Main blade grip play?

[Craneman]

Hi I have been flying a t-rex 600 for a year and a half. I just purchased a bergen eb for aerial photography and I'm almost done building it.
I have a question regarding the main blade grips. This morning I e-mailed Chris Bergen asking him if slight play in the tail grips was normal, he said it was, is the same true for the main blade grips? I have about two mm play in each grip when pulling on them away/towards each other.

Everything is in place (bearings, washer, thrust bearings, dampeners)

Thanks!

Juan Crane

[lperagallo]

Craneman,

2MM play sounds like a lot, but I'm sure Chris will chime in here. I don't have that much play in my grips in either heli, but I can't think of anything that you could have done wrong in assembly as long as you have all the bearing in place. Are you sure you have both washers of the thrust bearings on?

Chris,

Is there a new design out there?

Lou

[rbort]

I have a couple of Bergen twins and the tail rotor blades go in and out about a mile, well not really but it feels like alot to the first time user per say. 2mm sounds about right. I did ask Chris about that and he said it was absolutely normal so I wouldn't worry about it.

-=>Raja.

[lperagallo]

Raja,

He is asking about the mains, not the tail blade grips. There is play in the tail blade grips, but as I've said there isn't very much if any in the mains.

Lou

[cbergen]

In an e-mail, he did find that he missed a "spacer". I'm not sure what he meant, but he says it's all good now......

[shrug]

[lperagallo]

Chris,

Maybe he meant he forgot the "C" clip on the head axle.:dontknow

Lou

[Craneman]

I missed the washer that goes last (the one that goes before installing the bolt). It's ok now, no play at all. Flew her for the second time today, amazing machine the engine started on the first try.
My only issue now is ball links are too tight, havent been able to soften them out, I guess they will wear with time?

[rkeith2]

Edited ---

Sounds like a good idea to ream the links a tad ...

[lperagallo]

That method will take considerable time, put a strain on servos and really stress your batteries. If you don't have a ball reamer, make one. I took a ball and put it on the end of a dremel shaft that is used for the cut off discs. Then I took a pair of linesman pliers and cut two diagonals in the ball. They work like a knife and cut the link as it spins in my drill. Do it slowly or you can cut too much off. This works good and is a cheap alternative to a ready made tool.

Lou

[cbergen]

HIghly suggested to ream the ball links, either as Lou suggested, or a ready made tool such as available from JR.

http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=CN2055