Tail drive shaft/gear replacement...HELP!!

[rnbiker]

Okay, so I had my first crash with my Blade 400. Hardly anything broke and it was easy to change the bent main shaft...but.... My question is..... How do you replace the tail drive shaft and gear?!?! Do I have to take the ENTIRE frame apart to replace this thing, or is there another way?? If anyone knows of a way...PLEASE help. I can't imagine having to completely tear this thing apart to get to this gear. I mean, I suppose if I have no choice in the matter...but I am definitely open to ideas. Has anyone changed this without complete disassembly? Help Helifreaks!! :arggg:

[HeliMix]

Riker, I have a video of how to do it. It is not public for it has bloopers and was done on a bad camera. Will probably be redoing it this weekend on new camera, but if you want, I will share with you the one I currently have. Let me know and I will PM you a link from where you can DL it.

[rnbiker]

I tried the video, but it is for boom replacement and not what I need help with (much thanks anyway). What I need to replace is the shaft and gear INSIDE the frame that drives the tail rotor and is driven by the main gear. Can this be replaced without complete disassembly of the frame?? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[HeliMix]

Sorry, thought you meant the tail shaft at the rear of the heli, not the one driven off the main gear.

[dr.olds]

You dont need to split the frame just remove the tail servo move it to the side. Remove the 4 screws(2 per side) that hold the lower bearing block in place drop it down and pull it out the back. I put a bit of grease on the new shaft at the ends to hold the bearing and brass spacers in place. Install the new shaft into the upper bearing and then reinstall the lower bearing block bolt it up and reinstall the tail boom making sure to twist the belt the right way so the rotor spins in the right direction.


Noel

[LockMD]

I tried the video, but it is for boom replacement and not what I need help with (much thanks anyway). What I need to replace is the shaft and gear INSIDE the frame that drives the tail rotor and is driven by the main gear. Can this be replaced without complete disassembly of the frame?? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.


Yes the gears are actually easy.....I was scared too. Infact, I had a broken tooth and kept flying trying to avoid the repair. Have you replaced the main shaft yet? as simple as that. Once the shaft is removed just push both gears out the side together, squeeze them together they come out real easy.

[blade4oo]

ok you have to take out your main gears theres 4 screws on a little plate that holds the tail gears remove the screws and work it out it dose come out now loosin the tail boom screws to loosin the belt you should be able to remove the belt drive gears from there its not fun trust me but you can do it i did you may have to remove your rec mine was out when i did the removal there are 2 little shims dont lose them the short one gos on the belt gear side the long one gos on the drive gear side just some fyi lol:thumbup:

[LockMD]

you dont have to mess with the tail or boom to replace the main gears

[blade4oo]

i dont think hes talking about the main gears i think hes talking about the ones that the belt is on

[LockMD]

i dont think hes talking about the main gears i think hes talking about the ones that the belt is on


OH! okay well I only had one flight tonight, so I will shut up have a beer and fly :YeaBaby:

Since HeliMix is dragging his feet on my free Phoenix ;)

[HeliMix]

OH! okay well I only had one flight tonight, so I will shut up have a beer and fly :YeaBaby:

Since HeliMix is dragging his feet on my free Phoenix ;)

:lolol

[blade4oo]

lol

[rnbiker]

Yes, I'm talking about the tail rotor gear that the BELT is on, inside the frame.....not the main gears. It is the vertical shaft and gear BEHIND the main gear set. I was thinking that I could gently "split" the frame after taking out the screws on the aft portion of the frame...but, I don't know if the frame will open enough to get the old gear and shaft out and the new set in. Has anyone done this before? I'm still open for any help or input. Thanks so much for trying to help guys.

[blade4oo]

yes you must of mised my post on how to do it

[blade4oo]

you dont have to open the frame at all

[rnbiker]

Oh....I see now... I missed it. Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try and let you know how it works out. Thanks again.

[blade4oo]

Oh....I see now... I missed it. Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try and let you know how it works out. Thanks again.

no prob thats what we freaks do :thumbup:

[sokal]

i acually made a vid of that in the vid section

[rnbiker]

Hey guys...wanted to pass on some info. Guess what? I replaced the gear in about 20 minutes and I DIDN'T HAVE TO DISSASSEMBLE anything really. The guys at Eflite are brilliant!! It turns out, this gear rests on a plastic plate that is REMOVABLE with just four screws (two on each side). I then carefully dropped this plate out of position (with the heli upright to keep everything in place) and out popped the shaft and gear. I then put the spacers on the gear (smaller one between the belt gear and top of the frame and larger one between the mounting block and the drive gear on the bottom). Then I used a set of hemostats and carefully positioned the new gear into place on the top of the frame. (Again, I did this with the heli upright to keep the top spacer on while positioning). While holding the shaft in place, I then flipped the heli upside down with gear in place. I slipped the belt around the gear, made sure the spacer was still below the drive gear (which was topmost at this time). I popped the bearing that was on the mounting plate out and put it onto the shaft, after the spacer, then positioned the mounting block back into the frame, pushed it into place and replaced the four screws. THAT'S IT!!! Nothing else to it and it works perfectly. Although my belt was already a little loose (I've since properly tentioned it), to get the belt on easily, it may help to add some slack to the belt by loosening the four screws that keep it tight in the frame, the screw to loosen the servo mount on the boom, and the top screws on the horizontal tail fin. With these loose, you can slide the boom forward and backward to increase/decrease belt tension. Just be sure to RE-TIGHTEN EVERYTHING afterwards. Whew.....today I'll be back in the air!!! I hope this info helps more people. My worst nightmare turned out to be one of the easiest repairs I've done so far. Thanks to the people at Eflite for having envisioning having to replace this part and for making it easy....and mosty, thanks to my fellow Helifreaks. You guys are always willing to help a guy out. Happy Flying!! :thumbup:

[HeliMix]

Sweet. Very good info. I tell you, calling HH pays off. I have done it and they all seem to be very willing to help. One guy, we talked for a bit about hobbies after the original call was done. Glad you got it worked out.

[sokal]

just remember witch spacer was on top also if u have to replace the upper bearing you have to split the aft end of the case.

but simple
made a vid for it

[13Flatspins]

Okay, so I had my first crash with my Blade 400. Hardly anything broke and it was easy to change the bent main shaft...but.... My question is..... How do you replace the tail drive shaft and gear?!?! Do I have to take the ENTIRE frame apart to replace this thing, or is there another way?? If anyone knows of a way...PLEASE help. I can't imagine having to completely tear this thing apart to get to this gear. I mean, I suppose if I have no choice in the matter...but I am definitely open to ideas. Has anyone changed this without complete disassembly? Help Helifreaks!! :arggg:

I had taken apart the whole goldarn frame before I discovered that the lower block is held in by just 4 screws and comes out easily thru the bottom! :thinking