500 EFL PRO Super Combo Build Thread (Vbar)

[kdfi]

thanks for the reply rotary guy! Mine arrives today..Hoping my tail lines up out of the box but if not, I'll do as you explained in your outstanding build thread...

[vteknical]

Awesome job! I really hope Align Corp acknowledges your contribution because this could only help 500 sales.

[rotaryguy]

Head build, install posted. Moving into electronics installation next, stay tuned!

[Deet]

Do you know what the tooth count on the man gears is?

[rotaryguy]

134 mod .7
http://www.align.com.tw/shop/product...oducts_id=4065

[Gameburg]

wow, it says it willalso work with ESP (together with the new pinion)
Also the tail will fit!!!

[Ktmheli]

Rotary Guy you are doing a awesome job .....defintely will follow this for my build....waiting for it to arrive now...

[davehour]

Rotaryguy,

I found the studs length of the short balls that are installed on the inner star of the swashplate to be too long, and were binding the center ball of the swashplate. I had to shorten each stud about 0.5mm in order to fix this.

Check yours just in case.

Great work!

David

[davehour]

Hi again,

I noticed the swashplate that came in my kit has play.

Because I'm a Futaba guy, I have to use the upper mounting plate for the BeastX and the lower mounting plate for the Rx. I checked how tight both gyro mounting plates were on the frames and found the lower mounting plate tight but the upper mounting plate was with up/down play. The lower mounting plate is held by screws, and is sandwiched between the frames. But the upper mounting plate is only sandwiched between the frames and uses no screws.

In order to remove the play present between the upper mounting plate and frames, I drilled two holes similar to the ones in the lower mounting plate. I even cut the channels where the upper mounting plate goes so it could be removed as the lower mounting plate can. After installing the screws in the upper mounting plate, the up/down play was gone.

David

[rotaryguy]

Originally Posted by davehour

Rotaryguy,

I found the studs length of the short balls that are installed on the inner star of the swashplate to be too long, and were binding the center ball of the swashplate. I had to shorten each stud about 0.5mm in order to fix this.

Check yours just in case.

Great work!

David

Good catch!
Although it was only just enough to make the swash ball feel a bit snug, backing out the 2 short balls I did feel the ball move easier. It appears that they put a little pressure on the plastic ball housing making it feel slightly tight. Either way I will go back and edit the swash assembly section to include your find and will shorten the two balls to match the stud length of the washout arm balls. I hope to get some electronics installed and posted later today....its been busy lately.
Thanks!

[smaze17]

I gotta be honest....when I get up in the morning I actually look forward to opening this thread!!!

Here's what I do. Get up, eat breakfast, help my daughter get ready for school then open this build thread LOL

Love it man....awesome job rotaryguy!!!

I will be receiving my 500EFL kit this Friday. Really looking forward to getting into it with the help of this thread

S

[smaze17]

Originally Posted by vteknical

Awesome job! I really hope Align Corp acknowledges your contribution because this could only help 500 sales.

Totally agree....they should absolutely compensate you for this thread and I am being deadly serious.

I will make sure the folks at Align know about this thread!!

S

[Ktmheli]

Originally Posted by smaze17

Totally agree....they should absolutely compensate you for this thread and I am being deadly serious.

I will make sure the folks at Align know about this thread!!

S

I have copied the pics and all into a word doc. file for my build. Awesome stuff from rotary guy

[smaze17]

Originally Posted by davehour

Hi again,

I noticed the swashplate that came in my kit has play.

Because I'm a Futaba guy, I have to use the upper mounting plate for the BeastX and the lower mounting plate for the Rx. I checked how tight both gyro mounting plates were on the frames and found the lower mounting plate tight but the upper mounting plate was with up/down play. The lower mounting plate is held by screws, and is sandwiched between the frames. But the upper mounting plate is only sandwiched between the frames and uses no screws.

In order to remove the play present between the upper mounting plate and frames, I drilled two holes similar to the ones in the lower mounting plate. I even cut the channels where the upper mounting plate goes so it could be removed as the lower mounting plate can. After installing the screws in the upper mounting plate, the up/down play was gone.

David

Hi David. I think I understand what you did. Would you happen to have a photo or two to show what you did exactly?

Thanks man

-Spence

[Eckchaz]

Just ordered mine as it only hit the UK a few days ago.. This thread has made me even more eager to start as its sooo much cooler than the ESP I have. Is the carbon boom a straight fit as I cant resist my fake carbon!!

Also, does the 500EFL have the same tail holding issues as the 600EFL when running a lower HS because of the lower gearing?

[rotaryguy]

Thanks again for all the great comments - I am anxious to get more posted but its been really busy with work and family and I do not want to rush it. Besides, honestly I am in no real big hurry to fly anyway as I love building! I do have most of the electronics installed, wired and photos taken but I still have to get them off the camera, uploaded, create the post, etc, etc...I hope to get some of it up tomorrow, followed by vbar setup after so stay tuned!

Teaser shot...

[erni66]

Vbar setup?!! I wana see that!! This is the best build thread that I ever see!! I almost done with mine!! Thank u Rotaryguy for ur help!!!

[davehour]

Spence,

Below are a couple of pictures of my 500EFL Pro.

I did the maiden flight this past weekend. Flew it 4 times. Found the boom was moving out of the frames with everything tightened well. I do have the pirouetting speed lightning fast.

Very impressed! The heli feels smoooooooooth and quiet. The 500EFL Pro flies on rails and is very powerful with the included gear. Tail holds great and although I'm using the Align ESC without governor, the heli was flying as it was governed. Smooth, predictable and very agile. More agile than my great 600EFL Pro.

Giving a quick comparison to the ESP, with the same motor, the Pro feels more predictable, less affected by wind, and more responsive.

I'm using a BeastX. I used the inner holes of the servo horns instead of the outer holes as called by the Manual and was able to reach a proper setup with blue lights.

The recommended link lengths given in the Manual were dead on, and to my surprise, the cyclic servos with the metal servo horns, centered with little or no sub-trim (contrary to the 600EFL Pro Align servos using the metal servo horns).

Mods that I've done so far are:

1. Installed screws in the upper gyro mount because it had play on the frames, and needed the mount to be well secured because it's used for the BeastX.

2. Pinned the boom because it was moving out of the frames. Was it due to the fast lightning pyros I did, or because the frames don't clamp the boom well? We'll see as other start to fly theirs 500EFL Pro's.

Regards,

David

[Eckchaz]

Nice.. How come you aint got the carbon boom installed?? Dont tell me it dont fit now i've ordered that aswell!!

[rotaryguy]

Originally Posted by Eckchaz

Nice.. How come you aint got the carbon boom installed?? Dont tell me it dont fit now i've ordered that aswell!!

CF boom fits just fine. Its actually carbon wrapped over aluminum like the larger booms.