Got Major Static Problem, Help!

[smeede]

I HAVE A RAPTOR 50 WHICH I HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR A YEAR WITH NO PROBLEMS. I JUST PURCHASED A KASAMA HEAD AND TAIL AND FINISHED THE ASSEMBLY. WENT OUT TO FLY IT AND FINE TUNE THE SETUP WHEN I GOT A MAJOR GLITCH IN THE TAIL. THE HELI WOULD JUMP A 1/4 TURN OR MORE TO THE RIGHT OR JUST START SPINNING WITH NO TAIL CONTROL. LANDED, CHECKED MY SETINGS, TRIED AGAIN AND JUST AS THE SKIDS WOULD LEAVE THE GROUND IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. AFTER LANDING AND CATCHING MY BREATH I LOOKED AT THE GYRO (LOGICTECH 6100T) SCREEN DISPLAY WHICH WAS MISSING WORDS (LIKE THE MODE IS WAS IN) OR DISPLAYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. :( WOW, WHAT HAPPENED? NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GYRO BEFORE. A BENCH TEST OF THE TAIL AND GYRO ALL LOOK GOOD. TRIED DIFFERENT GAIN SETTINGS ECT. NO DIFFERENCE. I DID SOME READING (RC HELI MAG) AND LEARNED THAT THE BELT IN THE TAIL MAY BE PRODUCING STATIC THAT COULD CAUSE A GLITCH. DID THE KASAMA TAIL HELP TRANSFER THE STATIC FROM THE BELT TO THE BOOM, NOW THAT ITS METAL AND NOT PLASTIC, OR MYBE PRDUCING MORE STATIC? THE SUGGESTED FIX IN THE ARTICLE WAS TO RUN A WIRE FROM THE TAIL BOOM TO THE ENGINE MOUNT, WHICH I DID. TRIED TO FLY IT AGAIN AND NOW THE MAJOR GLITCH IS GONE, HOWEVER THE TAIL NOW SLOWLY DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT APPROX. A 1/4 TURN IN EACH DIRECTION WHILE IN NORMAL MODE WITH 25% GAIN:dontknow. RAISED AND LOWERED THE GAIN VALUE BUT IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. SET IT UP IN HEAD LOCK MODE WITH 40% GAIN AND THE TAIL WAGS. BEFORE I PUT THE KASAMA TAIL ON, I WAS RUNNING IT IN HEAD LOCK MODE WITH 50% GAIN AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. AFTER GROUNDING THE TAIL BOOM TO THE ENGINE, I NOW GET A STATIC SHOCK WHEN I TOUCH THE HEAD BUTTON TO STOP THE ROTOR HEAD. WHERE IS ALL THIS STATIC COMING FROM AND HOW DO I GET RID OF IT?:arggg: NOT SURE IF THE STATIC DAMAGED THE GYRO WHICH IS WHY IT DRIFTS LEFT AND RIGHT WITH NO RUDDER INPUT. I CALLED HELI PROS AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. DON'T WANT TO PUT THE STOCK PLASTIC PARTS BACK ON BUT NOT SURE WHAT ELSE TO DO? ANY IDEAS?

[OHIOBOWHUNTER]

I read somewhere to spray down the belt with food grade silicone....I did it as a precaution but really cant say if it helped anything as I haven't had any problems :dontknow Lowe's sells the food grade in the electrical section where the zip ties etc. are located

[vandelescrow]

I know you don't want to go back to the plastic but reading your description, this is where the problem started. I am using the maverik tail / head so the metal parts are not "entirely" the problem. Just to have piece of mind and ensure the gyro works. I would put all the original parts back on and do a test flight. If the gyro holds like before it is probably fine. Then go one step at a time. Like put the kasama tail on and do a test flight, then the head and do a test flight. I know this will take some time but it's like computer repair. When something goes wrong, what was the last thing you did, go back to that point and go one step at a time testing at each step till you find the problem.

By any chance are you sitting down when you fly? I know it's a stupid question but, in the winter time when I get out of my car, static electricity builds up on me and I get a shock when I shut the door. It's possible that it may be you introducing the static by may be even the clothes your wearing.

Conserning the display on the gyro, how cold is it where you are, it's possible that it is to cold for a LCD to function property.

[smeede]

I thought about the static sprays or silicone spray but not sure how long it will last between flights.

I realy didn't want to put the old plastic parts back on but that looks like my only way to track down to problem. I always stand up when flying and the only place on the heli I get shocked from is the head? If I touch the tail or boom, no shock. As for the weather, when I was flying the outside temp was around 60 deg F. I know the temp will affect the performance but never had the display go nuts. Thanks for the input, I will put the stock plastic tail back on and see if that helps.