck,

[Bayward]

Does a diagram of the swash parts disassembled exist ?

Tapping the ball with a socket and hammer did not help. I have never seen a swash apart so I do not fully understand its inner workings. Do I need to use a spanner wrench to loosen what looks like a locking collar on the bottom of the swash before trying to loosen the ball ?

What holds the plastic ball bushing in the swash? Loctite ?

Note that I have never used anything but Triflow to lube this heli, and then very sparingly.

Bob

[gehrbox]

Originally Posted by Bayward

Does a diagram of the swash parts disassembled exist ?

Tapping the ball with a socket and hammer did not help. I have never seen a swash apart so I do not fully understand its inner workings. Do I need to use a spanner wrench to loosen what looks like a locking collar on the bottom of the swash before trying to loosen the ball ?

What holds the plastic ball bushing in the swash? Loctite ?

Note that I have never used anything but Triflow to lube this heli, and then very sparingly.

Bob

I tried loosening the one I had that tightened up with no success before I chucked it. Considering the importance of the swash to a heli why risk it? Buy a new one.

[Bayward]

I already have purchased and installed a new swash. I am more or less playing with the old one to see if it can be resurrected.

Bob

[dmcn2010@hotmail.com]

Is it good to oil the swashplate or not? seems i have more problems oiling attraching dust,

[gehrbox]

Originally Posted by dmcn2010@hotmail.com

Is it good to oil the swashplate or not? seems i have more problems oiling attraching dust,

I don't intentionally oil the swash, I only oil the main shaft.