500 Align Trex 500-XT

[D.O.G.]

a bit slower than others...

Remember the old story, the tortoise beat the hare in the long run

 

[Rob Lancaster]

Hi guys, my parts came in today and I went right to work. I couldn't wait to see if the slop when away with the new blade grips.
I'm very happy to report, the feathering shaft assembly is back to perfect! Nice, no excessive play in the blade grips bearing seats.
Just need to dial in the cyclic and collective pitch and add some expo and off I go, hopefully... Did I forget anything?

 

[fran11784]

Don't forget to run it without the blades on and look for any odd behaviors. Then use your training gear...

 

[Rob Lancaster]

Don't forget to run it without the blades on and look for any odd behaviors. Then use your training gear...

Thank you...............
And after all that, the nerves will get a bit shaky, steady Rob...

 

[Rob Lancaster]

Huston, we still have a problem.
While dialing in the head's geometry, I noticed that when I barely start to move the pitch up or down from a dead stop, the cyclic servos don't all start to move at the same time. And when that happens, the swashplate does a little hula. Sometimes the #1 and #3 servo doesn't settle back to where it's supposed to. If I grab the horns of the #1 and #3 servos, (while powered up) I can move them up and down. The number 2 servo, I can't move, she stays put until I move the stick.

What do you guys think about this head scratcher? Could it be bad POTs in the servos? If so, send me a link, I'll change them out..

 

[fran11784]

If the servos are powered, you should not be able to move them. However, this may be more if a Randy or Tony question. I don't mess with the electronic part of the servos.

 

[Rob Lancaster]

If the servos are powered, you should not be able to move them. However, this may be more if a Randy or Tony question. I don't mess with the electronic part of the servos.

Awesome honesty, very refreshing... HA!
Seriously though, how do I find the SUB-PARTS list for those servos? I know I saw it somewhere.
Tony, Randy, I'd love you're input on this one. I'd learn a lot more about the servos, rather than scrapping them. Thanks guys...

 

[RandyDSok]

I had never seen servo electronics for sale aftermarket... When I did replace parts for a servo it was limited to gear sets and cases and I got those from ServoCity at that time. All of my servos are analog Hitec branded ones when I was flying. When I went to ServoCity's site today, I see they still carry the gear sets and cases for servo's but have stopped selling the servo's themselves.

At some point, I also quit fixing those subsystems. I had several times that once a gear set was replaced, that other problems or glitches still existed. In essence, I got tired of chasing my tail and would just replace the whole servo just to avoid the occasional glitch that wouldn't get fixed by a gear set replacement. I got tired of loosing an airplane due to me not just replacing such a critical component.

 

[D.O.G.]

When I did replace parts for a servo it was limited to gear sets and cases

Yeah, same here. I rather buy a new servo then diddling with the electronics part. Too easy to lose or damage your aircraft.

 

[Rob Lancaster]

Ok, sounds like a plan.
Maybe Santa will bring me a new set.
You know, the more I think about it, the more I think I crashed the second time because I failed to thoroughly check the servos properly. And BOOM, rotor blades in the neighbors yard, oops...
Thanks again guys, you da bes!

 

[fran11784]

Better your neighbor's yard then your truck, don't ask how I know...... lmao

 

[Rob Lancaster]

Better your neighbor's yard then your truck, don't ask how I know...... lmao

Oh, awe... Sounds like my older brother running into his Tesla with a drone.

 

[D.O.G.]

Oh, awe... Sounds like my older brother running into his Tesla with a drone.

OUCH!