spindle shaft mod, dampner life increasers

[brokenheli98]

Hey guys, I just wanted to share a really cool mod that will decrease the wear on your head dapners on your Raves. A guy I know had an issue with the head getting sloppy to quickly, but thanks to the innovators at Next D, there is a fix. What your gonna want to do is thicken up your spindle shaft between the dampners inside the the head. I found the distance to be about 22 mm, but you can measure yourself and make sure. Once I figured out the distance, its just a matter of measuring to the exact center of the shaft and then measuring, in my case, 11mm to either side of center, marking it and applying a few layers of duct tape with the ends of either side of the tape on your marks. Then put the shaft in the block, put your dampners on either side, work them in gently with a small flathead and press everthing nice and tight with the bolts. Then I mesured the gap between block and grip to make sure there nice and even and gave a good visual inspection, make sure everything moves nice and that was it. Also, obviously, always check for slop everywhere whenever possible. Thats how I did it, if anyone knows a better way or think I did something wrong, let me know. A boom strike with one of the helis can destroy the whole helicopter so be careful.http://www.helifreak.com/images/smilies/4_17_3.gif

[superjosh]

I did pretty much the same but I used shrink tubing instead of duct tape.

[Lee Taylor]

I like the way you think... Just did mine the same way. Convenient, because the heat shrink slides right off the old spindle and onto a new one in the event of a mishap. No need to tape and remeasure each time...

[BlakeMcBrayer]

How many layers of heat shrink are you guys using? I like the way this sounds over duct tape.

[Lee Taylor]

Originally Posted by BlakeMcBrayer

How many layers of heat shrink are you guys using? I like the way this sounds over duct tape.

I think I used 4, 22mm lengths of 3/8" tubing. It was just enough to actually fit through the passage in the block. I went one too many initially, and just stripped one layer off.

[pctomlin]

Hey Lee,
Thanks for the info on the shrink tubing, I will be sure to do this when I build my Ballistic.

[Lee Taylor]

Originally Posted by pctomlin

Hey Lee,
Thanks for the info on the shrink tubing, I will be sure to do this when I build my Ballistic.

Not a problem. I'm actually just finishing my build now. Awesome build...great machine

[Blade120]

Great info guys, in the middle of my build now, looks like I'll have to take the head apart and mod it. Did you guys use any lithium grease on the spindle with the tape or heat shrink?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Lee Taylor]

Originally Posted by Blade120

Great info guys, in the middle of my build now, looks like I'll have to take the head apart and mod it. Did you guys use any lithium grease on the spindle with the tape or heat shrink?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

No grease (w/ heat shrink)...slides off with an easy pull, if (when) the time comes.

[kvnm27]

Is Curtis or NextD going to address this and create something for purchase later?? Would beat having to measure, cut, heat shrink, duct tape etc!!

[jr_wiken]

pic´s please

[Geffect]

Originally Posted by kvnm27

Is Curtis or NextD going to address this and create something for purchase later?? Would beat having to measure, cut, heat shrink, duct tape etc!!

From the posts ive read on various forums it would appear the "duct tape" mod is only necessary for those who are smack 3d pilots running high H/s ~ 2100 and higher..

Im not sure Curtis would consider it an issue, as having the "gap" in the center of the hub allows the heli to work well at lower h/s. Making the heli very versitile.
That being said, given that its called "Ballistic" perhaps a upgrade hub should be made available to those that want to run massive h/s and smack the #%$#$ out of their Ballistic..