3g Align 550 problems HELP

[jasoncook]

Hi all just been out for the first flights with my 550 fbl that has been converted from a fb. I followed the vids and mounted the sensor on the align tape with a strap 1st take off tail was wagging and it drifted right then forward then left ,so landed turned up the pot gains to 60 % tried again not much better reduced tail to 35% in HH to stop the wag but it hardly holds at that and kicks out in flight. The Helli still drifts in the hover so i removed the strap and tried again still drifting then the Helli decides to replicate a very high speed stick stir all on its own, I sent it up ready to hit hold as i was sure something was going to fly off but it instantly settled down. So to sum it up the tail wags or is pants the Helli drifts worse than the fb version and it has violent shacking moments so any advice welcome Thanks Jason

[Mslater]

Had this recently - I think you need to turn the pots down - possibly back to where you started from. The 3G does drift a bit anyway.

[Tim Procter]

The 3G does drift a bit anyway.

Not if you set it up manually in rate mode first.!!

Apply around 7 to 8 degrees of offset on the tail blades and get it holding as best you can in rate mode then work on turning the gain pots up when in heading hold.

[Vic.P]

If the problem persists after making your adjustments then you could try the MOD but using E6000 glue instead of high temperature silicone which can be corrosive. Have a look at this thread on HF: Modifying 3G for better performance - HeliFreak

[jasoncook]

The tail was spot on on the 750 , does the gains on the pots affect the gyro rate ? I did the full rate mode set up and made sure it was spot on ,I am reluctant to mod it as it can't be this bad out of the box

[Vic.P]

The tail was spot on on the 750 , does the gains on the pots affect the gyro rate ? I did the full rate mode set up and made sure it was spot on ,I am reluctant to mod it as it can't be this bad out of the box

Some folk don't rate the Align 3G tail gyro much (same as the 780) so they swap it out for a Spartan or similar to be sure the tail stays locked in.
Modding the 3G is something that many do as a matter of course, again, to make sure that it stays as locked in as possible. My brother modded the 3G on his 600ESP and it's been good as gold, however, the mod was done quite soon after fitting the 3G so we're not sure if it would have been problematic or not without the mod
If you intend to upgrade the Flybarless system at some point to something like the BeastX then leave it as it is so that you can sell it unmodded, if you intend to stick with the 3G then the mod would be worth doing IMO.

[coolice]

Hi all just been out for the first flights with my 550 fbl that has been converted from a fb. I followed the vids and mounted the sensor on the align tape with a strap 1st take off tail was wagging and it drifted right then forward then left ,so landed turned up the pot gains to 60 % tried again not much better reduced tail to 35% in HH to stop the wag but it hardly holds at that and kicks out in flight. The Helli still drifts in the hover so i removed the strap and tried again still drifting then the Helli decides to replicate a very high speed stick stir all on its own, I sent it up ready to hit hold as i was sure something was going to fly off but it instantly settled down. So to sum it up the tail wags or is pants the Helli drifts worse than the fb version and it has violent shacking moments so any advice welcome Thanks Jason

Hi Jason.

How tight are your links? If they are new and stiff then this wont help to much.
Also where is your sensor mounted on the model, on the anti-rotation bracket perhaps? Using one Align pad? Have you fitted the upgraded metal anti-rotation bracket by any chance?
Also what tail servo are you running?

Normally any drifting is caused by vibration on the model, is there any signs of vibration at all in flight?

The tail wag you are having I take it does not disappear but gets faster or slower as you alter the gain values?
Out of the box the rudder lock gain is too high set at 70% and causes a wag which looks like a gain problem but isn't if you know what I mean, the rudder lock gain needs to be lowered to 45~50% which will fix the wag.
However this can only be done using the Align PC link which you might not have.

As you have a newer conversion kit the MOD is not necassary as Align now silicon the sensors to one another anyway, plus in my honets opinion having modded all my 3G's I have not seen a benefit at all to doing it. I certainly could not up my gains which was being mentioned as a bonus of doing it in the first place.

I do not setup my tails in rate mode, I do so on the bench to set the tail blades at 0 degree's pitch only and then let HH mode do the work for me. Works well and no drift on the tail.

If you do have the 3G PC link I have my own 550E settings which are performing well for me and others I have given them to, let me know if you have the PC link cable in your tool box.

Once setup the 3G is more than a match for the beastx, apart from the odd tail kick all my 3G'd machines tails hold great in flight.
.

[jasoncook]

Hi Thanks for the replies I am picking up a link cable later today so I should be able to set it up. The sensor was mounted on the auto bracket with one align pad with and without a strap.The model is stock with no metal upgrades the tail servo is a 620 but i do have a 650 i could try.The gyro stop's wagging at 35% but then drifts.The links and awash are all new and they came from a new 550 fbl Kitti. Thanks Jason