New ION-X owner with a Kicking tail

[Rickster]

Hi guy's. I just purchased am Ion that has about 25-30 flights on it. It is equipped with 10S4P TP packs, Actro 32-3, Hacker 77 ESC. Running 8311's on cyclic and 500T/8700G on tail and a 1500Mah Airborn pack with a 149DP reciever.
My problem is that upon spool up and when in a hover the tail will kick pretty abruptly about 3-5inches at a time . I propped my gain setting from 25% down to 20 and it dampened the violent kicks but now the tail seems "loose" not really locked in and doesn't stop sharply from tail inputs. I am using the small JR wheel on the outermost hole . I have tried using double layer of 3M tape with a .062" alum. plate between them but that spaced the gyro up to the point where the velcro safety wrapp rubbed the canopy. I have since removed the double stack of tape and replaced it with a single layer of the factory JR tape. Have yet to try the Zeal Gel but that is next if the JR tape doesn't do it.

The guy I got the heli from initailly had a 401 in it and he said it was doing the exact same thing. He said he tried everything and finally replaced the gyro with a 502 and the tail was then locked in and never twitched again.


Any ideas on this subject?

Rick

[WayneBrown]

first thoughts, wire chafing or RF noise from somewhere, possibly a bearing dry or failing.
A 502 adds wire sets, but also longer wire length than a 401, maybe it got it far enough away to clear the RF?
I'd think the gain would need to be around 30-35% to hold well.. just a guess.
Move some stuff and try again.

[Ed]

Had a similar problem with the tail of one of my Ions where the tail would jerk with no input in hover and in forward flight. I am using 401s and I tried and replaced everything trying to find the problem. Ended up it was the Hacker controller.....replaced it with a new Hacker controller and no more jerk. If all else fails, try the controller.

Ed

[marked23]

I had exactly the same problem with a G500T/9254 on a Fury Extreme 90.

I had the hover wag, just like you describe and...
When I would get into FFF and do an agressive turn, the tail would wag on me. Scary. I had suspected that it was because I was using a 9254 instead of the 8700g. I guess the servo really didn't matter.

I replaced the gyro with a 601 and the problem went away.

This is wicked weird. There is no reason why a G500T shouldn't work fine in a ION or an Extreme. Curtis uses (used) this gyro in his Vibes. So it's not the excessive power causing it.

-Mark

[Rickster]

Last night I got a piece of Coax cable(TV type). I stripped the sheathing and removed the stainless braiding out of it. I placed it over the leads between the reciever and gyro and heat shrinked the ends. I flew the Ion 3 times today and the tail was very solid with no apparent kick :D .. I suppose it is fixed until it starts doing it again then I am just going to replace it with a 611... Maybe the threat of changing it will keep it working right :twisted: ..

We shall see....

Rick

[WillJames]

Glsad to hear you got it sorted now Rick!! Keep us posted as to your findings over tiem please.

Good job!!

[Rickster]

Just a follow up... So far I have logged about 10 flights on the heli with the Gyro Shielding and some Zeal tape under the Gyro. I am running the gain higher than I have ever run with No tail wagging or kicking. The tail is holding rock solid with constant piro rates even in 20mph gusts. I am very pleased... Flies better than my Spectra G did and doesn't throw tail blades and vibrate everything off of it every flight...

Rick