Any progress with the tracking issues?

[Mon_t]

I've been following (see stalking) this and other forums, for info on the Protos before I lay down some cash. I really love the design but when I saw the problems Shawn and Eric were having with tracking, I've decided to hold off until a definitive solution is found.
So I was wondering if there was any news from Corrado or anyone else on the matter?

Carlo

[Roadrune]

Tracking is dead-on on mine...

[visayan]

same here

[JoergW]

No probs here either...
After setting zero pitch, they tracked almost automatically...
Only a small adjustment was necessary.

[OICU812]

How are you flying it? Sport, hovering? Learning?

NO dis respect, but.... I now have 3 people I know locally that have this heli, all are having this same issue and are shelved for the time being. Great heli and flies good when the tracking is in, that however is an in and out thing. I do think Corrado will find the solution based on feedback, there are a % of kits out there that have this issue, and or what level people are flying them at makes a HUGE difference. My friend as an experimentionation did simple tic tocs, some sport rolls and flips and it never went out of track once. BUT... once you lay the smack commeth the issue at hand....

[visayan]

No pro here, but I do fly moderate/hard 3d with lots of pitch/collective changes and don't seem to have tracking issues. I do try to be smooth with my transisitions though as opposed to the normal stick banging stuff. I've read your posts regarding your issue and think that it's also weird (can't help to think that it's the blade grips as mine do have some play--maybe they should come out with some CNC grips)

[Mon_t]

I would put myself in the "Hard Sport Flying" bracket not full on 3D (yet), but not light sport maneuvers either. So I would wonder if I had to baby the thing just to stop it going out of track. Granted I don't do any pitch popping or anything that requires super fast movements or real stick banging. So I was wondering what was happening.
So thanks for the reply Shawn and look forward to future developments with the Protos as I really do love the design.
Carlo

[EricW]

I'm still testing different things and I'm almost certain it 's in the grips.
Yesterday I had perfect tracking and little tail vibrations with some thicker dampeners and new Thrust bearings.
Now the grips already feel a lot worse when i turn them by hand.
I suspect they flex to much in flight, have to much play on the radial bearings causing the thrust bearing to shift up and down in the grip.
That also would declare the occasional in and out of track symptoms.
I want aluminium grips on my Protos.

Eric

[Mon_t]

Sounds like you're onto something there Eric. I thought part of the point of plastic grips was to provide a crumple zone in the head or was it merely a weight or cost saving exercise?

[EricW]

Imho The main reason for plastic grips in this design is preferred production method (MSH is highly specialised in Plastics production), price and weight.
I had a light crash and the grips survived without a "visible" problem.
Blades, shafts, flybar and flybarcarrier, bearings, didn't survive,
so it's not a ideal weak link (crumple zone)..

Eric

[Mon_t]

Imho The main reason for plastic grips in this design is preferred production method (MSH is highly specialised in Plastics production), price and weight.
I had a light crash and the grips survived without a "visible" problem.
Blades, shafts, flybar and flybarcarrier, bearings, didn't survive,
so it's not a ideal weak link (crumple zone)..

Eric
Understood, Keep me posted if it's not too much trouble :YeaBaby:

Carlo

[OICU812]

I'm still testing different things and I'm almost certain it 's in the grips.
Yesterday I had perfect tracking and little tail vibrations with some thicker dampeners and new Thrust bearings.
Now the grips already feel a lot worse when i turn them by hand.
I suspect they flex to much in flight, have to much play on the radial bearings causing the thrust bearing to shift up and down in the grip.
That also would declare the occasional in and out of track symptoms.
I want aluminium grips on my Protos.

Eric


I found the raidals fit in very tight in the back, its the thrusts that have "allot" of room to move around on the inside of grip. I do agree, cnc grips should be in order.

[Kepler]

MSH are apparently re molding something to fix the issue. So far they are not telling us what but I am guessing its the blade holders. Either that or the flybar carrier but my money is on blade holders. Not that it effects me as mine has perfect tracking.

[EricW]

Nothing wrong with the flybar carrier as long as you don't hit the dirt.
IMO it's up and down shifting thrustbearings and to much blade flex in the grips.
mine is pretty stable, with using the thicker o-rings there is more outward pressure on the thrustbearings, but still the feel and amount of vibration changes during a flight.
It's a great helicopter but it could be so much smoother when the head would be really stiff and solid and the dampeners would actually get a chance to do their job.

I have some spare time during the storms and holidays....
This is what i would like to see, Kasama style :D ;)

Eric

[HighFreq]

We are remolding the blade grips. Basicly we are redesigning the indside of the grips to have much better support to the thrust bearing. Modifying the mold right now so new parts shouldn't take much more than a week to be ready, if everything goes well.


Corrado

[visayan]

Okay,.... so I retract my original claim of having perfect tracking. Today was a rough day at work so I decided to take it out on the Protos. Well, I am now an official member of the "Out of Whack Track" club. Exactly the same symptoms as OICU812 has.

Corrado, it's great to hear about the updated grips. Hope they come soon and in enough quantities for every owner. Hate having to wait for parts due to insufficient stock like with the pinions a few weeks back :arggg:

[heliboy88]

Corrado,

Pls let us know if the upgraded blade grips will be included in the future kits. And also pls tell the LHS to specify the upgrades on their website(specially the asian one), 2 friends of mine are still waiting for this 'tracking' issue to be resolved to get their hands on the Protos.
Thanks a lot.

regards,

[Roadrune]

Will we get a set for free, then?

[ktm520]

looks like the "less than 1%" club is increasing in size. my protos developed the tracking problem after 12 flights of easy sportflying. i hope these parts are free. i sure feel like they should be, but i'd be suprised if they are.

[heliboy88]

If there'll be a metal grip upgrade(instead of remolding plastics) with a reasonable price, i don't mind paying for it. But i really doubt it, just hope the remolded plastic ones will solve the problem tho.

[Mon_t]

I would definitely pay more for a kit that comes with cnc alloy grips.
Call me slow but I knew I liked the design for a reason, us Italians make the best stuff. :YeaBaby:

Carlo

[Roadrune]

I would definitely pay more for a kit that comes with cnc alloy grips.
Call me slow but I knew I liked the design for a reason, us Italians make the best stuff. :YeaBaby:

Carlo
__________________
!f u c4n r34d th15 u r3411y n33d t0 g37 14!d

Hmmmm, i can read it:roll:

[Mon_t]

Hmmmm, i can read it:roll:
Yeah funny thing is so can I :OK

[Corwin]

Corrado,

Would also be in line for one also once this issue is solved would see a updated kit with the updated Blade Holders and any other updates if any. I'm sure will see this news posted to forum if that time comes.

Corwin

[Helifan]

The tracking problems that I have been having, seems more related to the dampers than the blade grips.