Atom 500 swashplate ball link snapped!

[Daniel880516]

Hey guys, was doing some night flying today beside Square One's parking lot, luckily landed safely, apparently the swash plate ball link snapped when you can here the pop at around 4:15 minutes in the video, thank God was really close to ground and landed safely. So, do you guys think I should take the remaining screw inside the swash plate out and just put a ball link, or should I just get a new swash plate? As far as I can tell, I did size the delrin ball link a little bit on the loose side, do you think that might be the cause? I do have some play before when I hold the delrin tube and had a bit up and down play from the swash plate ball link. Thanks!

[Daniel880516]

Lol, i just realized that i have another 2 swash balls to use since i dont have any follower arms!

[Daniel880516]

Ok, just found out that my swash to pitch delrin ball link was hitting the outer swash plate side all the time with a 1.5 mm spacing that i was using, i can see some wear beside the delrin ball link, stock ball link without spacing was making the delrin ball link touching the inner swash plate. I found two 1mm spacers in the bag with some thin washers, fit it in and now its good.

[Caleb White]

Glad you got it fixed. Nice flight and pretty city lights, but be careful flying in cities like this... could have issues with law enforcement.

GUYS REMEMBER:
These balls should not be overtightened! This pre-loads the tiny threads, adding to the stress that can lead to shearing. Let the thread-lock do the work and just snug the balls up.
Check your interactions carefully. When I set up swash/FBL controller, I often spin the head by hand and move cyclic stick to corners. This will show me if links are in danger of hitting something and how bad the binding might be. (Usually it won't be that bad in the air though.)
As Daniel mentioned the plastic ball link to swash can hit the swash when the balls are spaced out. You want to be sure the links are adjusted to be straight on the ball and not side-ways. Then turn by hand and use radio to check before flight.

[Daniel880516]

Originally Posted by Caleb White

Glad you got it fixed. Nice flight and pretty city lights, but be careful flying in cities like this... could have issues with law enforcement.

GUYS REMEMBER:
These balls should not be overtightened! This pre-loads the tiny threads, adding to the stress that can lead to shearing. Let the thread-lock do the work and just snug the balls up.
Check your interactions carefully. When I set up swash/FBL controller, I often spin the head by hand and move cyclic stick to corners. This will show me if links are in danger of hitting something and how bad the binding might be. (Usually it won't be that bad in the air though.)
As Daniel mentioned the plastic ball link to swash can hit the swash when the balls are spaced out. You want to be sure the links are adjusted to be straight on the ball and not side-ways. Then turn by hand and use radio to check before flight.

+1 Thanks a lot Caleb! Understood and most likely wont do that again, was flying the unharmful night vapour, and just had the itch because the street lights was really bright lol.

[Ah Clem]

Well stated, Caleb!

[John Cook]

also, after crashes check these bolts as they can loosen up a bit and allow them to wiggle and fatigue

[Daniel880516]

Originally Posted by John Cook

also, after crashes check these bolts as they can loosen up a bit and allow them to wiggle and fatigue

Thanks John Cook, I changed them with new bolts and mount them on the other 2 holes that weren't used, since I don't want to bother taking that piece out. Should be ok?

[John Cook]

should be I would think

[TheBum]

I'd also suggest using red instead of blue loctite. On small threads, there's less for the loctite to grab onto, so red is warranted.

[Trulsen]

Originally Posted by TheBum

I'd also suggest using red instead of blue loctite. On small threads, there's less for the loctite to grab onto, so red is warranted.

Just a note. Please refer to loctite number when you are suggesting like this. Red, if that is 222 you meen, that's not as good as 243 which is medium strength. And not, under any circumstances use loctite activator unless you really are in a hurry. That removes a lot of the strength from the loctite due to shorter curing time. :-)

[jchen]

Alway replace the ball link on the derlin rod if there is play.
My came off while doing a roll over into inverted flight

[Mostly]

Hi

Does anyone know the part no and/or dimensions of this spacer washer that goes on the ball link connecting the swash to the delrin connector rods.

I thought they only gave a little extra leverage, seems they are essential.

I lost mine and can't see any references to them in the fbl instructions or the original manual.

Also do you use the same bolts when the spacer is added, obviously this means there is less thread available to go into the swash plate.

The size of the heads on the bolts that goes into links makes iw a little difficult to use normal bolts.

Mostly grateful

Thanks

[Mostly]

OK
The dimensionof the spacer is 3.5 OD x 1.9 ID x 1
I guess the bolt part number 80-0208s will take care of the extra distance.

The washer/spacer doesn't seem to have a part number so not sure how to get hold of one.


Mostly

[Mostly]

Found it in the end
The part no for the ball link spacer is 06-0404s

Mostly

[Daniel880516]

Originally Posted by Mostly

Found it in the end
The part no for the ball link spacer is 06-0404s

Mostly

Do not use that spacer, that's for the servo to swash ball link, too thick for the pitch arm, but the screw of the bag is what I'm using just cut a little less than 1 mm off. The spacer should be around 1mm thick, just to clear the pitch ball link a bit from hitting the inside swash.

[Mostly]

Thanks

I think I intended to say 06-0405s

This is what I think would do the job

Otherwise I will have to round off a 2 mm nut as described elsewhere.

I will get there eventually

Mostly very simple

[TheBum]

I'm not sure why you'd need to round off the nut. Before I got the spacers from Mike at Nankin, I test fit a 2mm nut and had no rubbing issues.

That part number you cited is for the outer swash balls to reduce cyclic deflection. The spacers are too thick for the inner balls.

[skinart76]

I can't believe they still have not sourced those spacers out. These spacers are probably the most sought after part for the Atom. I had started inquiring about these when I first started building my Atom, 2 years ago! The spacers 06-0405s will work as that was all I can get my hands on. You still need to take a miniscule amout off of the link, you will be able to tell where once it is in place; but it was the best fit I can find. I had no ill effects when I had my Atom, it flew just fine.

[Mostly]

Thanks for all your help

I have checked with the nuts and I definitely need to take quite a bit off them for the mod to work, the swash would not rotate, with the nuts as are. In fact they lift the top of the swash. Maybe the newer versions have a more streamlined swash with less meat (ie cost).

Also I will need to grind the heads of some standard 8 mm bolts.

My thinking is that it would simplify everyones life if Compass did fastener kits for each model.



Anyway can't complain too much the heli is shit hot, so I guess they know their onions.

Mostly grateful