OzarkCopterBum
06-17-2005, 12:36 PM
I've been having some really quality airtime for last few weeks, finally learning how to adjust my curves and getting the engine to run correctly.
Well, the other evening I had been hovering and flying ugly figure 8's when the heli all of a sudden shuddered, like a dog shaking off water. Scared the crap out of me and got it to the ground REAL quick and on the table. Figured it was a glitch so went through the radio first reseated all plugs, reseated crystal and rattled all the links, also pulled the glo plug and found that the washer was gone so replaced with a new plug.
Took off and hovered 1/2 tank with no incident and then did a climbout and on the drop it shuddered a little again. Back to the table and a little closer inspection found some bits in the fuel line on the carb side of the filter and the needle valve assembly a bit loose. Cleaned and tightened, after starting had to reset the needle as it was really rich, another 1/2 tank hovered with nothing, started moving around some and noticed another light shudder or 2 and decided to pack it in before I stuffed it in.
Back home at the bench started going through it, checking servo and antenna wires for bare spots, nothing, again went through the links and looked up inside as best I could to see if the bearings were disintegrating but everything was tight. Decided I must have crap in the carb and went to pump remaining fuel out and pull the engine to clean the carb.
Emptied the main tank and when it was done kept cranking but the header tank stayed 3/4 full and I was pumping air.
DOH!
Removed the header tank and pulled out a SPLIT CLUNK LINE. It was split about 1/2 inch and had completely fallen off the barb. I havent had a chance to fly it but am pretty sure that was the cause of my "glitch." I was also pretty sure the loose needle assembly and missing glo plug washer were it too, but those seemed pretty minor at the time and probably werent helping much either. I replaced BOTH clunks with Dubro neoprene fuel line.
Anyway, somebodys tagline states " Woman and Helis are alike, they will both let you know when somethings wrong." I thought it was clever at the time but now see the truth in it.
As always, still flyin blind.......
Well, the other evening I had been hovering and flying ugly figure 8's when the heli all of a sudden shuddered, like a dog shaking off water. Scared the crap out of me and got it to the ground REAL quick and on the table. Figured it was a glitch so went through the radio first reseated all plugs, reseated crystal and rattled all the links, also pulled the glo plug and found that the washer was gone so replaced with a new plug.
Took off and hovered 1/2 tank with no incident and then did a climbout and on the drop it shuddered a little again. Back to the table and a little closer inspection found some bits in the fuel line on the carb side of the filter and the needle valve assembly a bit loose. Cleaned and tightened, after starting had to reset the needle as it was really rich, another 1/2 tank hovered with nothing, started moving around some and noticed another light shudder or 2 and decided to pack it in before I stuffed it in.
Back home at the bench started going through it, checking servo and antenna wires for bare spots, nothing, again went through the links and looked up inside as best I could to see if the bearings were disintegrating but everything was tight. Decided I must have crap in the carb and went to pump remaining fuel out and pull the engine to clean the carb.
Emptied the main tank and when it was done kept cranking but the header tank stayed 3/4 full and I was pumping air.
DOH!
Removed the header tank and pulled out a SPLIT CLUNK LINE. It was split about 1/2 inch and had completely fallen off the barb. I havent had a chance to fly it but am pretty sure that was the cause of my "glitch." I was also pretty sure the loose needle assembly and missing glo plug washer were it too, but those seemed pretty minor at the time and probably werent helping much either. I replaced BOTH clunks with Dubro neoprene fuel line.
Anyway, somebodys tagline states " Woman and Helis are alike, they will both let you know when somethings wrong." I thought it was clever at the time but now see the truth in it.
As always, still flyin blind.......