Raptor 30 Tail setup

[jakesvdm]

I finally got a GY401 with S9254 servo for my Raptor. Now I went to raptortechnique for howto's on how to set up the tail, but I get conflicting info on the site.

I want to know first of all, how far should the ball link be from the center of the servo. Is it 10.5 mm or is it 13 mm ? On raptortechnique they have articles for different transmitters, but the info varies on this one point. For my Tx (JR2610) they say it should be at 10.5mm. For the DX7 it should be at 13mm. For some Tx's at 10.5 and for some 13mm. Now unless I'm missing something, I don't see how a Tx (or Rx) could affect this. So what is the right answer ? 10.5 or 13mm ?

Secondly they state that the pitch slider on the tail should be 4.5mm from the tail case (with pics to demonstrate) as a center position. I could buy this. But, the pitch slider can then move more to the one side than to the other, in other words, that is not the center of the total movement on the pitch slider. Which could be right, and that is why I would like your expert advice.

Now, with my pitch slider at 4.5 mm ("center position" according to raptortechnique) and the ball link at 10.5 mm from center, I do not get full travel on my tail slider. If however, I move the ball link out one more hole (haven't measured, but think this is 13mm) away from the center of servo horn, I do get full movement to one side of the slider and an equal amount to the other side (but as I mentioned above, 4.5mm is not the center of the total movement on that slider - I measured it.).

So what I am asking is, what is the correct info here ? 4.5 mm on tail slider as center ? and ball link at 10.5mm or 13mm ?

Thanks a lot

[forjer]

If you can't get full travel out of the tail slider by working the limit pot of the gyro, you'll want to move out the the 13mm. As far as the 4.5mm "center" measurement, I noticed the same thing. I threw that number out the window. Either:
a) Use trial and error by adusting the limit pot (with gyro in rate mode) and servo position until you get full travel, or

b) Move the tail slider all the way to inside (the brass bushing will partially bury itself into the tailcase), and measure the gap on the opposite side of the slider (opposite what RaptorTechnique shows). Divide that measurement by 2, and shoot for that number with the servo centered in rate mode. Then tweak the limit pot to get full travel with no binding.

I think I measured .560" [14.22mm] so I set the center to .280" [7.11mm].

If you want, I can re-measure mine tonight.

[BarracudaHockey]

4.5mm works, here's why. One way is fighting torque, one way is letting torque do its thing.

Centering the slider works too.

Try 13mm it doesnt matter what transmitter you're using.

[jakesvdm]

Thanks for helping me here. I did exactly what forjer did (thanks, I got the same measurements), but I was about to change that and use 4.5mm as the center position. Is there a disadvantage for not using 4.5 mm as center ? Does it put more strain on the servo ?

[BarracudaHockey]

Strain? No.

Is it needed? Depends on who you ask.

It allows the gyro/servo to make use of the natural expotentail increased throw when the linkage is prefectly centered. Others say its better to have the highest limit you can so the gyro has better resolution.

I center the slider while the pushrod is straight up and down. I don't mess with rate mode.

[vandelescrow]

Here is what I heard / read.

With the gyro in rate mode, the heli should maintain a constant heading with out any adjustment. So when in heading hold the servo does not have to work as hard, saving juice in your battery and life of the servo.

How to do this on the bench? With the gyro in rate mode and the servo centered, the blades should be at a slight angle as if you gave it right rudder. Fold the tail blades and they should be apx 20mm apart at the ends.

Someone please post the correct measurement of the folded blades, I don't remember the exact measurement.

Conserning the distance on the servo horn. There has been a few posts here that say, allow the servo full travel, it will give better resolution but slightly slower reaction time. When we are using servos with a .09 transit time, this would not be noticable. I noticed by doing this, I had to put a small nut on the ball link to give enough clearance for the screw in the center of the horn.

[BarracudaHockey]

Not really. Because when you set up a rate mode hover in normal mode then thats the only place that setting is valid, if you change the power, switch to idle up, or just punch it, then the tail requirement will change.

The gyro, servo, and battery really don't care.