Raptor 30 V1 clutch dragging

[Aaron Hartwell]

I recently acquired a Raptor 30 V1 from my father. I'm working my way through my first take of fuel and over the past two days I've noticed that the clutch seems to be engaging alot earlier as I throttle up. When I first got the helicoptor it would idle nicely on the ground without the rotor moving at all. Now at idle, the rotor is moving at a pretty good clip. I have to hang on to it pretty hard when I start the engine. I've tried to slow down the idle thinking that maybe the engine has started to lean out as it's breaking in and is now idling faster but that didn't seem to help as even at the lowest idle where the engine is barely running, the clutch still seems to be engaged.

Is there something that could have gotten out of adjustment or something? I've looked all over raptor technique and a couple of other places and I don't see anything on adjusting the clutch. I do however find instructions on replacing the clutch. Maybe that's what I need to do?

Ideas?

Thanks in advance,

Aaron

[capebob]

Welcome to the world of Raptor V1 clutches. The clutch is probably the weakest point of the V1 Raptor. It is undoubtedly cracked and sprung and should be replaced. It is a fifteen minute job if you have done it before and thirty minutes if you have not. I would highly recommend relining the clutch bell and using an aftermarket heavy duty clutch. If the budget allows I recommend converting your helicopter to the V2 clutch. To do this you will need the clutch, clutch bell, start shaft, starter coupling, pinion, and top starter shaft bearing. I think that's all, but it's been a long time since I've done a conversion so I may have missed something. BTW if you are going to make the conversion and still use the V1 frames the top starter bearing will be different than the Raptor V2 bearing and have to be acquired from a bearing source such as Boca Bearings.

Bob

[Aaron Hartwell]

Bad clutch eh? Bummer! With the helicopter came a small bag of parts. I see a brand new Thunder Tiger Clutch Bell (R30V2) and a new Thunder Tiger Clutch (30 Heli). Given the descriptions on the packages it looks like the first part is made for a V2 and the second for a V1.

As for the conversion I'm guessing that I don't have all the parts but I'll look into that.

Aaron

[chilipepper]

One thing that you might want to check out is the pinion bearing. I was having the same exact problem so I dropped the engine and the clutch looked brand new (I purchased a used machine as well). The clutch bell did have a little wiggle to it while the engine was out and the bell/pinion just basically fell out. The pinion bearing was fine but the bearing race on the pinion itself was trashed. I just put in the new pinion and bearing (just to be safe) and it is back to smooth as silk, like new!

A tip I did get from a local flyer was to put a little red locktite on the pinion bearing race and let it cure. Make sure you only use a very light film of locktiten and that it doesn't get into the bearing itself. Also if you use red and you get it wrong you'll have to heat it to remove it but it will definately hold. One other word of caution is that you make sure the bearing is down tight against the pinion gear. If it isn't it will cause you much grief when installing the motor and it will cause the clutch to drag and ultimately have to be redone! (ask me how I know? :oops: )

Anyway that is my suggestion to look at if the clutch is in good shape. Hope it helps!

[heli-boy]

Hoi Aaron
I think maybe that your coolfin is loose.
Loose first the glow plug and than than try to spin your coolfin around,
feel this with you fingertop. This must go easy, if not, than your coolfin is loose.

Or look if your motor is good inline with startercoupling, this can course this problem.

Or you have a broken coupling.

[Aaron Hartwell]

Mystery solved! As some people suggested, the cluctch was bad. Per the instructions on Raptor Technique I dropped the engine and out of the clutch bell dropped a big piece of the clutch. :shock:

After checking the clutch bell for excessive wiggle and liner wear I replaced the clutch, went out to my flying field, and after a couple of hovering sessions I declared it 'good as new.'

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

Aaron