View Full Version : Stratus FAI Head Guide Pins
I have a Stratus with the Tempest FAI head on it. I noticed that the head block guide pins can actually come out of the washout mixing block at high negative pitch values (maybe around -11 or so).
Looks like there is a lot of vertical travel for the swashplate due to the long main shaft, however, not all of it is usable due to the pins coming out of the washout mixing block.
Is this typicall of this installation or have I made a mistake in the build?
Thanks
Niko
Caleb Phillips
10-31-2007, 11:07 AM
I know my buddies razor head did that but I'm pretty sure my Tempest head didn't. Maybe you just have the wrong pins? I'd call MA to find out for sure.
I contacted MA about this today. They said that it is normal in my set.
Caleb Phillips
10-31-2007, 02:54 PM
Thats good to know for future reference.
DavidH
10-31-2007, 06:23 PM
I have a Stratus with the Tempest FAI head on it. I noticed that the head block guide pins can actually come out of the washout mixing block at high negative pitch values (maybe around -11 or so).
Looks like there is a lot of vertical travel for the swashplate due to the long main shaft, however, not all of it is usable due to the pins coming out of the washout mixing block.
Is this typicall of this installation or have I made a mistake in the build?
Thanks
Niko
The only time I have ever had the pins come out of the mixing base was when there was no power to the electronics. That would be the only time I could push the swash plate down enough for them to come out.
Yes you could use a short main shaft, but then you would not be able to have the pitch range you do now. From the top bearing block to the hole in the main shaft where the pin goes thru that secures the head block. The main shafts have been the same for the last 10 years plus. The 0614 is the same length from the top bearing block as the one in the Fury/Stratus series. Just the Fury style mainshaft is longer on the bottom where it can be secured in the third bearing block.
David
WayneBrown
10-31-2007, 08:06 PM
I was never able to get the pitch low enough with the servos powered to pop off the end of the pins. If you can achieve this powered up, your setup is whacked...
fly boy 1
10-31-2007, 10:39 PM
Think you might have the mainshaft in upside down?
DavidH
10-31-2007, 11:20 PM
Think you might have the mainshaft in upside down?
Can not get the pin thru the headblock and main shaft if the shaft is upside down. The hole is closer to the end of the main shaft on the end the rotor head fits on.
David
I don't think there is anything major wrong with my setup. I have found out that the heads of some of the top flyers in the country do the same thing. Now I am only talking about the Stratus with the Tempest FAI head here. With the radio on the swashplate doesn't come out of the pins because the setup is adjusted to not let it. i.e. if one is running +-11 deg pitch that the 0 degree pitch point is biased to be higher up on the shaft. With the radio off and digital servos if you rotate the head a few times than the swasplate will drop out of the pins due to the low drag in the system. At that point one needs to be carefull and engage the pins by hand before turning on the radio.
If the swashplate comes out of the pins at extreme travels then that extra travel is not usable for pitch. In my case its about 3/4 inch or so. Thats a rough number. So a main shaft thats 3/4 inch shorter will have the same effect as moving the cg higher up and it will also be slightly lighter as thats 3/4 inch of steel that one will get rid of. I think it might make a small improvement in the flight characteristics, although, I have to say its one sweet flying heli. In fact just the other day I was able to take my hands off the transmitter for about 7 or 8 seconds and it just stayed at one spot in hover. This is much more than I have been able to do with anything else I owned, granted its the only top of the line machine that I have flown.
DavidH
11-01-2007, 09:14 AM
If the swashplate comes out of the pins at extreme travels then that extra travel is not usable for pitch. In my case its about 3/4 inch or so. Thats a rough number. So a main shaft thats 3/4 inch shorter will have the same effect as moving the cg higher up and it will also be slightly lighter as thats 3/4 inch of steel that one will get rid of.
Got to remember the swash plate has to tilt fore and aft also. It is just not level all the time. That was the problem with the short mainshaft, could only get about -8 degs pitch and not have the swash plate hit the frames when tilting fore and aft. The mainshaft now is 10 mm longer than the older style mainshaft. Referring from the top bearing block up for the length.
David
Your right David
I am wondering if the Tempest FAI head sits a bit higher relative to the top shaft bearing then the standard Stratus head.
DavidH
11-01-2007, 04:44 PM
Your right David
I am wondering if the Tempest FAI head sits a bit higher relative to the top shaft bearing then the standard Stratus head.
I have swapped heads on the Status. No difference mechanically between the two as for the head block. All I do when I have swapped them is put the collective at mid stick and then adjust the links to the pitch I want at mid stick.
David