Swashplate leveler from Helidirect.

[Drew816]

http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?products_id=6213

Can anyone explain to me how this thing is supposed to be used? I bought one and I thought it would 'slip under' the swash like the one I have for my T-Rex 450 does but no way, this bugger is BIG; even at full deflection it won't fit under between the swash and the top of the frame.

If it only measures the length of the links coming down from the swash it's pointless for a Hurricane 550 since those links dimensions are SET in stone. I don't get it...

HELP!

Got some other nice CNC bits for the 550 as well, looking and feeling good so we'll see how she flies here shortly.

Happy Flying!

[Aussie_G]

It goes above the swash, sitting on the 'nubs' where the ball links are. (after you remove the head)
used for setting your subtrim at centre stick for level swash.
used at full positive & negative to set your endpoints for level swash

I use one on my 450 & on the 550 - wouldnt leave home without it.


CHECK THIS (http://truebloodengineering.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=10)

[Drew816]

Ahhh, makes total sense now! Thanks!

I like the under the swash trick better myself, you don't have to tear the whole head off BUT maybe this will work better in the end. I'll give it a shot.

Have a good one and Happy "Properly Trimmed and Leveled" Flying! ;)

[Aussie_G]

the only problem I see with the under the swash type thingy's is that unless you use a programmer to set your endpoints all the same on the 3 servo's, at full positive or full negative your swash will not be level, causing the heli to move or roll when you apply full pitch.

my servo's are all pretty close - but the endpoints are all slightly different.

[Pinecone]

I prefer the under swash type as it sets the swash hieght for max pitch range.

If you really worry about the ends of the travel, you can dial that out using a bubble level on the paddles. See Finless CCPM2 video.

[mjdee14]

Those that have used the swash leveler...have you found it makes a difference in the way the heli flys in a hover? I mean dosen't a heli usually want to take off to the left (dure to rotating clockwise blades)....so don't you still need to trim it out? Or will it fly properly at zero swash.

I can see the benifits of cleaning up the end points to be level, but was just wondering if you could really feel a difference?

I KNOW i'll get one anyway becuase it's all part of the helicrack...(kahn, your not alone)

[Mikej]

I have one and I really think that it helps - you still need to trim it, but it is usually less as yo have a better start point - well worth it IMHO

[mysticmead]

you know... I have never used one..and I have never trimmed out the little drift to the left on take off... always figured that trimming it out would be a bad thing... if I ever got to inverted, then it'd really screw me up. so I just learned to trim my thumbs :D

[mjdee14]

you know... I have never used one..and I have never trimmed out the little drift to the left on take off... always figured that trimming it out would be a bad thing... if I ever got to inverted, then it'd really screw me up. so I just learned to trim my thumbs :D

OK, so as you said yesterday, your heli flew hands off for 10 secs.....so you trim for hover?

[mysticmead]

nope... didn't trim it at all

but it did a 10 second hands off hover...it might have been that slight breeze that held it in place.. I do know that about 10 minutes later and there would be no way I could have done a hands off... the winds went from 1mph to about 15mph.. the hurri was steady in it, but the transitional lift it had was amazing. the winds did make landing it fun... almost did a blade strike because it tipped up on one skid.. but I got lucky and saved it

[mjdee14]

I needed some Helicrack so I threw in swash leveler....I'll let you know what i think (not that anyone cares) after I use it.

Bu I always find that the "tinkering" is fun (when you can't fly) ...gives you a sence of "being one" with your heli.....and in tune with the force....:YeaBaby:

[FlyawayClyde]

I have one. and have found it to be one of the most imporant tools in my toolbox.
It sets up the swash perfectly on the bench, so when you get to the field you have very little to do in the way of trimming out your bird. It will eliminante your swash interactions:thumbup:.

[Drew816]

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but the leveler should show level at all pitch settings, 50% throttle or 0 degrees, -9 or +9 everything should be level throughout; correct?

Man, something is not right with my setup because that's not what I'm seeing. My #1 servo is too low at high pitch, and then too high at the lowest pitch; the other two are dead on with one another. I need to look at my linkages once again but even with only one link on the #1 servo the result was the same so it's not linkage binding that's causing this, WTF?!? :arggg::arggg::confused::confused::dontknow:arggg: :confused::thumbdown:

I'm still waiting on my replacement swashplate, hopefully it will arrive tomorrow (I was expecting it TODAY so this is why I started this!) and I'll start this process over but I'm quite baffled.

Thoughts?

[kahn10]

go thru finless's ccpm set ups bro shows how to sort out interactions using endpoints etc;)

[Drew816]

What Finless CCPM videos; one's specifically for the Gaui or something generic??? I have all the videos downloaded but I don't see any specifically called CCPM; servos, head setup, or???

[kahn10]

think their in the twrecks 450 vids.the ccpm part 1 and 2 vids are basically generic ccpm set up vids and the wicked edocational mon:smokin:

[mysticmead]

it's not Gaui specific... in fact it's on a trex 450.. but the principal is the same

[mjdee14]

Drew....

NOW you see what everyone has been talking about when they use this tool....

You see how far OFF the servos go at both ends of the travel. What your seeing now is what's happening in flight.....instead of the pitch moving up straight...your getting interaction thrown in and the heli will want to go in that direction....

There is also some info on the Youngblood website that I thought was posted earlier...

[Mikej]

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but the leveler should show level at all pitch settings, 50% throttle or 0 degrees, -9 or +9 everything should be level throughout; correct?

Man, something is not right with my setup because that's not what I'm seeing. My #1 servo is too low at high pitch, and then too high at the lowest pitch; the other two are dead on with one another. I need to look at my linkages once again but even with only one link on the #1 servo the result was the same so it's not linkage binding that's causing this, WTF?!? :arggg::arggg::confused::confused::dontknow:arggg: :confused::thumbdown:

I'm still waiting on my replacement swashplate, hopefully it will arrive tomorrow (I was expecting it TODAY so this is why I started this!) and I'll start this process over but I'm quite baffled.

Thoughts?
Drew,

You change your end-points for that servo (in your Tx) so that it starts and finishes at the same place as the others (i.e. flat swash)

Mike.

[Drew816]

Thanks guys, I'll check all this out; End Points, the Youngblood website, etc.

Now I know why this is THE tool to have versus the under the swash type which only gives you the setup at 50% or 0 degrees pitch!

Thanks and Happy Flying!

[skigolfmike]

IMHO, it's good to have both tools. That way you get the swash the right height for 0* pitch and the leveler gets it level through the whole range.

[Drew816]

MikeJ, you win the prize! It was an Endpoint setting that just needed to be adjusted, all is well now. PHEW! I was thinking all kinds of crazy stuff could be wrong, and since I'd never used a level like this allowing me to see the entire range of travel I'd never had to adjust the endpoints before. Makes me wonder, I probably should grab one of these for my T-Rex 450 Scale bird as well...

Still waiting on my new swashplate and the weather has gone Zero to Zero so little chance of any flying over the next few. Bugger!

Happy Flying for those that can squeeze some flights in!

[skigolfmike]

Yes - absolutely. I have one for my B400, uses the T450 one, and it's so easy to setup the head. I did the B400 at lunch today in 15 minutes. Flew hands off off the table.

[Mikej]

MikeJ, you win the prize!

:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana what have I won, what Have I won ????? :banana:banana:banana:banana:banana

[FlyawayClyde]

:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana:banana what have I won, what Have I won ????? :banana:banana:banana:banana:banana
Seeing the bananas doing the happy dance just makes me giggle like a lillte girl:lolol