Caution: Inspect your Gaui ball link often

[ke6d]

I installed a 50T front main gear to my Hurricane along with a 14T pinion get a better gearing for my Scorpion 1210Kv motor. I went out this morning and basically stick banging the Hurricane to see if there was any difference between the stock 42T main and 13T at 83% TC and 50T, 14T at 95% TC. On the 3rd pack, while waiting for the motor/ESC to cool down, I decided to inspect for any loose screws or anything unusual on the heli, I noticed a loose ball link (aileron servo to swash) with a funny line on top. Put on my reading glass and saw that the ball link had a crack right on top.

I have several Align ball links that were worn out, but this is the first "cracked" ball link that I have encountered.

[vicrc]

When I first built mine I use the Raptor links instead of the Gaui to extend the thread bite on the rods. After so many flight around 300 I needed to replace all of them because they developed lateral movements, this includes the Gaui and Raptors, I am now using the Align ball links from a 500 they seem tighter and less prone to cracking.

[MaxdOut]

I installed a 50T front main gear to my Hurricane along with a 14T pinion get a better gearing for my Scorpion 1210Kv motor. I went out this morning and basically stick banging the Hurricane to see if there was any difference between the stock 42T main and 13T at 83% TC and 50T, 14T at 95% TC. On the 3rd pack, while waiting for the motor/ESC to cool down, I decided to inspect for any loose screws or anything unusual on the heli, I noticed a loose ball link (aileron servo to swash) with a funny line on top. Put on my reading glass and saw that the ball link had a crack right on top.

I have several Align ball links that were worn out, but this is the first "cracked" ball link that I have encountered.
How do you like your Scorpion 1210kv? I was thinking about picking one of those up instead of the z20. What flight times are you getting and how hot does the motor get?

[ke6d]

How do you like your Scorpion 1210kv? I was thinking about picking one of those up instead of the z20. What flight times are you getting and how hot does the motor get?

The Scorpion 1210 Kv works very well for me. I can get about 4:30 - 5:00 min on a set of FP3200 EVO30 at 2200-2300 rpm headspeed. I can pretty much throw the Hurricane around without having to motor bogging down. At the end of flight, the motor/battery and ESC are around 130F.

[JaggedEdge]

I decided to inspect for any loose screws or anything unusual on the heli, I noticed a loose ball link (aileron servo to swash) with a funny line on top. Put on my reading glass and saw that the ball link had a crack right on top.

I have several Align ball links that were worn out, but this is the first "cracked" ball link that I have encountered.

I agree and thanks for the heads up. The Gaui ball links are a harder plastic and have a smaller on the opening where we're supposed to press it on the ball. I'll be switching to some other ball links asap.

[istandalone]

i've had the exact same issue with the plastic unadjustable gaui links. in short, they suck. big time. luckily i've always caught it on the bench before flying.

[kahn10]

i swapped my flybar carrier to grip seesaw link to an adjustable one straight away but for the other ones have got into the habit of removing the ball at the end that faces the wrong way and pressing it out thru the larger side of the link.kind of a stupid design that....