Pinecone
10-18-2007, 08:02 PM
I maidened my 550 today, and it is sweet. Just hover in the front yard.
Setup:
Basic Combo - Stock Motor, Pinion, ESC
Full CNC Head and Gaui CF Frame (don't ask :) )
CNC bellcranks
Short tail boom
DS821s on cyclic
401/9254
CC BEC - more on that
R790
Various Packs.
Things I learned:
1) Castle is not perfect, my CC BEC was dead out of the package. Luckily I have a Sport BEC I could swap in for now.
2) The DuBro heavy duty servo arms for JR fit the CNC bellcranks perfectly. The center hole in each arm matches th spacing perfectly. Only problem, you have to buy two packs as each pack comes with one double arm and one triple arm (you can grind off the third arm).
3) Rocket City links are actually TOO long. If you use Rocket City links on both ends, most of the rods are screwed down TIGHT. They are longer than the Raptor links. Rocket City on one end, Gaui stock on the other end does work well and still allows 1/2 turn adjustments (Rocket City links are not directional for install).
4) If you use Raptor links, you can use them on both ends, but you will need more than one pack. But even then, Raptor on one end and Gaui on the other gives good thread engagement and more adjustment room.
5) If you use Rocket City links on the bottom of the link that goes from the swash to the mixing arm, the link will hit the swash arms. I switched to Gaui stock on the bottom, or you could modify the Rocket City links, they are larger around the ball.
6) 16mm is a good length for the all thread piece to make your own mixing link out of two Gaui links like Finless mentions in his video. WIth the CNC head I ended up with the two Gaui links touching to get level mixing arm and 0 pitch. Finless has about 1/2mm space with the plastic head.
7) The thrust bearings still don't have grease. Neither the CNC grips nor the plastic ones were greased.
8) It is possible to catch the thrust bearing cage with tapping out the outer bearing to grease. When you do, the cage bends and some of the balls fall out. Guess how I learned that. :arggg: Luckily I had the stock plastic head sitting there and the thrust bearings are the same. And that's why in 7) I knew the plastic head thrust bearings were not greased. :)
9) The CNC grips use different bearings. Maybe. When you remove the bearing, it measures 5 x 13 x 4. But looking closely at it, it looks like the stock 5 x 11 x 4 grip bearings, with a sleeve/cage around them to press into the CNC grips. Boca does carry a 5 x 13 x 4 bearing (actually several choices). John at ReadyHeli is checking with Gaui about the CNC grip bearings.
10) My tail was like Finless's (that sounds wierd :) ) in that the tail hub grub screws were not screwed into the dimples and they had galled the shaft.
11) The CNC head seemed to have Loctite everywhere. The tail did not. The CF Frame did not. BTW the CF frame comes with the updated high power motor mount, but it does not come with the shaft and one way you need with this mount.
13) When you install the one way shaft, the upper bearing block has a recess so the standard spacer fits. It only looks like it doesn't. Of course I figured this out AFTER I ground down a spacer to fit. I used both washers with the one way without binding.
13) With the CNC head I easily got +/-13 pitch without binding. Initial setup gave about 6.5 degrees cyclic throw on both elevator and aileron (swash mix at 50% on JR 9303), more is possible.
ADDED --------------------------------------------------
14) I forgot to mention, the bolts supplied with my CNC grips have too long of a shoulder. I needed to swap the two thin washers for 2 standard 4mm and 1 thin washer to get the blades tight. CHecking my box, I have some bolts that have a shoulder that is a bit shorter, but overall they are too long. I will cut them down later to use.
Setup:
Basic Combo - Stock Motor, Pinion, ESC
Full CNC Head and Gaui CF Frame (don't ask :) )
CNC bellcranks
Short tail boom
DS821s on cyclic
401/9254
CC BEC - more on that
R790
Various Packs.
Things I learned:
1) Castle is not perfect, my CC BEC was dead out of the package. Luckily I have a Sport BEC I could swap in for now.
2) The DuBro heavy duty servo arms for JR fit the CNC bellcranks perfectly. The center hole in each arm matches th spacing perfectly. Only problem, you have to buy two packs as each pack comes with one double arm and one triple arm (you can grind off the third arm).
3) Rocket City links are actually TOO long. If you use Rocket City links on both ends, most of the rods are screwed down TIGHT. They are longer than the Raptor links. Rocket City on one end, Gaui stock on the other end does work well and still allows 1/2 turn adjustments (Rocket City links are not directional for install).
4) If you use Raptor links, you can use them on both ends, but you will need more than one pack. But even then, Raptor on one end and Gaui on the other gives good thread engagement and more adjustment room.
5) If you use Rocket City links on the bottom of the link that goes from the swash to the mixing arm, the link will hit the swash arms. I switched to Gaui stock on the bottom, or you could modify the Rocket City links, they are larger around the ball.
6) 16mm is a good length for the all thread piece to make your own mixing link out of two Gaui links like Finless mentions in his video. WIth the CNC head I ended up with the two Gaui links touching to get level mixing arm and 0 pitch. Finless has about 1/2mm space with the plastic head.
7) The thrust bearings still don't have grease. Neither the CNC grips nor the plastic ones were greased.
8) It is possible to catch the thrust bearing cage with tapping out the outer bearing to grease. When you do, the cage bends and some of the balls fall out. Guess how I learned that. :arggg: Luckily I had the stock plastic head sitting there and the thrust bearings are the same. And that's why in 7) I knew the plastic head thrust bearings were not greased. :)
9) The CNC grips use different bearings. Maybe. When you remove the bearing, it measures 5 x 13 x 4. But looking closely at it, it looks like the stock 5 x 11 x 4 grip bearings, with a sleeve/cage around them to press into the CNC grips. Boca does carry a 5 x 13 x 4 bearing (actually several choices). John at ReadyHeli is checking with Gaui about the CNC grip bearings.
10) My tail was like Finless's (that sounds wierd :) ) in that the tail hub grub screws were not screwed into the dimples and they had galled the shaft.
11) The CNC head seemed to have Loctite everywhere. The tail did not. The CF Frame did not. BTW the CF frame comes with the updated high power motor mount, but it does not come with the shaft and one way you need with this mount.
13) When you install the one way shaft, the upper bearing block has a recess so the standard spacer fits. It only looks like it doesn't. Of course I figured this out AFTER I ground down a spacer to fit. I used both washers with the one way without binding.
13) With the CNC head I easily got +/-13 pitch without binding. Initial setup gave about 6.5 degrees cyclic throw on both elevator and aileron (swash mix at 50% on JR 9303), more is possible.
ADDED --------------------------------------------------
14) I forgot to mention, the bolts supplied with my CNC grips have too long of a shoulder. I needed to swap the two thin washers for 2 standard 4mm and 1 thin washer to get the blades tight. CHecking my box, I have some bolts that have a shoulder that is a bit shorter, but overall they are too long. I will cut them down later to use.