Can't get Blade grips together....

[Dizzyflyer]

So I have seen the video, I have seen the step by step pics.....and I have all new parts. When I put the blade grips together and tighten it up, one moves like greased lightening and the other seems to be rubbing on the o-ring and feels tight. I can't unscrew the screw any more or the grip will be too loose :arggg:

How smooth should it be?? Seems to be binding.

[glassier]

Do you have all of the linkages hooked up correctly? Or how about the different shims and washers?

[Dizzyflyer]

.no linkages yet...just the head and blade grips. I had to replace the feathering shaft. The rotation of the blade grips is tight on one side, but not the other. Step washers installed facing the bearing.....3 shims on each side.

[glassier]

Have you tried to fly?

[Dizzyflyer]

No... not back together...that's the problem....Unfortuately I can't get the head back together properly. One blade grip is too tight on the feathering shaft...the other moves freely. (Not the blades themselves....the grips where they change pitch angle). Every part is brand new....and most came with 2 each, so I don't know. It's like I tightened the screw too much (but I didn't).

REALLY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS THING!!!

[carlo_the_wonder_frog]

Sounds like a bad bearing to me.

[Wolfpackin]

Very possible that it is a bearing problem as Carlo said.
I would check that the bearings and washers are seated properly in the grips.
They need to be pushed in pretty firmly and squarely in order to seat properly.
If that's not it then maybe one of the bearings is binding, got bent etc.

[LockMD]

.no linkages yet...just the head and blade grips. I had to replace the feathering shaft. The rotation of the blade grips is tight on one side, but not the other. Step washers installed facing the bearing.....3 shims on each side.


Too late now, but for the future you should check out my 30 second feather shaft replacement thread......there is a link to it in the 'dummies' sticky

[SeaComms]

I agree with the bearing being the likely cause. Did you use locktite on the end screws? if so, I have seen the locktite ooze a little and hit the bearings (dont ask me how I know that...) and the end result was one side was really stiff.

If you look at the design of the shaft, it is free floating through the head, so the tension end to end will be the same both sides regardless of build. So even if you only had one shim on one side and 5 shims on the other, it will be the same tension on the bearings both sides, just one side would be longer and it would spin out of balance.

[Dizzyflyer]

Thanks everyone....I guess I will just buy new parts for everyting on the head. I DID purchase new bearings (same prob)...but I may have mixed a couple with the old. One of the Blade grips broke in the crash, and the feathering shaft was so bent that I had to cut it with a dremmel. I'll just purchase new bearings/washers/inner outer race/o-rings....etc and see what happens....if THAT doesn't work...I have a heli for your REAL CHEAP!

[Dizzyflyer]

Well I think I got it....finally. I disassembled again for the (5th) time and re-assembled. I installed 2 shims instead of the 3 that it came with and the grips seem to move freely now. I read where people use 4 or more and they have no problems. It kind of makes sense that extra shims would increase the "tightness".

[eugenefelisco]

Too tight and you destroy the o-ring inside. Just enough you have a little slop. I have 3 in mine each side. Two which came with the heli and one I added for a little stability.

[SeaComms]

Mine came stock with 4 shims each side. 2 hovers in the backyard and the orings are stipping.... new set of orings, 2 quick hovers later and bits of rubber are stiripping off them again! Sounds like I might need to drop a shim or two