Replace Those Long Double links!

[WhirlingBladesOfDeath]

http://www.readyheli.com/v/vspfiles/photos/204538-2.jpg

Not sure on it's exact name, but the fixed mixer arm links are too long on the metal Gaui head. Finless even mentions it in his head setup video. Initially I decided not to worry about it, and set up my head as best I could with it too long, still being able to get all my pitches exactly where I wanted them.

Well yesterday I finally got a couple test hovers in, and the blade tracking was way off. I ended up having to do quite a bit of adjustment to get the tracking close, but it still didn't seem quite right. Last night I rechecked my pitches and saw that my blades differed by 1.5 degrees pitch!

So I decided to to take out the fixed length arms and "do it right". I made some short adjustable double links, reset up the head with everything properly square, and set the blades back to the same pitches (-11 0 11).

I just did another test hover, and the tracking was dead on. :) I'm assuming now that having the links too long was monkeying up the geometry as the head spun which lead to the whacked out adjustments I previously had to make getting the tracking right.

Thanks!
Jason

[istandalone]

that is good to know! i've got a shiteload of links and ball ends around, i'll have to throw a pair together.

[Mikej]

There is a Raptor link that is just about perfect for this (I think Finless recommends it) - it comes with the two link ends and the threaded bar.

[Pinecone]

Actually a short piece of 2-56 all thread rod (LHS or ReadyHeli) and two Gaui links is perfect. Raptors are too long here.

But you should use Raptor links elsewhere, which means you will have some Gaui links left over.

IIRC 16mm of rod works well, but you can find my lessons learned thread here about what I ran into with my build.

[Mikej]

Actually a short piece of 2-56 all thread rod (LHS or ReadyHeli) and two Gaui links is perfect. Raptors are too long here.

But you should use Raptor links elsewhere, which means you will have some Gaui links left over.

IIRC 16mm of rod works well, but you can find my lessons learned thread here about what I ran into with my build.
Good point - what I did was use this Raptor link http://www.grandrc.com/inc/sdetail/48245 but swapped the links for some of the Gaui ones that I had previously replaced with Raptor ones - if you see what I mean :o:o

[istandalone]

i still can't believe that it's a known problem that the gaui links are too short and that one ball link on each linkage rod needs to be replaced with longer ones, and gaui doesn't do anything about it? i don't expect them to pull all of the kits off of the shelves, but they should at least make an addendum to the manual, and send each customer a pack of the right size links. that to me is really shoddy customer service. makes it looks like they're saying "we know there is and issue, but don't care!" good thing that readyheli has made my gaui experience a great one, because it's the little things like this that sour me on a manufacturer.

[Pinecone]

The link is not too short if you set up the head their way (mixer not level). And some people have said they want the links 90 degrees instead of the mixer arm level.

As for the links too short, I don't know if anyone has pulled one out, it is just that it bothered some people. And in most cases I found that two Rapotr links was too long.

But it is one area they have not seen a need to change.

[Mikej]

I agree with Terry - I don't think I have heard of the links actually pulling apart, but rather that people didn't think that there was enough thread going into the standard links.

From my perspective the self-tappers that held the balls on is much more of an issue (also covered by Finless) - I replaced all of mine with hex-head set screws - and one of the self tappers actually fell out as I was checking it prior to replacing it :arggg::arggg:

Cheers,
Mike.

[Pinecone]

I think they may have changed this. My screws were mostly long enough, even the tail ball.

[Mikej]

I think they may have changed this. My screws were mostly long enough, even the tail ball.

Good news

[Finless]

Early on when the hurri first came out more than one person had them links pull off when using the stock bell cranks and having to offset the balls on the servo wheels. Some guys even showed pictures of the results when one pulled off. It wasnt pretty. This is why I replaced mine right off the bat.

Now with the new metal bell cranks that are 90 and thus allowy ou to not have to offset the balls on the servo wheels, the links arent a problem.

Bob

[Pinecone]

That's right, I forgot about that.