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jdwelch · 05-25-2010, 09:35 AM

I replaced the main rotor head on my T-rex 500 due to crash damage. The stock gray dampers looked pretty abused, so I replaced them with the black dampers included with the new head, (or feathering shaft, not sure which.)

I have 35 flights on this bird and although I am a brand new pilot, I can hold a solid hover in all upright orientations and perform competent circuits and eights in fff, land nose, tail or side in with no problem.

The question is, will the black dampers change the flight characteristics enough to give me any problems as a new pilot, or should I be able to handle them at this point?

Thanks!

John

wmlaw · 05-25-2010, 09:44 AM

I'm a relative novice also. Had a lot of slop in my 600, so replaced the gray with the black dampers. The head is "tighter" and more responsive. Didn't affect my flying ability at all however. If anything, I found it better. Change 'em!

jdwelch · 05-25-2010, 10:00 AM

Done. Hovered fine in the garage. Waiting for weather to go fly.

Matt Nasca · 05-25-2010, 01:17 PM

The harder dampeners will make the cyclic and collective more crisp (more touchy too) If it's too twitchy add some expo and you'll be good. I ran the Trueblood V2 Green ones in mine and liked the way it flew.

FBL now and back to the black ones.

Steve Evans · 05-25-2010, 03:02 PM

Only 35 flights?!

I have about 50 flights on mine. Admittedly I'm chicken and am only doing flips etc with my 450SEv2, being scared of crashing the 500ESP! Don't suppose my dampers will be in too bad a state (I hope), but how trashed were your's and how hard had you been flying?

Steve

jdwelch · 05-26-2010, 09:36 AM

The trashing came from crashing, not wear. Two bent feathering shafts did the number on them. Also got the main bearings big time.

Mike2112 · 05-26-2010, 08:21 PM

If ya' landin' like you say, nose-in too, then you are ready! Black all ther way! You'll never look back! My vote...go with the black ones.

In two or 3 flights, you'll feel right at home. I set up my friends 500 ESP with gray cuz he'e new set-up right the gave the heli a very nice soft feel...but keep in mind he is VERY VERY new and is only hovering and hovering and hovering,

If you use the b ones, you may need to raise your head speed. If the heli feels like crap, and kinda "wobbleeee, don't freak....raise the throt curve.

It's not at all going to cause you problems....good luck

jdwelch · 05-27-2010, 07:52 AM

Haven't had it the air long enough with the blacks to tell yet. Had a vicious encounter with an upright sewer vent at Heliproz' field and am waiting delivery of a main shaft, as Heliproz is out of stock. Also got the main bearings, flybar and tail feathers. Mean while, flying the Pantera 50. Much more relaxing. I couldn't have hit that pipe on purpose in a week of flying.

Ah Clem · 05-27-2010, 08:14 AM

Have you tried the KBDD Dampers?

I don't have a 500, but I put a set in my 600E and have at least 40 flights on it since I changed them out. They are still going strong.

franswilco · 05-27-2010, 04:14 PM

Dang, those stories about the black dampers sound good! I just bought and mounted a new gray set a little while ago, being too scared to try out the professional looking black ones. It kinda gives me an itch to change them out before the coming weekend.

ghostrider414 · 05-27-2010, 04:43 PM

I'm using the green trueblood in mine and love them

Mike2112 · 05-27-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostrider414

I'm using the green trueblood in mine and love them

Do the greens nod less than the blacks? Even though the blacks are stiff, I feel I need the to be a little bit more crisp. If I gave the heli a STAB or JAB of fwd or aft cyclic, the heli has a very slight, yet noticable oscillation.

P.S. my head speed is screaming, so I know it's not headspeed related.

JackdaWack · 05-27-2010, 11:04 PM

I run the blacks, only after i crashed the grey ones. I have to agree they feel much better. I would only buy the blacks from now on since i really enjoy the feel they give me.

andypants · 05-28-2010, 06:53 PM

I couldn't notice a difference, TBH. I think the headspeed on the 500 is so high the dampeners play less of a role than with other helis.

I'm sure a more accomplished pilot could feel a change though.

I'd definitely not be worried abut it being a whole new heli or anything. Just get it in the air dude.

Mike2112 · 05-28-2010, 07:30 PM

just remember the black ones will last longer. So if they did feel the same then it stands to reason one should choose black for the sake of less money and pulling out the spindles on a regular basis..

05-25-2010, 09:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
jdwelch Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Dec 2009	dampers, black vs. gray I replaced the main rotor head on my T-rex 500 due to crash damage. The stock gray dampers looked pretty abused, so I replaced them with the black dampers included with the new head, (or feathering shaft, not sure which.) I have 35 flights on this bird and although I am a brand new pilot, I can hold a solid hover in all upright orientations and perform competent circuits and eights in fff, land nose, tail or side in with no problem. The question is, will the black dampers change the flight characteristics enough to give me any problems as a new pilot, or should I be able to handle them at this point? Thanks! John __________________ mSR;T-rex 500 3G, DX7, Futaba 9257, DS510s, 5s w/15 pinon; Pantera w/OS50,Futaba 9452s, Quark/DS650, T-rex 600 w/OS55, 3G; mCPx; Whiplash 90 FBL, AR7200BX, OS105HZ-R, Hatori Pipe, JR8717x3,JR8900G, Fromeco Sahara,Throttle Jockey w/RevGlo

05-25-2010, 09:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
wmlaw Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2010	I'm a relative novice also. Had a lot of slop in my 600, so replaced the gray with the black dampers. The head is "tighter" and more responsive. Didn't affect my flying ability at all however. If anything, I found it better. Change 'em! __________________ Bill, furion 6 12s, trex 550 X

05-25-2010, 10:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
jdwelch Registered Users Thread Starter My HF Map location Join Date: Dec 2009	Done. Hovered fine in the garage. Waiting for weather to go fly. __________________ mSR;T-rex 500 3G, DX7, Futaba 9257, DS510s, 5s w/15 pinon; Pantera w/OS50,Futaba 9452s, Quark/DS650, T-rex 600 w/OS55, 3G; mCPx; Whiplash 90 FBL, AR7200BX, OS105HZ-R, Hatori Pipe, JR8717x3,JR8900G, Fromeco Sahara,Throttle Jockey w/RevGlo

05-25-2010, 01:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Matt Nasca Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Jan 2010	The harder dampeners will make the cyclic and collective more crisp (more touchy too) If it's too twitchy add some expo and you'll be good. I ran the Trueblood V2 Green ones in mine and liked the way it flew. FBL now and back to the black ones. __________________ GAUI NX7 - GAUI X7 - GAUI X5 - GAUI NX4 - GAUI GX4 - GAUI X4 II - GAUI X3 - GAUI X2 - All on VBar 5.3 Pro Team GAUI USA / Empire Hobby / Scorpion Power Systems / Optipower Batteries / Cyclone Blades / Savox / YS Engines / VP PowerMaster / JR

05-25-2010, 03:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Steve Evans Registered Users Join Date: May 2007	Only 35 flights?! I have about 50 flights on mine. Admittedly I'm chicken and am only doing flips etc with my 450SEv2, being scared of crashing the 500ESP! Don't suppose my dampers will be in too bad a state (I hope), but how trashed were your's and how hard had you been flying? Steve __________________ Trex 450SEv2/HS65-MGs cyclic/Spartan Quark/DS520 tail Trex 450ProV2 DFC/CGY750 FBL/DS410s cyclic/DS520 tail Trex 500ESP DFC/CGY750 FBL/YGE-120LV ESC/DS510s cyclic/DS650 tail Blackout 330/OpenPilot Revo with FatShark 600mW VTX, Futaba 8FG 2.4GHz

05-26-2010, 09:36 AM	#6 (permalink)
jdwelch Registered Users Thread Starter My HF Map location Join Date: Dec 2009	The trashing came from crashing, not wear. Two bent feathering shafts did the number on them. Also got the main bearings big time. __________________ mSR;T-rex 500 3G, DX7, Futaba 9257, DS510s, 5s w/15 pinon; Pantera w/OS50,Futaba 9452s, Quark/DS650, T-rex 600 w/OS55, 3G; mCPx; Whiplash 90 FBL, AR7200BX, OS105HZ-R, Hatori Pipe, JR8717x3,JR8900G, Fromeco Sahara,Throttle Jockey w/RevGlo

05-26-2010, 08:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mike2112 Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2009	If ya' landin' like you say, nose-in too, then you are ready! Black all ther way! You'll never look back! My vote...go with the black ones. In two or 3 flights, you'll feel right at home. I set up my friends 500 ESP with gray cuz he'e new set-up right the gave the heli a very nice soft feel...but keep in mind he is VERY VERY new and is only hovering and hovering and hovering, If you use the b ones, you may need to raise your head speed. If the heli feels like crap, and kinda "wobbleeee, don't freak....raise the throt curve. It's not at all going to cause you problems....good luck

05-27-2010, 07:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
jdwelch Registered Users Thread Starter My HF Map location Join Date: Dec 2009	Haven't had it the air long enough with the blacks to tell yet. Had a vicious encounter with an upright sewer vent at Heliproz' field and am waiting delivery of a main shaft, as Heliproz is out of stock. Also got the main bearings, flybar and tail feathers. Mean while, flying the Pantera 50. Much more relaxing. I couldn't have hit that pipe on purpose in a week of flying. __________________ mSR;T-rex 500 3G, DX7, Futaba 9257, DS510s, 5s w/15 pinon; Pantera w/OS50,Futaba 9452s, Quark/DS650, T-rex 600 w/OS55, 3G; mCPx; Whiplash 90 FBL, AR7200BX, OS105HZ-R, Hatori Pipe, JR8717x3,JR8900G, Fromeco Sahara,Throttle Jockey w/RevGlo

05-27-2010, 08:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ah Clem Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2006	Have you tried the KBDD Dampers? I don't have a 500, but I put a set in my 600E and have at least 40 flights on it since I changed them out. They are still going strong. __________________ KBDD-Team Captain, JR DFA Team Pilot. Forza 450, Forza 600N, Forza 700, Compass 6HV-U, Warp, 7HV,Knight Pro,Knight 3D, Atom, Odin II, 6HV, 3D Plus, Knight 50, Chronos, Velos, Steam 550 and 600, OMP M2 (and anything else I can get my hands on...).

05-27-2010, 04:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
franswilco Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2009	Dang, those stories about the black dampers sound good! I just bought and mounted a new gray set a little while ago, being too scared to try out the professional looking black ones. It kinda gives me an itch to change them out before the coming weekend.

05-27-2010, 04:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
ghostrider414 Registered Users Join Date: Sep 2006	I'm using the green trueblood in mine and love them __________________ Jerry AMA # 891553 SpekTrum DX8

05-27-2010, 11:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
JackdaWack Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NJ	I run the blacks, only after i crashed the grey ones. I have to agree they feel much better. I would only buy the blacks from now on since i really enjoy the feel they give me.

05-28-2010, 06:53 PM	#14 (permalink)
andypants Registered Users Join Date: Mar 2010	I couldn't notice a difference, TBH. I think the headspeed on the 500 is so high the dampeners play less of a role than with other helis. I'm sure a more accomplished pilot could feel a change though. I'd definitely not be worried abut it being a whole new heli or anything. Just get it in the air dude. __________________ Logo 400 V-Bar (S9650, BLS251, Edge); T-Rex 500 ESP (DS510, BLS251, Radix, KBDD, KDE bling all round) T-Rex 250* (HS65MG,* Ino-Lab 201, Quark) mCPX; UMX Beast; PZ P-51; DX8

05-28-2010, 07:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mike2112 Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2009	just remember the black ones will last longer. So if they did feel the same then it stands to reason one should choose black for the sake of less money and pulling out the spindles on a regular basis..

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