My hurri tried to kill me

[backwall]

I haven't even flown it yet, let alone put the main blades on. I finally got my gyro set up and decided to check out initializing the ESC. I followed the instructions in the Hurricane 550 manual. For the initial setting it was set for lipos or so I assumed. I turned on the Tx, set the throttle at low, turned on the receiver, and hooked up the batteries. Nothing, no beeps, nothing. So I thought I'd do the manual setup of the ESC. TX on, throttle high, receiver on, batteries connected. Nothing--but I did get the beeps. I pulled back the throttle and all hell broke loose. I was working on the heli on a table next to my reptile cage. Apparently the flybar paddle hit the cage, shattered the glass, whipped the heli around and proceeded to take a few chunks out of my arm. For a while I couldn't get the bleeding stopped, but finally succeeded. Now my hurri sits on the shelf till I get the courage to try it again. I did have to change two leads on the motor because it was running backwards at first. I know the motor direction change worked! My arm attest to that. Now I'm wondering just what I have to do to set up the motor and ESC properly. Could it be I have to reverse the throttle in the Tx menu? Could this make the heli act opposite to my throttle inputs? I need any help or suggestions. I'm a little afraid to get back on this horse. By the way, the flybar is bent, both paddles destroyed, tail blades sheared off. If that's all then I'm lucky. I need to take it back apart to be sure the main shaft is straight and the tail shaft also. I also had the newly painted canopy sitting on the table. The heli went throught it like a hot knife thru butter. Hopefully everything is okay. Still shaking a little. Instead of my arm, it could have been my throat. But I still need to solve my motor, ESC, throttle thing. By the way, it's the stock gaui motor with gaui 75A ESC. I'm using a Futaba 7C FASST 2.4GHz Tx/Rx.

Dave

[mjdee14]

you have your throttle channel reversed....go in and reverse your throttle....

what happened is the esc thought you were at full stick and didn;t initialize )beeps) until you went to high stick because it was reversed when on high stick it now thought it was low stick and initialized the esc and motor....when you moved toward low stick....it started the motor...

Just revers the throttle channel and you should be OK...

Goes to show....you still need to be carefull...blades or not......paddles can cut just as bad....

[ICCA]

I use a 9CHP, and I think the settings would be the same, so you should be rev on chan 3. Also, it,s always best to work on a clear bench. Don't let it scare you off, but be a little more careful. Anyhow, sorry to hear of your accident. :(

Dave

[xodarap1]

I'm glad you weren't hurt worse than that. The heli parts and things are all replaceable but you are not. When you do get back on the horse, drop out the first gear or remove the pinion during your next throttle test so if it does flake out, it won't rip stuff up again.
..I had something similar happen with an Esky glitchy TX and that experience was enough incentive for me to upgrade to the DX7 and JR X9303.

[kahn10]

the esc not initializing at low stick could mean anything(throttle channel reversed,faulty esc,faulty motor,bush an idiot,wiring issues etc etc) but getting the i'm alive beeps at high stick always means throttle channel reversed(all the programming beeps i,ve ever heard(yeah ok 3 different ones :roll:) have been a odd sounding sequence if that makes sense which is a heads up

[Graeme67]

Hi Backwall, these machines certainly deserve a lot of respect as you have found out. When ever I'm doing any bench work I clamp my heli to the bench before doing anything with a live ESC. Always do the first run up with out blades. I even set my tracking with the heli clamped down - I have nearly put her in a couple of times trying to look at the tracking while flying. Learn from your mistake, but don't let it put you off. Get back on the horse, albeit more carefully!

Here is a picture from a similar thing that happened to a fellow. Very sobering stuff : http://www.archeli.com.au/cobra/showthread.php?t=114908

Take care

Graeme

[bpd964]

ouch..

[backwall]

Good news. I stripped down the head and the tail. Shafts are still true. Will only have to replace the flybar, paddles and tail blades. Reversed the throttle channel. This time I left off the main gear to test out the motor. Everything's working right now--normal, idle up 1 and 2 and throttle hold. Looks like it was the reverse all along as everyone suggested. I think I can get back on the horse now. I also stripped down and repaired the canopy. It will still be missing a small chunk, but it's ready for repaint again!

Dave

[Wazzer]

When working on a new heli for the fist time and setting up unfamiliar electronics i have actualy removed the whole head and tail hubs for saftey in the past.

removing the blades is a bare minimum in my mind as you still have a long flybar spinning very fast with a llot of energy as backwall found out the hard way.

Perhaps in future this is what we should all recommend to when setting up unfamiliar electronics.

Will the Esc stil program and arm if the motor hase one or more wires disconnected?

This is also a favourite of mine as throttle hold can be knocked off at just the wrong moment!!

[mysticmead]

yes the ESC will program and arm if one lead is disconnected. the best thing to remember is.. Futaba will ALWAYS have channel 3 reversed.. plain and simple.. and of course, channel 3 on Futaba is throttle..

[GatoVolador]

I agree with Wazzer -- before you attach your head and do your head setup get your electrical system all setup first. In fact I do that before I even attach the boom and setup the tail. That way you know at least your motor/ESC isn't going to do anything funky when you start attaching things which can do some serious damage. Also, I always plan for the worst and assume my heli is going to spool-up whenever I apply power, meaning I work in a clear area, don't have my face next to the mainshaft, etc. Basic common-sense stuff that you sometimes let slide when you get caught-up in the excitement of seeing things come together!

[BenHeli]

My I suggest using a receiver battery pack (they are cheap around $20) while setting the electronics plus disconnecting one of the wire to the motor.

[vicrc]

Well he was setting up the ESC so it kind of hard not exactly knowing what to expect with a reverse throttle. Some ESC require the motor to be plugged in to arm or make any kind of audible noise. At least with a DX7 a throttle hold help, maybe the same for other radios. The very first thing you should make sure throttle hold is set before messing with the ESC. Wazzer's got it right with no blades attached a great reminder for me.

[raylepper]

I haven't even flown it yet, let alone put the main blades on. I finally got my gyro set up and decided to check out initializing the ESC. I followed the instructions in the Hurricane 550 manual. For the initial setting it was set for lipos or so I assumed. I turned on the Tx, set the throttle at low, turned on the receiver, and hooked up the batteries. Nothing, no beeps, nothing. So I thought I'd do the manual setup of the ESC. TX on, throttle high, receiver on, batteries connected. Nothing--but I did get the beeps. I pulled back the throttle and all hell broke loose. I was working on the heli on a table next to my reptile cage. Apparently the flybar paddle hit the cage, shattered the glass, whipped the heli around and proceeded to take a few chunks out of my arm. For a while I couldn't get the bleeding stopped, but finally succeeded. Now my hurri sits on the shelf till I get the courage to try it again. I did have to change two leads on the motor because it was running backwards at first. I know the motor direction change worked! My arm attest to that. Now I'm wondering just what I have to do to set up the motor and ESC properly. Could it be I have to reverse the throttle in the Tx menu? Could this make the heli act opposite to my throttle inputs? I need any help or suggestions. I'm a little afraid to get back on this horse. By the way, the flybar is bent, both paddles destroyed, tail blades sheared off. If that's all then I'm lucky. I need to take it back apart to be sure the main shaft is straight and the tail shaft also. I also had the newly painted canopy sitting on the table. The heli went throught it like a hot knife thru butter. Hopefully everything is okay. Still shaking a little. Instead of my arm, it could have been my throat. But I still need to solve my motor, ESC, throttle thing. By the way, it's the stock gaui motor with gaui 75A ESC. I'm using a Futaba 7C FASST 2.4GHz Tx/Rx.

Dave

If I want to program an ESC with sticks or PC I back the pinion off.
If I'm setting up a head and checking pitch on blades, I disconnect 2 motor leads.
OK, meow meow, but no scars and no scares.;)

[backwall]

I did finally get the esc and motor set up right. But this time I slid the main gear off the shaft. I was able to run up the motor some. I didn't try for 100% because I worried about overreving the motor--if that's possible on an electric motor. Oh well, to be on the safe side. Now I'm just waiting on a new flybar. And since shipping gets expensive ordering a part at a time, I went in for some spare paddle, tail blades, shafts, etc. I figure I need to spend about $25 minimum to justify shipping costs. And it's helping me to put together a crash kit.

Dave

[michael88997]

i think the helis are mad this week... i was programming the quark esc on my trex 450 and the paddles took off the skin on my right hand... bent the flybar but didn't do anything else... guess now i can upgrade to the longer flybar :)

[Milde Shag]

You guys are playing Russian Roulette with semi auto:thumbdown:. Disconnect the motor wires or atleast 1 wire. Always make sure the heli can not hit anything incase of spool up. The Gaui has a soft start and no-way can spool high power instantly with default setting. When plugin in the Batt make sure you hold the heli. A good trick is to plug the batt plug just enough to make a connection so if needed a light tug on the wires will separate it.
Turn on Radio turn on Bec put tranny down (throttle hold set) hold heli or get friend to hold. Plug battery "hear beeps" No beep = problem. Check settings then start again.
A good idea is to remove the main gear or set the electrics with the motor temporarily installed without the pinion. "pin onion"
:DH