Need help identifying Main/Tail Rotor Head (MA?)

keithicus · 08-18-2009, 11:18 AM

I work in a robotics lab and we purchased a custom built robotic helicopter for research. We just had a tail strike last week, and now i'm looking for parts for repairs (the company we bought from marks up all their spares).

Others have suggested the main rotor head might be MA. I think the body is custom, but i know the main rotor head and tail rotor head are not. The tail grips are marked "Hirobo 1994". No markings on the main rotor grips. I've attached some pics. Can someone please help me identify the main/tail rotor head?

wjvail · 08-22-2009, 04:43 AM

Well... I'm not certain who makes the head and tail. I don't have any personal experience with them. I can say they are not Miniature. I've been flying MA for 20 years and that is not their engineering.

The answer to your question may be in the grips. My guess would be Hirobo made them... and possibly more than 15 years ago. It is possible just the grips are Hirobo and someone else's head but that would surprise me. Hirobo is marketed by MRC. You may look down that path for spares. http://www.modelrectifier.com/search...ew.asp?ID=8735

A lot of the heli looks like something Chris Bergan may have had something to do with. http://www.bergenrc.com/index.php If they didn't make the heli, they may at least have parts to get you flying again.

Out of curiosity, who sold you the heli and how long ago? Do they really have replacement parts? You may be better off with putting a new head on it. What size is the main shaft?... 10 or 12 mm? http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=164650

Cheers,

Bill

keithicus · 08-22-2009, 12:00 PM

Bill,

The company is rotomotion (http://www.rotomotion.com/), sold us this about 5 years ago. We had it serviced a couple of months ago and they redesigned a lot (used to have 2 brushless motors, different electronics, different landing gear, etc.) but i think they kept the original head. They say they have parts ready to ship, which makes me think its not 15+years old. But everyone from forums has been saying its not MA and it looks like a really old hirobo, so i don't know.

Rotomotion specializes in automating helicopters, but I really don't believe they custom build the head. I could be wrong, I dunno. Hesitant to change to a different head because it might not work as a robot afterwards (the base station program might not work, might not work with their custom electronics, etc.). Its killing me though, cuz they want $975 for a new head.

allen · 08-25-2009, 03:18 AM

why do you want to replace the entire head???

why not just by the parts needed to fix it...

what is wrong with the head??

08-18-2009, 11:18 AM	#1
keithicus Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA	Need help identifying Main/Tail Rotor Head (MA?) I work in a robotics lab and we purchased a custom built robotic helicopter for research. We just had a tail strike last week, and now i'm looking for parts for repairs (the company we bought from marks up all their spares). Others have suggested the main rotor head might be MA. I think the body is custom, but i know the main rotor head and tail rotor head are not. The tail grips are marked "Hirobo 1994". No markings on the main rotor grips. I've attached some pics. Can someone please help me identify the main/tail rotor head?

08-22-2009, 04:43 AM	#2
wjvail Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meridian, MS	Well... I'm not certain who makes the head and tail. I don't have any personal experience with them. I can say they are not Miniature. I've been flying MA for 20 years and that is not their engineering. The answer to your question may be in the grips. My guess would be Hirobo made them... and possibly more than 15 years ago. It is possible just the grips are Hirobo and someone else's head but that would surprise me. Hirobo is marketed by MRC. You may look down that path for spares. http://www.modelrectifier.com/search...ew.asp?ID=8735 A lot of the heli looks like something Chris Bergan may have had something to do with. http://www.bergenrc.com/index.php If they didn't make the heli, they may at least have parts to get you flying again. Out of curiosity, who sold you the heli and how long ago? Do they really have replacement parts? You may be better off with putting a new head on it. What size is the main shaft?... 10 or 12 mm? http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=164650 Cheers, Bill __________________ "Well, Nothing bad can happen now."

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08-22-2009, 12:00 PM	#3
keithicus Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA	Bill, The company is rotomotion (http://www.rotomotion.com/), sold us this about 5 years ago. We had it serviced a couple of months ago and they redesigned a lot (used to have 2 brushless motors, different electronics, different landing gear, etc.) but i think they kept the original head. They say they have parts ready to ship, which makes me think its not 15+years old. But everyone from forums has been saying its not MA and it looks like a really old hirobo, so i don't know. Rotomotion specializes in automating helicopters, but I really don't believe they custom build the head. I could be wrong, I dunno. Hesitant to change to a different head because it might not work as a robot afterwards (the base station program might not work, might not work with their custom electronics, etc.). Its killing me though, cuz they want $975 for a new head.

08-25-2009, 03:18 AM	#4
allen Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: usa	why do you want to replace the entire head??? why not just by the parts needed to fix it... what is wrong with the head??