Belt or TT?

Irunwire · 07-19-2011, 11:17 AM

So whats better to get for my next upgrade? Get a 450 with a belt fed tail of a tourque tube? Any input would be great!

Ah Clem · 07-19-2011, 11:22 AM

You may as well have just asked "What is the best religion?".

I makes no difference in performance.

The belt is a bit more forgiving if you should contact the ground with the tail blades.

If you set up the belt, so that it is very tight, it will have more drag than a torque tube. If you set it up properly (i.e. fairly loose-just tight enough so that the cogs don't skip) it will not have any more drag than a torque tube.

JesseChunn · 07-19-2011, 01:44 PM

I have heard the TT is "more efficient". AhClem suggests that is not necessarilly true. If you "land hard" or get into tall grass and snag the tail gears with a TT, you will be replacing some nylon gears for sure... so stock up on 'em. I'm on my 4th set of gears already. I have not owned / flown the belt version, but I would choose a belt if I were to start over again. Maybe when my skills are higher it won't matter.

Irunwire · 07-19-2011, 02:12 PM

I am still on fp and want to transition to cp. I have been looking at the exi's as they fit into my budget currently. I can afford to spend a little bit more on the electronics so getting a clone maybe the way to go for now. 70 for a exi 450 pro belt or tt or 40 for a plastic version. the 70 give you an all metal head though so may lean that way. Thanks

Ah Clem · 07-19-2011, 02:20 PM

"I can afford to spend a little bit more on the electronics so getting a clone maybe the way to go for now"

That is very, very wise! The better the electronics, the better the machine will fly. It will decrease your learning time and enhance your flying experience.

With regard to the EXI 450, I have an EXI 450 Pro. I also have an Align 450 Pro.

I put the same electronics in both (JR 285mg servos for cyclic, 3500G on the tail, Futaba GY520 gyro-the best I could get), plus an external BEC. Both had the Align ESC and motor (which proved to be very good).

Both flew beautifully, and identically! The EXI wore out in some areas a bit faster, and the fit and finish of the parts on the Align machine was better, otherwise (IMHO), no difference.

Irunwire · 07-20-2011, 07:57 PM

Okay just ordered the EXI 450 Pro Carbon Fiber belt tail. Going to be a slow process but it has got to fit into the budget.

newbheliusr · 07-20-2011, 07:58 PM

I built one of those, really like it. Don't cheap out on the gyro/rudder servo. It'll save you a lot of headaches.

Ah Clem · 07-20-2011, 08:01 PM

"Don't cheap out on the gyro/rudder servo."

I could not agree more!

Irunwire · 07-20-2011, 08:15 PM

okay new to all of that so any suggestions on which to get? and any other help will help also! Thanks

Ah Clem · 07-20-2011, 08:48 PM

Futaba GY 520 with a JR 3500G is what I prefer.

The Quark is also very good.

If you are going FBL, the BeastX is not too much more expensive than a good quality gyro.

360Wings · 07-20-2011, 08:57 PM

TT is only more efficient that belt at low headspeeds. So you will general find a TT heli autos a bit easier than a belt. At high h/s i.e. normal flying h.s there isnt any measurable difference in performance.

Ive never see anyone snap a belt. I know it happens but if you set the belt tension correctly they last. Im forever seeing TT gears strip. This can be from tail touching ground/grass..etc and they are require the mesh to be set correctly too.

TT will often cause additional vibes due to the TT shaft osculating. This can be reduced by carefully placing the TT bearing to help cancel out vibes.

Conclusion - go belt.

JesseChunn · 07-21-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 360Wings

Im forever seeing TT gears strip. This can be from tail touching ground/grass..etc ...

(one thumbs up for each TT gear I have replaced in the last month.)

07-19-2011, 11:17 AM	#1
Irunwire Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Dinwiddie, VA	Belt or TT? So whats better to get for my next upgrade? Get a 450 with a belt fed tail of a tourque tube? Any input would be great! __________________ DX6I, E-Flite Blade mSR, 120SR now hooked on Helis! Now a EXI 450 Pro BELT-DRIVEN Kit Project To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Cory

07-19-2011, 11:22 AM	#2
Ah Clem Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alhambra, CA	You may as well have just asked "What is the best religion?". I makes no difference in performance. The belt is a bit more forgiving if you should contact the ground with the tail blades. If you set up the belt, so that it is very tight, it will have more drag than a torque tube. If you set it up properly (i.e. fairly loose-just tight enough so that the cogs don't skip) it will not have any more drag than a torque tube. __________________ KBDD-Team Pilot Team Compass / ProStar Hobby Gens Ace Field Representative Warp 360, 7HV,Knight Pro,Knight 3D, Atom 500, Odin II, 6HV, 3D Plus, Knight 50

07-19-2011, 01:44 PM	#3
JesseChunn Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Garland, TX	I have heard the TT is "more efficient". AhClem suggests that is not necessarilly true. If you "land hard" or get into tall grass and snag the tail gears with a TT, you will be replacing some nylon gears for sure... so stock up on 'em. I'm on my 4th set of gears already. I have not owned / flown the belt version, but I would choose a belt if I were to start over again. Maybe when my skills are higher it won't matter. __________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If I could just turn my ball link one third of a turn, everything would be perfect To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Outrage G5, Tarot 450 Pro, Raptor G2, Blade MCPX

07-19-2011, 02:12 PM	#4
Irunwire Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Dinwiddie, VA	I am still on fp and want to transition to cp. I have been looking at the exi's as they fit into my budget currently. I can afford to spend a little bit more on the electronics so getting a clone maybe the way to go for now. 70 for a exi 450 pro belt or tt or 40 for a plastic version. the 70 give you an all metal head though so may lean that way. Thanks __________________ DX6I, E-Flite Blade mSR, 120SR now hooked on Helis! Now a EXI 450 Pro BELT-DRIVEN Kit Project To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Cory

07-19-2011, 02:20 PM	#5
Ah Clem Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alhambra, CA	"I can afford to spend a little bit more on the electronics so getting a clone maybe the way to go for now" That is very, very wise! The better the electronics, the better the machine will fly. It will decrease your learning time and enhance your flying experience. With regard to the EXI 450, I have an EXI 450 Pro. I also have an Align 450 Pro. I put the same electronics in both (JR 285mg servos for cyclic, 3500G on the tail, Futaba GY520 gyro-the best I could get), plus an external BEC. Both had the Align ESC and motor (which proved to be very good). Both flew beautifully, and identically! The EXI wore out in some areas a bit faster, and the fit and finish of the parts on the Align machine was better, otherwise (IMHO), no difference. __________________ KBDD-Team Pilot Team Compass / ProStar Hobby Gens Ace Field Representative Warp 360, 7HV,Knight Pro,Knight 3D, Atom 500, Odin II, 6HV, 3D Plus, Knight 50

07-20-2011, 07:57 PM	#6
Irunwire Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Dinwiddie, VA	Okay just ordered the EXI 450 Pro Carbon Fiber belt tail. Going to be a slow process but it has got to fit into the budget. __________________ DX6I, E-Flite Blade mSR, 120SR now hooked on Helis! Now a EXI 450 Pro BELT-DRIVEN Kit Project To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Cory

07-20-2011, 07:58 PM	#7
newbheliusr Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mountlake Terrace, Wa	I built one of those, really like it. Don't cheap out on the gyro/rudder servo. It'll save you a lot of headaches.

07-20-2011, 08:01 PM	#8
Ah Clem Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alhambra, CA	"Don't cheap out on the gyro/rudder servo." I could not agree more! __________________ KBDD-Team Pilot Team Compass / ProStar Hobby Gens Ace Field Representative Warp 360, 7HV,Knight Pro,Knight 3D, Atom 500, Odin II, 6HV, 3D Plus, Knight 50

07-20-2011, 08:15 PM	#9
Irunwire Registered Users Thread Starter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Dinwiddie, VA	okay new to all of that so any suggestions on which to get? and any other help will help also! Thanks __________________ DX6I, E-Flite Blade mSR, 120SR now hooked on Helis! Now a EXI 450 Pro BELT-DRIVEN Kit Project To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Cory

07-20-2011, 08:48 PM	#10
Ah Clem Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alhambra, CA	Futaba GY 520 with a JR 3500G is what I prefer. The Quark is also very good. If you are going FBL, the BeastX is not too much more expensive than a good quality gyro. __________________ KBDD-Team Pilot Team Compass / ProStar Hobby Gens Ace Field Representative Warp 360, 7HV,Knight Pro,Knight 3D, Atom 500, Odin II, 6HV, 3D Plus, Knight 50

07-20-2011, 08:57 PM	#11
360Wings Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Australia	TT is only more efficient that belt at low headspeeds. So you will general find a TT heli autos a bit easier than a belt. At high h/s i.e. normal flying h.s there isnt any measurable difference in performance. Ive never see anyone snap a belt. I know it happens but if you set the belt tension correctly they last. Im forever seeing TT gears strip. This can be from tail touching ground/grass..etc and they are require the mesh to be set correctly too. TT will often cause additional vibes due to the TT shaft osculating. This can be reduced by carefully placing the TT bearing to help cancel out vibes. Conclusion - go belt.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode