Servo Recommendation

[MarkM1]

I received my new 550 EP (stock version) last week and am looking into inexpensive ($25 or less), light weight, standard servos. At this point, I am a sport flyer with 3D only happening on my G3.5. Can anyone recommmend good cyclic servos.
I have a couple of GY401's, but since I'm only flying "Sport", don't think I need the S9254. Can the S9650 be used? I've seen someone is using the HS-65MG on the tail boom, which saves alittle weight, what about that? Any recommendations here would be very helpful.
Thanks!

[mbigby2]

For the cyclics, I'd get JR DS821's:

http://www.espritmodel.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4884

They're cheap, and you can get the JR large servo wheel which requires no drilling. I'm pretty sure the standard servos that come the DX-7 are pretty much the same thing.

[wis1]

I used both JR DS821 and Spektrum DS821's on my 550 XES. I had 1 JR and 1 Spektrum break off at the bottom of the spline. I removed all and put on Futaba S3152's (Digital) on the cyclic and have had no problems. They are about $30ea.

[Pinecone]

And for the 821, check the classifieds, people sell them off form theyr DX radio sets. I paid like $70 for 4 of them.

[MarkM1]

mbigby2, wis1 & Pinecone;
Thanks, I appreciate the info. I'll check into the DS821's and also the S3152s. Can't wait to get this bird in the air.

Thanks again,

Mark

[BigVanVader]

The DS821's are known for breaking the output shafts,the cure that ive heard is to use longer servo arm screws so that the extra length of the screw helps to strengthen the output shaft.

[MarkM1]

I think I'm going to go with the S3152's even though they're about $10 more each. If just one output shaft breaks on the DS821's, the resultant damage could cost as much or more.

[concept1]

I would deffinatly go with a 9253 or 9254 on the tail though, this heli seems to have a great tail so you will most likely want to keep with a high speed digi with the 401. as for cyclics the above suggestions are great, although i would probably go with the 821 and the large servo wheels as well, just use the longer screw as suggested.

[MarkM1]

concept1,
Maybe I should rethink the DS821's. Found the large wheels and the longer screws at Horizon Hobby. Thanks for the tail servo recommendations too.

[kg0ew]

I purchased DS821 servos for my (under construction) 550, but they are shorter than the Futaba servos, and the mounting tabs on the servos don't match up with the mounting holes on the 550. Seems the servo is at least 1/8th inch too short for a good match. Anyone have any secrets to share on how to securely mount the DS821 servos on the 550?

[Razor_Racer]

Finless noticed that too in his heli build, check out the servo install videos that he made.

[ukpaul]

As you say, when you place the servo's in the frame, the holes look a few mm out. Fit the rubber gromets to the servo's but not the metal tubes. Line up one end of the servo with it's pair of holes & screw in the two screws until they are say 3/4 of the way in. Then pull the servo towards the other end this few mm until you can get in the other two screws in, wiggle it around a little just to center everything & then tighten up all four screws. It looks like it's not going to work when you line the servo up 'dry' , but the rubbers stretch & compress enough in the servo holes to 'absorb' the difference in hole spacing. It looks fine when it's all done & you'd never really know the spacing was out slightly just by looking at it.