Raptor 60 questions

[werew]

I'm in the final stages of setting up my Raptor 60 and would like to know how other's with this heli have it setup like.

I'm used to flying a Trex450 and run a 3,000 HS and I like the cyclic very responsive with 15% expo. I'm into FFF, flips, rolls and stall turns and just starting inverted hovering.

Raptor 60 components installed:
OS 70 w/ OS#8 plug and Cool Power 15% fuel
Top Dragon CNC head
680mm wood blades (to start with)
Futaba 9252's on collective, aileron and elevator
Futaba 9254 w/ GY 401 on the tail
2700mah 4.8volt Nmh receiver battery
T9CHP transmitter and 149 DP receiver

What kind of maximum HS i can run with wooden blades and be safe?
Who makes a good set of Carbon blades for this heli for a reasonable price (under $100)?

[DebianDog]

I would say +12/-12 with a 1750 headspeed myself 1850 would be better for me but not with the woodies.

Gohbee has some very good blades for less (http://www.gohbee.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GB690CR&Category_Code=1200) but I run V's cuz I like em :banana

[werew]

Debian,
So anything over 1750rpm's on the HS would be too fast for wood blades?

[invertmast]

do yourself a favor and trash the wood blades.,. over 1750 w/ them is asking for trouble.

i love the curtis youngblood radix blades

[DebianDog]

Debian,
So anything over 1750rpm's on the HS would be too fast for wood blades?

Yep. On a Trex 450 or something +2000 on woodies are fine. Not true when you go to larger blades/helicopters.

Also CF or fiberglass blades track and fly better.:thumbup:

[werew]

Thanks for the input!
I'm going to check out the LHS's blades and hopefully get some CF's. Should I get 680mm CF's w/ my setup and what's an ideal HS for this heli, re: CF blades and CF blade size?

Hopefully this weekend i'll be able to set the HS, CG... do some hovering and some FF.

I checked out raptortechnique and couldn't find any info on the Raptor 60 re: HS, blade size and type.

Thanks again for the info!!!

[DebianDog]

You may have to run 690s but yes 680mm is optimal when you can find that size.

[werew]

Thanks Debian,
I just picked up a pair of TT carbon blades today, 680's i think. I got the head setup with +11 / -12 and should work ok for getting a feel for it.

I was/am puzzled about the pitch recommendations for 3d in the manual, using more negative than positive. I wanted to shoot for +/- 11.

Another quick ?.... What are the pros/cons of having a rear mounted tail servo? Would I have to worry about the tail servo getting ruined by fuel/oil being exhausted by the muffler?

[werew]

My 60's up and doing really well.

I've got +/- 11.5 deg and can't bog the OS70 at all. I love this thing... climbout is awesome! Still have to check HS but i'm pretty certain im 1700 or under. Throttle curve is set for 70% max for time being, w/ woodies.

1 thing I can't figure out is the body of the heli will tremble a little bit with cyclic input. It's not horrific, but i think it's enough to require troubleshooting. Is this normal?

I've balanced the blades, checked bladegrip and tailgrips bolt torque, alignment of paddles and spacing, checked main bearing smoothness, cooling fan is tight & secure. The heli feels really well balanced in a hover, 2-3 second hands off hover. Only thing I haven't checked is the headspeed, being too slow... could this cause this?

Any ideas on the cause of the body wobbling?

[DebianDog]

1 thing I can't figure out is the body of the heli will tremble a little bit with cyclic input. It's not horrific, but i think it's enough to require troubleshooting. Is this normal?

Only thing I haven't checked is the headspeed, being too slow... could this cause this?

Any ideas on the cause of the body wobbling?

Well it could be the woodies or maybe the headspeed. How bad is it? Got a camera?

[werew]

Debian,
I've got a camera but need someone to record for me... i'll post it on youtube and link it when I get it recorded.

Since I got this heli used, I checked for bent spindle and replaced the old one, and didn't check the main mast, however the head spools up really smooth and stays this way, it's the body that wobbles a little bit. Me thinks it might be the main mast.

I regreased the blade grips/thrust bearings and they're smooth... only thing I can think of is the 1 thing I skipped during rebuild/maintenance. Shoulda just installed a new main mast as well.

[DebianDog]

Pull the main shaft it only takes 5 minutes ;)

[werew]

I figured out the cause of my wobble.... It was the woodies! I threw some TT 680 CF's on it and it was smooth as silk. I tach'd the headspeed and set my max throttle for 1850. I don't think i'm using the right main gear or pinion because @ 68% throttle it achieves 1850.

I love this heli, it's incredibly stable and responsive as all get out. Still no bogging but i'm just popping it around and hovering it. I'll get the teeth count for the pinion and main drive and post it to see what you guys think.

Now for the bad news... <grin> I had moved the tail servo to the boom and forgot to secure the tail's linkage rod hoops. While doing short 20 foot climbouts and piros, one of the hoops binded at the servo's ball link and it was stuck in a left piro. I brought it down nice and slow and lucky for me it was doing a nicely balanced piro... nonetheless when it landed the tail was too low (light tail blade strike in the grass) and somewhere in the tail drive system something is slipping. No external visible damage.

So how do you guys secure the tail boom's linkage hoop guides? I was thinking about electrical tape or zip tie straps...???

[Laurens]

I CA em. Use an extra piece of tape between the one closest to the tail servo and the servo itself. If your CA comes loose this prevents it from blocking again.