Weight vs performance...

[stvjeep]

So what does everyone else think here. Is the gain of 49.5g (7%) for a total of 714.5g vs the stock 665g (all with stock lipo) worth it for upgrading to:

Hitec HS65MG servos on cyclic
Futaba S9650 tail servo
Futaba GY 401 Gyro

Is the 7% increase in weight worth it for the higher reliability servos, and increased tail holding?

[rudderman]

I have the hs65mg cycling, futaba GY 401 and the 9257 tail servo and these are my best upgrades yet.I didn't notice any weight issue's at all.If i had to buy it again i would do it in a heart beat

[JimLerch]

"Fly more, worry less" :-)

However, I feel that my bird has slowed down during strong vertical climb outs. For instance, watch the speed as I pop it up in this video from Dec 29 last year:

X7H-qw0udEo

To this video of recent vertical drag racing taken just a few days ago.

LkErBoQ_fys

The first video is ALL stock, out of the box. And damn, it seems to have a lot more pep. I've changed the following hardware since then:

From stock woodies to the Align 325 carbon blades (maybe slightly heavier)
From Stock 1800 mAh battery to
A Thunder Power V2 2200mAh 25C ($75) (this one in the video)
A pair of Long Max 2250mAh 25C ($29)
From stock tail servo to the JR-3400G
Enough crashes to bend 12 main shafts..:shock:Can someone weigh an all UP stock B-400 and tell me the flight weight? (Horizon Hobby lists it as 665g but double check would be nice.) I'll do the same to mine if I can find a scale both small enough, large enough, and with sufficient sensitivity. (My first thought is to take it down to the local deli and have them weigh it! :)

OH, btw, would I remove ANY of these upgrades to make it have more "performance?" HELL NO! However I might buy a 30C 1800 mAh battery just for short drag racing sessions :-)

[sokal]

most of the wight issues i find is the batt the 2200 flys alot diffrent then the 1800
hell i slung a bottle didnt have the punch but i could climb and fly
and with the 401 ds285 and the 3400 its like 9oz in wieght a diff of 5oz not much to compare the align fibers i have are lighter but yet shorter not by much by a 1/4 inch
so i say the batt is sand bag

[Akbrener]

i notice a difference with the 2200 eflite battery back compared to stock... when it takes off the nose is the last to leave.... and from a beginners standpoint i can even feel the difference in flight, seems to be a be sluggish and requires more throttle...

then again, i am only using 2 battery backs, and i have to switch between the 1800 and 2200.. if i were to stick with 2 of each, it might not be as much of a deal.

[int2str]

From stock woodies to the Align 325 carbon blades (maybe slightly heavier)

Which ones?

The white ones with the black stripe or the black and yellow ones with the weird compartments and carbon rod+weight in it?

If it's the black+yellow ones, toss them as far as you can throw them! They have caused me a ton of grief without me realizing they were the issue. They way over 60g together. Switch back to the stock woodies, Align WHITE CF blades or Align woodies.

[JimLerch]

I weighed it today at the local deli, 1lb 9oz, or 709 grams. So I added (709 - 665) = 44grams to the bird. Thats an increase of 7% assuming the advertised stock weight is accurate, as well as the deli scale.

Nothing I've done actually improves instantaneous performance, The larger battery gives greater flight durations, and the servos are tough enough to absorb most crash damage. I wonder how much of a decrease in performance a 7% increase in mass is??

Great, now both ME and MY heli will be on a diet :thumbup:

[sokal]

i have the white with black stripe very nice blades

[int2str]

Jim,

I re-watched some of your videos..... BLACK AND YELLOW BLADES!
You NEED to dump those blades!

Please trust me on this one. I bet you $$$ that your performance drop (climb-out) largely comes from these horrible blades. Get the $13 Align woodies or even the stock Blade 400 ones again. Or get the white Align CF ones. Whatever you do, DUMP THESE BLADES!

As you can tell, I feel pretty strongly about this :D.

Shedding weight otherwise won't make much perceived difference, the blades however will. They ruined my flip and roll rates, reduced my flight times and heated up my electronics. You'll be much happier if you toss them.

[int2str]

There, made a new avatar just because of you :P

(Attached just for reference down the road...)

[sokal]

:arggg:TOSS THOSE BLADES:arggg:TOSS THOSE BLADES

[sokal]

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=40990&stc=1&d=1204769611
YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rudderman]

Whats wrong with the yellow and black blades. I have them on my heli and it seems to be doing great

[int2str]

The yellow/black "carbons" are over 60g and very, very flexible.

On my T-Rex they caused a huge decrease in flip and roll performance as well as an overall power decrease. If you're doing any kind of sporty flying, incl. flips, rolls and FFF, you'll quickly see the difference.

These blades are really, really bad.

[rudderman]

Im just mainly hovering and what not

[JimLerch]

But I like these blades because they are incredibly CRASH RESISTANT! My last set (still usuable by the way) have been thru 5 major crashes (1 shearing the spindle shaft and making me go on a hike in opposite directions to recover them!

But, yea, I can see how they might rob power being flexible and all.. I actually fondled apair of the white 325 woddies at the local hobby shop... What to do...

[int2str]

Quit fondling, just go for it :P

Oh wait, what were we talking about?

[sokal]

new findings
belt tention also effect performance
too tight will put more load on the motor in wich will reduce lift performance
havent found the perfect spot but will report back

[JimLerch]

Yup, I concure on the belt issue! My answer is I keep tightening the belt until it won't jump teeth. To find this spot, its important to creep up on it from too loose.

This makes for a pretty sloppy belt, but if it doesn't skip teeth while I hold the main gear and torque on the tail rotor, I figure its good enough..

[newhelliguy]

A problem I found on my blade 400 was that the lower gear(belt gear) was very tight.since there are no adjustments I removed the lower mount and drilled the 4 holes out just a little 3/32 drill and that allowed the lower mount to move and loosen up. Now when she spins down the blade turns several seconds after the top gear stops. I found a piece of paper should go through the gears fairly easy. Before the mod I could hardly get a piece of paper through the gear at all. Also I adjusted my top gear and I found there is room to move the motor just loosen the four screws with the blue washers.My motor gear (top Gear) was also too tight .Now after I shut of the power it spins for a long time. Also I can turn the tail blade very easily with my finger and the motor will turn very easy. this is a good test to see if your motor and gear are too tight because before the Adjustment If I tried to turn the motor with the tail it seemed to be locked. This just may be my heli but check and see if you can spin your motor by turning your tail blades very easily. For me this was very hard to do and caused a lot of strain on the motor.

[Kindling Maker]

Mine spins fairly freely but then again I have nothing to compare it to.

[WizardKing]

Back to the thread's subject a mo' . . .

Mine weighs 744g :shock: :wow2:!!

I have 3x HS85MG's on cyclic and a HS81 on tail.
Also a 2200mAh 20C is fitted along with a few led's.

The 85MG's may be overkill but they've stood up to some insane abuse (they were the closest thing in stock at my LHS over chrimbo.)