Anyone installed the HDX 550 main grips on their Hurricane 550?

[Hurriken]

Well, bit the bullet on finally putting Aluminum grips on my Hurri, and went with the HDX 550 parts rather than Gaui. My headspeed has been a bit high to still be using the plastic ones. And I had read a lot of posts as to bearing replacement issues with the Gaui grips.

Well to the point at hand.

As with most of the Sonic HDX stuff I've gotten there are no written instructions at all, or even an illustration as to how things go together. When I went to install the grips using the stock spindle shaft, I found it to be too long. My initial thought was that I needed to use my stock thrust bearings out of the plastic grips, but this then leaves the spindle shaft too short. I then went back to Helidirect's website, and noticed the picture of their grips shows a spindle shaft, and one didn't come with my kit. Does anyone know if there is a shorter shaft that is used with the HDX550 grips? I was also a little disappointed that the grips don't appear to use any thrust bearings.

Anyone out there that's installed these successfully that can give me a clue on the assembly order on the spindle shaft?

[mysticmead]

Hmmm... when I emailed helidirect about those grips.. they said yes they had thrust bearings...

[mjdee14]

They show a set of spindle shafts I guess we can assume they are just for their grips....

[C R Mudgeon]

The HDX550 grip are made for the HDX500 head. I'm not sure that it will fit the GAUI head.

[mysticmead]

they're supposed to fit.. they're for the HDX550 (that still hasn't been produced) and they list them as for the Hurricane 550 as well.. then again, they also told me they had thrust bearings when I asked... so who knows what's true or not...

[C R Mudgeon]

they're supposed to fit.. they're for the HDX550 (that still hasn't been produced) and they list them as for the Hurricane 550 as well.. then again, they also told me they had thrust bearings when I asked... so who knows what's true or not...

I'm guessing that the HDX550 head fits the Hurri 550. But the individual parts are not interchangeable. I have a HDX550 flybar see saw that I bought by mistake that does not fit. ( anybody want it or a sonic cnc elevator arm and crank pm me! )

[Hurriken]

Thanks for the replys.

I heard back from Helidirect today, and there is apparently a different spindle shaft, that should have come in with my blade grip pack. They are shipping me out a 3 pack of the correct spindles at no charge. Not the first time I've received products from them with missing components, but they always seem willing to make it right.

As for the thrust bearings, they may be in the grips already, and I just don't know it. On the stock plastic grips the thrust bearings, and washers are directly inboard of the allen screw, and washer which makes sense. The HDX 550 grips if they have thrust bearings they must be in between the two fixed radial bearings. I'm going to ask Helidirect about this, maybe I still will need to reuse my stock thrust bearings, I hope so.