Blade holder warning!!!

[Marilyn Somers]

Yesterday when I inspected my head to see what could cause my wobbling issue. So I went to the blade holders and it revealed there was crack wich could only be seen with very good day light and the blade holders are on eye level. I flew it with the crack, I inspected and the crack became bigger!!! I'm not saying Align is bad quality I'm just saying they could do better!!! as example my first dampeners wore out after 4 flights the second after 2 flights ( and these were short ) I'm going to buy metal blade holders today and the K&B dampeners ( picture coming soon )

[tmore13]

Are your blade grips the new version of the plastic grips ? Have you crashed with these blade grips?
Just curious, I've been debating to go metal right from the start or leave the plastic because I don't do 3D right now.

[rotOric]

I'm not too experienced with 3D yet, either, but replacing vital parts to metal is a "cheap" insurance. With vital parts I mean main holder blades and the other parts in the rotor head. I fly in winter time also (yes, its still snow in norway!) and plastic parts become even more fragile in low temperatures. "Cheap" meaning cheaper than one of these parts fails during flight!

Anyways, glad you noticed the damage before something real bad happened!
I also saw a vid on youtube where the plastic blade holder cracked during flight...

[Marilyn Somers]

This grips only flew 9 times and it was only hovering due to engine tuning problems ( now the engine turns sweet!!!) So never crashed. Align's metal parts are one of the best in this hobby world, but for plastics...Hirobo is unbeatable in that part

[creightoncarr]

I also saw a vid on youtube where the plastic blade holder cracked during flight...

Here it is in higher quality than youtube - http://www.vimeo.com/788082

Happens at about 4:40

[Marilyn Somers]

Thats exact the same position where my crack is. Luckely I'm not ready for 3D otherwise i think I won't tell it tou you any more ( or some off the parts would hit my club members). I wasn't able to go to the shop today but I ordered the K&B dampener set

[rcmarty]

Simple math IMO.

Metal grips = $50

Failed plastic grip :

- blades
-
-
-
-

Fill in the blanks. I stopped at blades seems how there more than the metal grips.

Martin :)

[G MAN]

Here it is in higher quality than youtube - http://www.vimeo.com/788082

Happens at about 4:40
Quote:
Originally Posted by rotOric
I also saw a vid on youtube where the plastic blade holder cracked during flight...

Here it is in higher quality than youtube - http://www.vimeo.com/788082

Happens at about 4:40

You foregot to mention that the guy was using the wrong blades grips and thats why they broke.

[nosmo kink]

Hi,

Scary news, but I do wonder about the versions, If I search on various heli forums, I see that Align upgraded their plastic blade grips a couple of times, would be nice if there is a comparison chart to see what blade grips I have. Anyone know the specs of the different plastic blade grips?

Ido

[RZ350Freak]

Quote:
Originally Posted by rotOric
I also saw a vid on youtube where the plastic blade holder cracked during flight...

Here it is in higher quality than youtube - http://www.vimeo.com/788082

Happens at about 4:40

You foregot to mention that the guy was using the wrong blades grips and thats why they broke.

Interesting... can you tell us how you know this to be true?

[fiveoboy01]

Interesting... can you tell us how you know this to be true?

Just read this thread:

http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/t386255p1/?highlight=grip+failure

By the way, to the OP, if you saw a crack and STILL flew them(that's what I'm getting out of your post), please don't do that again. Flying with a part that has knowingly failed is NOT a good idea nor is it safe.

[Marilyn Somers]

I know, I actually didn't fly it, it turned on the ground by 1600 rpm and about 20 secounds + it wasn't with blades but just some wood plate I've found. balanced and weights ( about 96 gr ) :thumbup:for testing so if it flew apart if there was damage it should be very minimal!!

[creightoncarr]

Quote:
Originally Posted by rotOric

You foregot to mention that the guy was using the wrong blades grips and thats why they broke.

Really, we're going to go there again? :roll:

For the record, as was stated in the prior posts, the grips being used had an identical part number to the grips listed in the 600N manual. Yes, apparently the grips were redesigned, but there was no recall on the earlier grips. Having said that, I still personally would not use the plastic grips on my 600N, regardless of the design. The fact the grips are on a -02 or -03 iteration suggests to me that Align is still not happy with them.

[G MAN]

Really, we're going to go there again? :roll:

For the record, as was stated in the prior posts, the grips being used had an identical part number to the grips listed in the 600N manual. Yes, apparently the grips were redesigned, but there was no recall on the earlier grips. Having said that, I still personally would not use the plastic grips on my 600N, regardless of the design. The fact the grips are on a -02 or -03 iteration suggests to me that Align is still not happy with them.

For the record,there has been and still only been 1 plastic blade grip for the nitro.There is no redisgned grip.

[creightoncarr]

For the record,there has been and still only been 1 plastic blade grip for the nitro.There is no redisgned grip.

Not true. The original 600N manual listed part no. H60003 for the blade grips. That was followed shortly by part no. H60003-1. Align is now on part no H60003-2 for the blade grips. I doubt they changed the part numbers for no reason. AND, these grips are common to both the E and the N models. Parts that are nitro only are given an HNXXXX model number. I realize there was a change made to the grips after the 600N was released (600E's now use the newer style grips too), however the manual that shipped with the first kit referenced the older part number.

[G MAN]

Really, we're going to go there again? :roll:

For the record, as was stated in the prior posts, the grips being used had an identical part number to the grips listed in the 600N manual. Yes, apparently the grips were redesigned, but there was no recall on the earlier grips. Having said that, I still personally would not use the plastic grips on my 600N, regardless of the design. The fact the grips are on a -02 or -03 iteration suggests to me that Align is still not happy with them.

In your own words:
creightoncarr
Senior Heliman
Location: Missouri City, Texas - USA

My Posts This: Topic Forum You're right, they are the older E grips. I hadn't thought about it cause when I ordered them I ordered the newer grips. When they came in I didn't even think to check. Nonetheless, it'll be metal for me in the future.

[erniefritz]

LOL :) :) Bam !!!!!

[creightoncarr]

Also in my own words:

I have one of the early kits with the manual on a CD. While the kit came with the updated grips in the box, the manual lists part # H60003 for the grips, which is the older design. The newer designs are part #'s H60003-1 and H60003-2 IIRC. My manual date code is "Part 1 May.2007". Posted 11/13/007

[creightoncarr]

Also:

Part listing from my original 6000N manual:

http://www.runryder.com/fastphoto/56289/Part_Listing.jpg

[creightoncarr]

And part listing from 600N manual from a kit released the next month:

http://www.runryder.com/fastphoto/54558/DSC_2439.jpg

[invertmast]

damn you two.. quit arguing like a bunch of 12 year old school girls..

WHO CARES if there are or weren't "upgrades" to the grips.


buy the grips that they sell NOW and quit ARGUING!

[creightoncarr]

For the record, I'm not trying to argue, just trying to set the record straight. I could care a less whether someone sleeps better at night believing this only happened b/c I used the 'wrong' grips. I think people just need to be aware that there is no nitro designated grip model. It is the same as the electric. The design has changed since the release of the 600N, but there are still plenty of the older style grips out there, and there are still some manuals that reference the older part number as the correct one. I've said my peace and will bow out. If it makes g-spot feel big to try and belittle me, so be it.

[rototiller]

I have read most of this thread and I gotta say, i dont know if it was a defective grip or not but, that bird had WAY too much head speed. A perfectly designed plastic grip is not gonna hold that kinda rpm. In the vid I would bet it hit over 2200 every time it unloaded. Wouldnt be surprized if it went over 2300 a couple of times. Just insain.

DK

[G MAN]

I noticed that also,either he's not using a governor or it's not set up right. Mine still has the version 1 grips on it, same kit he bought.

[AXE3D]

Carr, thanks for the video. Lot's of work to edit and put something like that up to keep the rest of us safe. I will take your advice and invest $50 as an insurance against what looks like about $700 in damage; an acceptable ratio to me without even considering death and/or dismemberment.