Main shaft bearing replacement

[Mayday...goin'down]

I'm nearing 80 flights on my trex 600 elf pro and was curious how often you guys replace main shaft and tail bearings. 100 flights just seems like a good number for maintenance replacement. When do you replace yours and do you grease them before installation? If so, what type of grease do you use? Thanks fellas.

[rob78]

Replaced only when the bearings get gritty feeling. If they're smooth, they don't get replaced.

Too expensive to replace after "x" number of hours if they're in good shape.

I use thrust bearing grease from align, associated, or RIGs gun grease on all bearings. I have bearing oil I'll use on occasion for mixer arm bearings and other low-load bearings.

[BaconRaygun]

You don't need to replace them unless you crash or wear them out. You will not wear them out for a LONG time... I think it took nearly 500 flights on my Fusion 50 to see wear at the inner race, at which point I upgraded to a bearing with tighter tolerances.

[HeliSmith]

It should be too early but if I were curious I'd take it apart enough to check the bearings out

[Mayday...goin'down]

Thanks everyone. I wonder if a couple drops from some scorpion motor oil once in a while would be beneficial?

[HeliSmith]

Technically an engineer would want us to pack them with grease but many of us just use Triflow. I take apart my motors to clean them and Triflow those bearings too, very high rpm application and it has made my motors last.

[nmdesertracer]

Originally Posted by HeliSmith

Technically an engineer would want us to pack them with grease but many of us just use Triflow. I take apart my motors to clean them and Triflow those bearings too, very high rpm application and it has made my motors last.

+1 triflow is very good oil!!

[Mayday...goin'down]

Thank you very much. I have a bike shop in the area that sells triflow. Gonna have to get some. I appreciate the advice.

[Mike A.]

Main bearings are lasting about 100 flights for me until they get pretty rough. Head thrust bearings are about the same. It depends a lot on how you are flying. For me oiling the main bearings didn't seem to make them last any longer.

Rest of the bearings seem in good shape with about 600 flights on the heli. I did replace the pinion support bearing about 100 flights ago for the first time. Replaced the torque tube and installed 3 support bearings at around flight 400. The TT had become a bit deformed and was causing vibrations.