Shaft maintenance after 160+ flights?

[BruceW]

Since the winds have been so high today (and will be tomorrow) I figured it was time to take the head apart and look for worn items. After inspecting the main shaft I found that the part where the one-way bearing rotates is slightly pitted where the roller bearings have dug in some. It still seems to spin freely but there is some clicking and I was wondering if the shaft should be replaced. I have not noticed any slippage while flying so it seems the one-way is still holding like it should. Other than the pits, the rest of the shaft looks good.

Thoughts?

Also I did the heat sink mode to the Jazz 80 last weekend during the heat wave and it seems to work well.

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

Is that the hardened shaft? Where did you get the heatsink.... it's hitting 90 degrees here and it's time.

[BruceW]

Yes, its the hardened shaft.

I took the heat sink off of an old video card and trimmed it down to the right size and then used ArcticSilver thermal adhesive (http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_thermal_adhesive.htm) to attach it. Just cut a small square out of the covering on the Jazz over the heat plate to apply it.

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

Man.... I trashed all my old video cards the other day. What was I thinking???:arggg:

[Klinger]

Man.... I trashed all my old video cards the other day. What was I thinking???:arggg:

Your local electronic store should have some for a couple of bucks each!

[Mercuriell]

Sounds like the ridges the T600 does on the bearing sleeve - I'd be inclined to leave it till there's a problem - if it ain't broke don't fix it !

My 55-10-32 gets barely warm on 6S probably also due to the video card heatsink !

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=38108&d=1202644196

[billyd]

I bought three of these heat sinks from tower hobbies:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJSU9

The three sit side by side and I attached them to the Jazz 80 by first removing the heat shrink that covered the hot plate and then used arctic silver adhesive which I bought from here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100013&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-CPU+Thermal+Paste+/+Grease-_-Arctic+Silver-_-35100013

[zguy]

[QUOTE=BruceW;685824]Yes, its the hardened shaft.
QUOTE]

Bruce, are you sure it's the hardened shaft? Mine is all silver.:confused:

[BruceW]

Bruce, are you sure it's the hardened shaft? Mine is all silver.:confused:

Mine is all black (except for the wear points) which I assumed is the hardened version. Maybe I'll pick up an extra one just to have available.

[zguy]

Mine is all black (except for the wear points) which I assumed is the hardened version. Maybe I'll pick up an extra one just to have available.

My stock one was all black, the hardened one is all silver. I've kept the stock as a spare and have never used it.

[BruceW]

Thanks for clarifying, looks like I'll make an order for one today.

[billyd]

What is the purpose of the hardened shaft? To prevent galling in the auto bearing? My concern with that beyond the extra $$$ to buy it is that the stronger shaft would cause more damage to the rest of the heli in a crash.

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

What is the purpose of the hardened shaft? To prevent galling in the auto bearing?

To prevent galling on the main shaft and less likely to bend in a minor crash. I've heard Shawn say that if you don't use the hardened shaft that the oneway will dig in over time.

[OICU812]

Yea that is "not" the hardened shaft. That is the standard shaft that came stock with the 500s, it is "much" softer then the hardened ones.

[Mercuriell]

I've had a one way dig into the standard shaft and be unremoveable. The hardened one breaks rather than bends - I haven't had a bent hardened one but I have had two break completely

[BruceW]

Since I've had over 160 flights and I'm just noticing this problem now it looks like a regular non-hardened shaft may be fine for my needs. The cost is $18 and about $33 for the hardened one. If I spend the extra money and get a hardened one, a crash will be more than likely. But... I'm still thinking about it.

And yes, my current shaft is non-removeable going up but comes out just fine by losing the collar and going down.

The other problem is that I have a replacement battery on the way since one of the EVO Lite 5350s is going bad and the wife is not happy seeing the last few "maintenance and supply" expenses.

[billyd]

Well I had to open the two frame halves after my crash in order to remove the shaft. The shaft bent right at the exit of the top bearing and didn't allow any axial play required to remove the tail belt pulley. The bend also caused the shaft to expand inside the top bearing and turn it into a press fit, making bearing removal impossible. I had to throw out the shaft with both bearings still on. Nothing was getting those off and still be useable. It's just as well since I think you should replace the main bearings after a crash anyway.

I suspect that because of the way the logo is designed, my experience is a common one in a logo crash.

[stevehonn]

I've managed to bend 3 hardened mainshafts so far, not one broken, luck of the draw I guess. The original mainshaft is very soft, not sure why they do two versions of the shaft anyway. The last crash did manage to damage the oneway bearing though.

I could still get the bearings off and they still feel in good condition, even after half a dozen crashes but I've replaced them this time.

[BruceW]

Decided to go ahead, bite the bullet and order a hardened shaft. Should be here tomorrow from FXAeromodels. Another replacement EVOLite 6S 5350 should also be here Wed. for the one that is puffing.

[helicraze]

Hey does the 600 come with hardened one standard? Is the tail shaft on 600 black or silver?? Thanks

[jamesotron99]

My Logo 600 has a silver shaft and my 500 has a black one. No idea what that means.

[helicraze]

Black is standard, silver is hardened. What about the tail?

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

Logo 6003D comes with a hardened main shaft.

[Mercuriell]

Both the tail rotors (ordinary and hardened) spindles are silver so they need to be in the packet to be sure which is which

[helicraze]

Hmmm my 500 3D tail rotor was black, I did however have to sand it with 1200 to remove the black coating and get the tail slider to slide