KDE Direct TREX 700e Battery Tray Issues

silas3d · 01-11-2011, 09:27 PM

I just picked up a couple KDE Direct Battery Trays and am really having trouble getting them to slide smoothly along the battery tray rails. I bought three, one is smooth, the other two are extremely tight. The stock plastic trays work just fine.

Anybody else having this issue?

Fredrik R · 01-12-2011, 12:04 AM

Have 4 of them and they are fine...

Have you measured those that are tight if they are thicker?

silas3d · 01-12-2011, 08:38 AM

Yes. According to my digital calipers they are about 5-10 mils thicker than the stock trays; which isn't that much thicker.

I was playing around with them some more last night and after putting a small amount of grease on the tray edges they seemed much easier to install.

They are still very tight, but I got an email back from Patrick at KDE who said they designed them to be tighter so the batteries wouldn't rock back and forth. Guess I'll just get used to it...

jack726 · 01-12-2011, 07:34 PM

Well they may be intentionally tighter, but I had to put one through my mill to get it loose enough to install. I could not push it in with my two beefy hands. The Align, plastic one fit perfectly.

While on the subject: I had to machine the motor mount to allow the motor to slide to adjust it.

Oh Yeah: I remember now: on my fourth flight, my KDE main gear melted to a glob. I was able to land my expensive scale model 10 seconds before the whole thing locked solid.

You know: I don't think I am that impressed with KDE.

nuclearchip · 01-13-2011, 08:43 PM

Mine just arrived.... I can't use it unless I somehow mill it down. The width dimension is slightly too big. I have 4 plastic trays that slide right in.

Wizza · 01-13-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuclearchip

Mine just arrived.... I can't use it unless I somehow mill it down. The width dimension is slightly too big. I have 4 plastic trays that slide right in.

That is very disappointing, and especially considering the cost of the KDE trays. This thread settled my mind to try the carbon trays from CHP....

silas3d · 01-14-2011, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuclearchip

Mine just arrived.... I can't use it unless I somehow mill it down. The width dimension is slightly too big. I have 4 plastic trays that slide right in.

Yeah I ended up filing mine down a little. It didn't take long and now they do slide in and out. It's still pretty snug though. At first I thought I had "pinched" the frame too tightly at that middle support, but even after loosening that and the RX mount screws they were still tight.

Don't have to worry about them sliding out accidentally!

~Cliffman~ · 01-14-2011, 06:45 AM

I was having the same problem with my KDE's until I realize the battery was being pinched between the tray and the rail. Installed some velcro which created a space/gap between the tray and the battery and now it slides realy nice.

nuclearchip · 01-15-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Cliffman~

I was having the same problem with my KDE's until I realize the battery was being pinched between the tray and the rail. Installed some velcro which created a space/gap between the tray and the battery and now it slides realy nice.

I don't have a battery mounted on it. It is bare, and too wide. Not by much,, but it won't slide in passed the first 2 inches or so.

Lorbeer · 01-28-2012, 12:20 PM

Has anyone tried the carbon trays from CHP? Are they better?

spikestabber · 01-28-2012, 07:56 PM

Are these the V2 trays you guys are having issues with?

I have 3 sets of V1 trays and they slide in flawless.

Edit: That's what SHE said.

Mystic3D · 01-28-2012, 10:53 PM

I have 4 of the KDE trays and they are very tight. I just greased the rails and it made a big difference.

ChrisH · 01-28-2012, 11:13 PM

Why not use the Align V2 trays??

DoctorJ · 01-29-2012, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisH

Why not use the Align V2 trays??

Exactly, they are freaking awesome, including the snap in feature...

robertsm · 02-07-2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoctorJ

Exactly, they are freaking awesome, including the snap in feature...

Exactly what Im ordering

Wizza · 02-07-2012, 06:33 PM

I ended up order the new Align V2 nose with the push-button locking clip and the new V2 Align metal battery trays. They are absolutely awesome, and they just work first time... I just installed a KDE performance tail unit last week on my 700, and had to resize a spacer and adjust the loose fitting mount before it all worked smoothly. A simple upgrade took two nights of dicking around and re-engineering to get it to work smooth and eleminate the play in the KDE factory parts....... HHmmmmmm.. The concepts and ideas are awesome, however the KDE manufacturing and quality control seems to leave a bit to be desired....

NRPY · 02-07-2012, 08:08 PM

+1 for the Align V2 trays. They fit perfectly.

Lorbeer · 02-07-2012, 08:28 PM

Thanks to this thread I did indeed get the Align trays. Thanks guys!

Dino Spadaccini · 02-08-2012, 07:42 AM

Mystic3D your best bet would to call KDE and see how he supports this problem

KDE Direct · 02-08-2012, 08:56 AM

This thread started over a year ago, and I'm not aware of any issues with the KDE Direct Battery Tray Upgrade V2s. If you do have an issue, same as any product we offer, please feel free to e-mail me at patrick@kdedirect.com and we'll get you taken care of. The trays are purposefully machined to be an accurate fit to the rails, so there should be not issues with installation for you and the V2 version includes the necessary features for proper operation of the ALIGN Receiver Mount Latch design.

01-11-2011, 09:27 PM	#1
silas3d Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Santa Clara, CA	KDE Direct TREX 700e Battery Tray Issues I just picked up a couple KDE Direct Battery Trays and am really having trouble getting them to slide smoothly along the battery tray rails. I bought three, one is smooth, the other two are extremely tight. The stock plastic trays work just fine. Anybody else having this issue? __________________ Lean not on your own understanding. TDR 2011 \| SAB Goblin 700 \| SAB Goblin 500 \| Coast Guard UH-60

01-12-2011, 12:04 AM	#2
Fredrik R Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Habo, Sweden	Have 4 of them and they are fine... Have you measured those that are tight if they are thicker? __________________ Fredrik Team Scorpion

01-12-2011, 08:38 AM	#3
silas3d Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Santa Clara, CA	Yes. According to my digital calipers they are about 5-10 mils thicker than the stock trays; which isn't that much thicker. I was playing around with them some more last night and after putting a small amount of grease on the tray edges they seemed much easier to install. They are still very tight, but I got an email back from Patrick at KDE who said they designed them to be tighter so the batteries wouldn't rock back and forth. Guess I'll just get used to it... __________________ Lean not on your own understanding. TDR 2011 \| SAB Goblin 700 \| SAB Goblin 500 \| Coast Guard UH-60

01-13-2011, 08:43 PM	#5
nuclearchip Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chesapeake, Virgnia	Mine just arrived.... I can't use it unless I somehow mill it down. The width dimension is slightly too big. I have 4 plastic trays that slide right in. __________________ SAB Goblin, Scorpion 4525 520 LE, Jive HV120, Beastx. Fusion 50 Flybarless Beastx CCHV120 Quantum 4035 530 AR8000 with JR 9503. Team HeliDirect

01-14-2011, 06:45 AM	#8
~Cliffman~ Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hollister, Ca	I was having the same problem with my KDE's until I realize the battery was being pinched between the tray and the rail. Installed some velcro which created a space/gap between the tray and the battery and now it slides realy nice. Last edited by ~Cliffman~; 01-15-2011 at 06:57 AM..

01-12-2011, 07:34 PM	#4
jack726 Registered Users Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cerritos California	Well they may be intentionally tighter, but I had to put one through my mill to get it loose enough to install. I could not push it in with my two beefy hands. The Align, plastic one fit perfectly. While on the subject: I had to machine the motor mount to allow the motor to slide to adjust it. Oh Yeah: I remember now: on my fourth flight, my KDE main gear melted to a glob. I was able to land my expensive scale model 10 seconds before the whole thing locked solid. You know: I don't think I am that impressed with KDE.

01-28-2012, 12:20 PM	#10
Lorbeer Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Makati City, Philippines	Has anyone tried the carbon trays from CHP? Are they better? __________________ Align T-Rex 450 Pro Align T-Rex 700E Align T-Rex 700N Mikado Logo 500SE

01-28-2012, 07:56 PM	#11
spikestabber Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Toronto, Canada	Are these the V2 trays you guys are having issues with? I have 3 sets of V1 trays and they slide in flawless. Edit: That's what SHE said. __________________ T-REX 450Pro DFC, SK-720, CC Lite 50, TM1000, KDE 450XF, MKS DS95's, Futaba BLS-257, KDE, DX8 T-REX 700Ev3 DFC, SK-720, CC 160HV, TM1000, KDE 700XF, Outrage BL9180's/BL9188, KDE, DX8

01-28-2012, 10:53 PM	#12
Mystic3D Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Texas	I have 4 of the KDE trays and they are very tight. I just greased the rails and it made a big difference. __________________ "If you think you can or you can not you are right" To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Goblin Xera 4530, YGE 160,VBar Trex 700E, YGE 120HV,, Xera 4035/,8917/ VBar Diablo, HJive, 4525 Ultimate,VBar

01-28-2012, 11:13 PM	#13
ChrisH HF Support Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CA	Why not use the Align V2 trays?? __________________ Edge Rotorblades Thor/Voltz Batteries 450 Pro V-Bar 130X

02-07-2012, 06:33 PM	#16
Wizza Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia	I ended up order the new Align V2 nose with the push-button locking clip and the new V2 Align metal battery trays. They are absolutely awesome, and they just work first time... I just installed a KDE performance tail unit last week on my 700, and had to resize a spacer and adjust the loose fitting mount before it all worked smoothly. A simple upgrade took two nights of dicking around and re-engineering to get it to work smooth and eleminate the play in the KDE factory parts....... HHmmmmmm.. The concepts and ideas are awesome, however the KDE manufacturing and quality control seems to leave a bit to be desired.... __________________ Regards, Mark R TRex 700E - V-Bar v5.3 and BLS251, DS8915's, HJive120, JR DSMX Sats, JR DSX12 TRex 600ESP - V-Bar v5.3 and DS8900G, DS8717's, HJive 120, JR DSMX Sats, JR DSX12 TRex 500CF - Mini-V v5.3 and DS3500G, JR DS3405's, JR DSMX Sats, JR DSX12

02-07-2012, 08:08 PM	#17
NRPY Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: California, USA	+1 for the Align V2 trays. They fit perfectly.

02-07-2012, 08:28 PM	#18
Lorbeer Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Makati City, Philippines	Thanks to this thread I did indeed get the Align trays. Thanks guys! __________________ Align T-Rex 450 Pro Align T-Rex 700E Align T-Rex 700N Mikado Logo 500SE

02-08-2012, 07:42 AM	#19
Dino Spadaccini Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ct and NY	Mystic3D your best bet would to call KDE and see how he supports this problem __________________ Dino Spadaccini Team Capt Align Factory Team USA / Team Futaba

02-08-2012, 08:56 AM	#20
KDE Direct Registered Users Join Date: May 2006 Location: Washington, U.S.A.	This thread started over a year ago, and I'm not aware of any issues with the KDE Direct Battery Tray Upgrade V2s. If you do have an issue, same as any product we offer, please feel free to e-mail me at patrick@kdedirect.com and we'll get you taken care of. The trays are purposefully machined to be an accurate fit to the rails, so there should be not issues with installation for you and the V2 version includes the necessary features for proper operation of the ALIGN Receiver Mount Latch design. __________________ -- KDE Direct, Inc. --

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