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View Full Version : Grounded (and a question about loctite)


mjbrands
06-14-2008, 08:10 PM
Hi all,

I received my EP200SD last week. I've built it using Maxwell 306BB servos on cyclic and a Gaui GU210 gyro with a Futuba S3154 for the tail. I'm also using a AR6100 receiver and a DX7.

After figuring out I had to change the direction of the rudder servo I was able to get my 200 into the air today. (I'm using the training gear from my Walkera.) After a few flights I lost a TR blade and then hit my shoe with what remained of the tail. The vibration has caused several parts to shake off of the tail, such as the tail fin. Luckely, I fly indoors on a white tile floor - it was fairly easy to find the missing washers, screws, etc. The only real damage was a stripped nylon crown gear, but I am grounded until new parts arrive.

After checking other parts of the heli, several screws have loosened quite a bit. For instance, the small bolts that keep the CF frame together can now be removed with just my fingers.

I've loctited some screws now, but the manual warns to only do this in a few specific places. What screws have you guys loctited?

Btw. I've been flying a Walkera 4#1 before I bought the EP200SD. Stock, the piece of crap would drift all over the place. After replacing the servos with better Tower Pro servos, it became somewhat possible to control it (sometimes the aileron servo falls out of the frame though). I have a lot of interference - with the heli sitting on the ground and the Tx turned on and positioned 2-3 meters away from the heli, I can sometimes hear servos move even though I'm not touching the sticks. This gaui is soo much better. At least now it feels like I am the sole cause of my crashes :)

Back to PhoenixRC, for now.

Cheers,

Mathijs

rotorhead58d
06-14-2008, 08:18 PM
locktite all screws that you screw into metal, make sure you go over every bolt on the heli on a regular basis. these heli's do tend to vibrate over the slightest mistake in set up, or when there is a problem with the tail(of which there are many)

psindrup
06-15-2008, 04:18 AM
Locktite (thread lock) all screws that goes "metal to metal"
CA all screws that goes "metal to plastic"

No screws goes "unglued"

Peter

jimgrant
06-15-2008, 05:05 AM
Check you haven't bent the tail rotor shaft as well. I bent a few reversing onto my shoes. The latest ones I got are black, and are a lot harder material..The originals were very soft

Gr4yb3ard
06-15-2008, 10:34 AM
Check you haven't bent the tail rotor shaft as well. I bent a few reversing onto my shoes. The latest ones I got are black, and are a lot harder material..The originals were very soft

Good to hear, the harder material will protect the toes.
How's the tailrotor shaft? :tongue

Gr4yb3ard

jimgrant
06-15-2008, 10:51 AM
Good to hear, the harder material will protect the toes.
How's the tailrotor shaft? :tongue

Gr4yb3ard


Yea.... rite :cheers

stoatnchips
06-15-2008, 11:03 AM
Jim, it sounds like they are now making them from hardened steel... are these still the same part no. 203120 ?

jimgrant
06-15-2008, 12:41 PM
Yep...203120 , from Fastlad.... Need steel toecaps now, :lol:

small.planes
06-15-2008, 03:59 PM
I locktite all the metal to metal joints. I check the rest after each flight, usually just a quick look, unless Ive been doing unintentional ground interfacing :P

I had a problem with my feathering shaft screw coming loose after each flight, even with locktite :shock: I bought a new bottle (the old one was several years old) and all is now ok, so seems that locktite has a definite shelf life.

Dave