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R/C Helicopter Tools and Supplies Tools and Products used with R/C Helicopters |
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03-24-2016, 04:59 PM | #1 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Cape Cod, Taxachusetts
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Ball Link Removal
Other than proper pliers are there preferred methods/tricks/makeshift tools you use?
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03-24-2016, 09:17 PM | #2 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SE Arizona, USA
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In some configurations, large forceps (a.k.a.: tweezers) can be used. The tip of the forceps are placed behind the ball link and pried (popped) off.
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03-25-2016, 09:04 AM | #3 (permalink) |
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Join Date: May 2009
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I know that is not what you are asking but nothing like the right tools to do the job. this is the best combo I have found to cover all basis ans sizes.
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03-25-2016, 09:50 AM | #4 (permalink) |
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Cape Cod, Taxachusetts
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Couldn't agree more. I'm waiting for a pair of the FBL's as we speak!
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03-25-2016, 08:04 PM | #5 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Seattle, WA, USA
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I also use those two ball link pliers. I prefer the KDE/FBL Rotor pliers best because the bronze tip will not scratch the aluminum balls. However, the tips are thick, so sometimes I need to use the thinner JR link pliers with the green handles for ball links in tighter places like the inner balls of the swashplate. I also use a curve ball link pliers for hard to reach places where straight pliers cannot be accommodated in the correct angle.
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05-30-2016, 05:44 AM | #6 (permalink) | |
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Join Date: Jul 2011
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Quote:
Any information gratefully received, Tony |
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05-30-2016, 07:28 AM | #7 (permalink) |
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I have never flown Align helicopters, but it seems that the balls on Trex 450 are 4.75 mm in diameter on the swash, and on the Trex 250, the equivalent are only 3.5 mm in diameter.
So it seems the KDE will be good down to the 450 size. Maybe, there may be other smaller helicopters than the 450 which will also have at least 4.75 mm balls? Personally, with my big ugly hands and fingers, I have given up trying to work on 450's and smaller! If I could currently order a pair of KDE pliers here in Australia, they would get my business, but the international postage is the straw that has broken the camel's back! Andy |
06-01-2016, 04:37 AM | #8 (permalink) |
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I have just tried to use my existing set of ball link pliers on my 3-blade Compass Chronos swashplate. The cheap, relatively soft pair which I bent before (with the grey jaws - not black, and red/black plasticised limbs), would hardly fit behind the balls, so anything thicker would be a waste of time. Indeed my existing ones are too wide to tackle the upper swash.
I have been forced to wedge these behind the link and twist the Compass link off. This is precisely the manoeuvre which bent the jaws the last time. Furthermore, I have ended up having to compress a gouge wound on my little finger as a result, to stop it from continuing to bleed! I currently hate this aspect of work on the helicopter, and desperately need a better solution. The jaws need to be narrow, thin, and strong, and I seriously doubt whether these even exist! |
06-01-2016, 07:53 AM | #9 (permalink) |
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If anybody has a pair of the JR green pliers that they could accurately measure the jaws on, I would be most grateful, in order to see whether they would fit any better than my current pair. Width and thickness would be most helpful, especially of the jaw to fit behind the ball link in removing the link.
Many thanks, Andy |
06-04-2016, 12:52 AM | #10 (permalink) |
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Puttputt Maru,
Appreciate your original picture of the KDE and JR pliers. I have ordered a couple of pairs of cheepie chinese which look a bit like the HeliMax ones, to be able to grind down to size, but would appreciate some dimensions of the JR if you would care to measure (jaw width, length and thickness). Much appreciated. Andy |
06-04-2016, 05:52 AM | #11 (permalink) |
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Join Date: May 2009
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I will be back in town tomorrow, if no one has answered before I will give you measurements AH. It will be metric.
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06-05-2016, 08:24 AM | #13 (permalink) |
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Join Date: May 2009
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ok here we go in mm:
JR: Jaw width: 8.96 Jaw thickness when both closed at tip: 1.98 Jaw thickness at tip of "U" shape jaw: 0.97 Jaw thickness other end: 1.01 Jaw length from bottom of "U" to tip: 9.85 Spread between the "U" end: 5.06 Thickness of on of the "U" end: 1.95 FBLrotors unlimited Jaw width: 9.75 Jaw thickness when both closed at tip: 3.14 Jaw thickness at tip of "U" shape jaw: 1.74 Jaw thickness other end: 1.20 The two thickness do not add up as for Jr because I have a bit of a gap when closed and due to the thickness of the FBL tool I cannot make them come together unless I force my caliper. Jaw length from bottom of "U" to tip: 9.92 Spread between the "U" end: 5.95 Thickness of on of the "U" end: 1.90 I do get some variance of .01 to .02 when I measure again Hope this help AH
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06-06-2016, 04:00 AM | #14 (permalink) |
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That is great help thank you Puttputt maru! I am tired of scratching my new swash plate with badly designed and poor quality pliers. I will measure the space available to access these ball links and, hopefully, make my choice.
Much appreciated. Regards, Andy |
11-25-2016, 04:29 AM | #15 (permalink) |
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I bought the FBL Rotors ball-link pliers, and the "dont" fit up to 6mm balls as advertised, and the after sales support is terrible. Mine were only about 5.48mm in the U of the tips. I threw my money down the drain there...
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