Putting a 550 back in action! A water bird!

[tptompkins]

I haven't flown this particular 550 for about a year but I remember some flight characteristics that were bothering me before I shelved it. I remember that it always wanted to roll right and I never had a chance to figure it out. I'm so spoiled with my vbar on my other 550 that I'm not even sure if this is normal for the flybarred machine.

Any ideas of what I should look for? After I get this figured out I'm going to throw on a huge 700 size landing gear to attach to some floats for a higher / wider stance on water. I'm also going to find a way to attach my GoPro Hero 2

Tommy

[pctomlin]

Hey Tommy,
Do you have your CG perfect? Is the swash plate perfectly level at zero pitch and then through the positive and negative range? Once you know it is perfectly level you may need to mechanically trim the swash. Bring into a hover in totally calm air and see what way the heli wants to drift. Change orientations and make sure the heli still wants to drift the same direction. Now adjust the servo swash links to dial out the drift. Should be good to go now.

[tptompkins]

Thanks pctomlin. I started from scratch, leveled the swash, adjusted some linkages and got it in the air and it flew awesome for 6 packs so I went ahead and put the floats on and tried it out in the kiddy pool. Everything was humming along just fine and I had confidence in the way everything was working so I started pushing the heli more on the 7th pack. I was inverted (with floats) and the motor instantly shut down. I didn't have enough time to flip it back over so I crashed but the damage is very minimal (one swash link from what I can see). I think the floats actually helped save it from more damage.

This is the same Neu motor that I was having problems with last fall (https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=338149). I sent the motor in to Neu and they couldn't find anything wrong with it, but it appears that it still has the same issue.

I met Pete out at the field and he was nice enough to lend me a Scorpion HK4020 that I'm going to try out with the same setup. I'll install this tonight and see how things go tomorrow. Thanks Pete!

Tommy

[badfrog]

I would love to see some pics with the floats!

[pctomlin]

Hey Tommy,
Good to hear you have your 550 flying great, now to get the motor issue sorted out. Hope Pete's loaner takes care of the problem. I would like to see some pictures with the floats on too.

[Slyster]

The thing looks awesome! Tommy share some pix

[tptompkins]

Darn it! I thought I had extra links that go from the blade grip to the swash but I don't so it doesn't look like I'll be getting this fixed tonight. This is for the flybar head so those links are longer than the fbl head which I do have links for. I suppose it's not possible for one of you to email me a link? Maybe some day that'll be possible with 3D printers of the future

A few cell phone pics...

Here's me with my "friends" (neighborhood kids) as my wife would say:







This one is about 3 seconds before the motor shut down:



I was planning on bringing this up to Canada for a fishing trip on Friday so I need to get this fixed ASAP! I'll take better pics after I get it back in the air. Speaking of pics...I'm going to mount a GoPro H2 on the front of this thing too

Tommy

[Slyster]

[backburner1955]

Originally Posted by Slyster

The think looks awesome! Tommy share some pix

I think Pete needs to keep an eye on his auto correct...

[Slyster]

it's summer vacation what can I say

[pctomlin]

Hey Tommy,
I have a bunch of fb parts. PM me your address and what you need.

[tptompkins]

That's awesome that you would offer to do that. Thank you! However, I don't think I'd be able to get them by tomorrow and have this thing ready to go before I leave to Canada on Friday.

Does anyone know if the Trex 600 linkages will work on the 550? I can pick those up at a local hobby shop. The one I need is 72 mm.

Tommy

[Daddyo79]

Too cool.... great pics man.

[tptompkins]

Looks like a Trex 450 flybar has the same diameter rod. If I only had a tap this size I could cut the flybar and make my own links

Maybe it's time to buy a small tap and die set.

Tommy

[Slyster]

Tommy remember I am the local Outrage parts collector.. I have everything in spades for the 550. what do you need?

[tptompkins]

What was I thinking?!? Of course you would have some extra linkages for the flybar head right? I hope! I need the 72mm long one that goes from the blade grip to the swash.

Thanks for checking!

Tommy

[Slyster]

I just took a peek and I have like 5 of them.

[tptompkins]

Seriously? And they are 72 mm? How much do you want for them? Could I come pick them up now?

THANK YOU!

Tommy

[Slyster]

$50.00... supply and demand... you understand.

JK no charge.. I don't think I can even use them with FBL heads?

How about you get everything ready but the link and we meet at 5pm at the field for some flying? Or now is fine too... let me know.

[tptompkins]

Yeah I don't think you can use those with the FBL head as they're too long. If I could pick them up now then that'd be great. I wanted run some tests with the camera in the back yard and make sure everything is good to go. I also have to work on the boat so time is tickin!

I'll give you a call. Thanks Pete!

Tommy