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View Full Version : New Student Pilot - Blade CX2 (long)


jsanders79
03-05-2008, 07:29 PM
Well, I bit the bullet and purchased a Blade CX2 on Ebay. It arrived in great shape in the original box. I fired it up last night after charging the battery (LiPo will be my first upgrade btw) and began my preflight. Following the manual I checked the operation of both servo's and all appeared well. We're ready to give 'er a spin.

I cleared all the dogs out of the house and positioned the heli in my living room. Upon first spin up I tried right off the bat to hover, but there was WAYYY to much drifting. OK, ok, need to actually finish reading the manual about setting the proportional mixer and not just trying to trim it out on the remote control.

Upon reading the previous posts here and the manual, I noticed I should check blade tracking first. So I set it on my kitchen countertop and spun it up with just enough throttle to not take off. Sure enough, top blade needed to be put into place. Well just about then battery began to die, so I powered it down so as to not over-discharge the LiPo. That was enough for one night.

Just now I had it back down in the kitchen and started adjusting the flybar ball link. After about 4 tries, sure enough that blade was tracking quite nicely. Here's where I screwed up. I got feeling pretty froggy so I took up the heli to about eye level to see how she would hover. There wasn't a whole lot of drift, but enough. Hovered around for about a minute. Then it started heading towards the sink area. Being a rookie pilot I panicked and my first reaction instead of giving it cyclic input was to kill throttle. I thought maybe I can get it down before it gets over to the sink. HA! I wish. It went down alright. However, it was too close to the countertop and the lower rotor caught the counter. One blade is all that's left of the blades. :)

I think that's the only damage I've incurred. About to give it a full post-crash checkout. This is indeed a very addicting hobby. Most fun I've had tearing up something in a LONG time!! :D Off to the post-crash inspection and then LHS tomorrow for new blades. WOOHOO!

carlo_the_wonder_frog
03-05-2008, 11:04 PM
stock up on blades and have a ball!!

jsanders79
03-06-2008, 08:53 AM
Well my post crash inspection results are pretty good. It appears I did grind out two teeth on the outer shaft gear, but it still turns well enough I think. We'll see once I get the new blades.

I think one of the holes that the skids goes into kind of cracked, but that may have been there before since I bought it used. Anyway, still not bad as it appears I just need blades. Yay!

Gr4yb3ard
03-08-2008, 12:47 AM
"drifting towards the sink" LOL

BTDT or at least drifting towards the toilet/bathtub:rolling

Have fun!

Gr4yb3ard

sfd6532
03-16-2008, 12:45 AM
Have fun and stock up on parts.

frankyg
03-17-2008, 11:58 AM
yeah, i just got my cx2, and besides blades the only thing i have replaced was a lower rotor head (got an aluminum one now)

If yours doesn't already have some aluminum replacements, it might be a good idea to get them

Kindling Maker
03-17-2008, 02:25 PM
replace the gear with the upgraded gear. If you dont replace the gear with even the stock it will not fly rite. it will yaw to one side or the other. You wont be able to ajust the mixer with a messed up gear.

jsanders79
03-17-2008, 02:25 PM
I've heard mixed reviews on the aluminum parts. Some have said not to worry about aluminum swashplate for a reason I can't remember. What benefits have you seen from the aluminum Frankyg?

jsanders79
03-17-2008, 02:30 PM
What upgraded gear are you referring to? I just replaced the outer shaft and gear with stock components since it came as one unit.

Oh and this is a big tip I discovered reading through the archives that helped a ton. If your CX2 is sliding or drifting and it's NOT yaw related (meaning no need to mess with the mixer), then play with your swashplate/servo linkages. I found by shortening my right servo/swash linkage, I was able to eliminate a nasty forward right drift that was occurring.

Kindling Maker
03-17-2008, 11:07 PM
You got that nailed head on. Make sure your swash is level. The aluminum parts look good but they add to weight. I have had mine for over a year and am still flying stock parts from the swash up. There are upgraded gears for the Main and innershaft. They are stronger and they last longer. When you and if you decide to upgrade they make a set of shafts that give you more distance between the blades that is a goodupgrade also, it give you more performance, just a bit though. just the gear are worth it. Boomtown Hobbies has them and Jamie is a great guy.

frankyg
03-18-2008, 12:27 AM
well all i have in alum. are both rotor heads

after breaking the stock lower i decided to get alum so that wouldn't happen again

if your plastic rotor head breaks, you not only lose the head-but also the blade it broke on-and i haven't noticed any change in performance. (but then again its not like i've had mine that long)

i have plastic everywhere else- i also havent heard of benefits the alum. swash brings...

i am also looking at getting a longer inner shaft... mines to short :oops: lol... but seriously folks

Kindling Maker
03-18-2008, 04:24 AM
Alot of the people developed TBS after going to the All Aluminum parts. Toilet Bowl Syndrome. The Heli will nose down and yaw to the left. If it starts doing this go back to the stock plastic. I have never put the Al parts on so I have never had this problem. I have all the other upgrades but the alinimun head and swash. you can also get the extreme blade holders that hold the baldes with a screw in the center, as opposed to the pins and LITTLE screw on the side. the advantage is they will fold in stead of break. the CX2 is a fun little bird.

frankyg
03-18-2008, 02:11 PM
i heard that the blade holders gave it "TBS"...