What tools do I need

[jnasystems]

Ok, I got it!!! I have some classes I need to finish, so I have not been able to play with it as much as I would like, but that did not prevent me from at least spinning it up a couple of times. I got 3 packs through it - it never left the ground - and shortly into the 4th pack I had a brain fart, went left instead of right and then panicked and ran it into a gift bag and broke the spindle shaft for the main rotor yoke. Then I realized that I don't have any spares, so I found a list of parts to buy, but that led me to think about other things I should have, but don't - like specialty tools.

I think I will need:
metric caliper
very accurate scale - I already have one
.89 mm allen wrench
pitch gauge - which one? my LHS did not have something this small
small screw driver set - have some small screw drivers, but would not mind a good set to keep with the heli - recommendations on any?
blade balancer - I need help with this one too please
ball joint pliers - again the LHS had nothing this small

Anything else? Nut drivers? Maybe some sort of jig for holding this thing while working on it?

Thanks,
Joe

[choppersuey]

Sounds like you'll need a pinion puller for the spindle cross pin.

as far as screw drivers i found the Moody Tools JIS fit the Phillips screws better, i think they are JIS not Phillips.

the .89mm Hex for the Flybar I am still in question I got a .9mm and it swims. so for me i think i have to hone down a .050 (1.3mm) hex until i get it to fit snug. BTW a affordable but good set of Hex Wiha 35392

Balancer I use a old "high point" (something like the Dubro one )
but i used for the entire Head, so a extra mainshaft helps. and yo u cant have enough main shafts ;)


best from what i found is do a CG balance , so a one sided razor blade in a vise. Then use scale to make both blades same (they are very close but CG is not.)

the align (black and chrome one) fits the tiny blades. but you can just do it like the Gaui manual states.

I have not seen a ball joint pliers small enough.

a magnifying loupe is great to have with this heli, helps spot things you would miss , even if you have good eyesight.

Good fine point tweezers.

moody tools micro open end wrench set.

BTW Green loctite for blade holder bearings and Mainshaft bearings if you have the CNC main shaft bearing holder. this will stop them from moving around.

[Sirwallis]

i think the most important thing (other than the basics) is the .89mm hex but i see you have that on your list.

for pitch the only thing i would recommend is making a 7mm spacer for setting up your servos/linkage.

the scale should work fine for balancing the blades

if you dont mind spending a few bucks for nice tools i would get "Whia" drivers, they have a .89 driver and every thing else you will need. "bondhus" also makes good stuff but Wiha is a little higher quality IMO.

HOWEVER if you feel like youve spent enough money on this little guy already or you just dont feel like waiting on mail order. Harbor Freight has a kit with small screw and hex drivers for $10 that includes a .89 or .9 bit that will work just fine. that is if you have a Harbor Freight in your area.

obviously harbor freight's tools are not the greatest.... but they will work just fine for what your doing

I hope this helps.

[stoatnchips]

Not a perfect fit but the Micro Ball link tweezers work ok...

http://helihobby.com/commonImages/partsMain/HMXR4861.jpg

[ICCA]

I need help with this one too please
ball joint pliers - again the LHS had nothing this small



Thanks,
Joe[/quote]

I had an old cheap pair of "duck-bill" pliers laying around, so I dremelled a notch in one side just larger than a ball, drilled a small hole opposite, and epoxied a small screw in the hole, and now I have small ball link pliers. ;)

Dave

[choppersuey]

OH BTW for 7mm spacer a Friend told me to try using RC car part
for there shocks, usually called a "Preload spacer" Traxxas (http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJK82&P=SM) has a Little set that comes with a 3 mm and a 4mm so that makes 7mm, or HPI makes a 8mm so one could sand it down. they are plastic and cheap cost.

I have not tried because i machined one, but looks like it would work.
if you have a LHS with cars, your in luck because you can see exactly if they will work. I donot have that luxury. hope helps someone.

[rotorhead58d]

i use a dull edge set of pliers. needle nosed. you just have to be gentle. it doesn't damage the ball links

[Gr4yb3ard]

Yes,

Nothing works real good on the links, but a standard set of link pliers <can> work if you work against the ball mounting point and develop a bit of technique, works for me...

As far as the rest goes, a decent set of metric phillips, a good set of metric 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 allens, and I'd suggest a 90d bent phillips to pull the canopy mount screws and go after the motor mount screws once the servos are installed...

3.5mm ball link sizer, be sure to check out Lord Finless's vid on sizing technique.

Bend an allen wrench to about 20d and zip tie it to the mainshaft to check the level of the swash, or do like I did, and put a flybar on the flat area, and eyeball it. Check, the flybar differential at various swash heights, (CPPM 1&2, also from Finless).

After that, BLUE LOCTITE!!!, and a little bitty blade balancer, I think it's the Kyocera, that works. I just use a long threaded rod with two nuts on it, on a couple of coffee cups. The cogniscente use Jack Daniels shot glasses instead of coffee cups, it's said to provide better balance and more excellent 3d flying ;-)

Get a decent charger/balancer. Get a lipo volt meter ($8 at Heli-Hobby), get a lipo sack, just in case you ever get a battery fire. I think it's rare, but I like my desk....

What else.... Oh, yes, go out and buy yourself several hundred hours of flying time. Good investment.

***yb3ard

[Buzzkill]

Good advice I think: Marriage counselor or relationship therapist. Once you get going on the 200 you'll need it!

[SurfCity]

I'd suggest a 90d bent phillips to pull the canopy mount screws and go after the motor mount screws once the servos are installed...

Where can ya get one of these?

[stoatnchips]

Stick a Gorilla in an empty room with several drivers and a vice... you'll get one the right angle eventually ;-)

[Gr4yb3ard]

Stoats,

Unfortunatetly, most likely, the gorrillaz will quote Sheakspeare, I've heard that gorillas do that, given a million years and a million typewriters (laptops now),...

I could do it, but I'm not furry enough to make it fun...

Surf I looked all over, had to heat a jewelers philips with a torch and bend it to 90d to do the job. Good tool, lots of uses...

***yb3ard
"...on painkillers, that's why I sound so good..."