tail "hitting a wall" and whipping issue

[Delarado]

Guys,

Do servos get "tired" and lose power?

I have a 500 EFL pro here thats coming up to two years old now. Its had hundreds of flights, and many crashes.

I've always repaired it properly, but I'm finding now its just not performing like it did as far as the tail goes. Mainly in that the tail seems to hit a "wall" A lot of the time and it will not go past it.

Medium speed clockwise nose in funnels are impossible, the tail just stops even though I have full rudder in. sometimes it will eventually whip round, other times not at all

If I fly forward anything faster than a jog, I cant piro the tail past 90 degrees to the direction of travel.... it'll sit there for 5-10 seconds, and then sometimes itll whip right round.

Blades are align standards all round. FBL Unit is a Vortex (Full size)

It may even be the vortex set up to be honest... so any tips on that appreciated.

[milly0812]

Could it be that you've just gotten better and you're pushing the tail harder than you used to ?. I think servos can develop slop but don't know about losing power. It's sounds more like a tail setup issue rather than servo but then I've never had a servo long enough to find out

[Skyfool]

I found the standard kit servo was just not upto being pushed hard so with the Dremel I made the mounting hole in frame bigger and fitted a full size MKS tail servo. Problem solved

[hanson]

I found the standard kit servo was just not upto being pushed hard so with the Dremel I made the mounting hole in frame bigger and fitted a full size MKS tail servo. Problem solved

agreed, i had to do the same, since then the tail has been great, before that i was experiencing what you describe. Maybe as Don says your flying has moved on and are demanding more from the tail, what servo do have on there?

[Delarado]

the standard align one, think its a DS520?

I've always been able to do nose in funnels I thought? My flying has moved on for sure... I dunno, maybe I'll just stick a new servo on and see how I get on.

[milly0812]

The 520 is great on a 450 but is it man enough for a bigger bird ? When I had a 500 I used a full size servo on tail duties

[Delarado]

has anyone got any pics of how theyve fitted a full size servo?

I'd imagine that I'd have to dremel out the frame and then use a nut and bolt to hold the servo in as you cant thread carbon can you?

Answers on a postcard please!

[KevDavies]

use the old trex 500 tail boom mount and the use an old trex 600 tail servo plate. Job jobbed!! Used to do this on pretty much all 500's back in the day

[3dx]

The 520 is great on a 450 but is it man enough for a bigger bird ? When I had a 500 I used a full size servo on tail duties

That's what I have on my 500 ESP FBL- found the tail not holding in fast turns and even breaking out completely on piro moves
Whats a better servo then ?

[Delarado]

I did consider this, but then what tail control rod do I use?

The EFL pro one is carbon...so cant really shorten it or owt...

[trillian]

I don't think it could be the Vortex as long as you can see that it's getting plenty of travel in each direction, any heading hold gyro should pretty much just keep adding pitch until the rate you're asking for is reached.

I have the old style 500 ESP with a DS650 on the tail and it has worked flawlessly for a couple years.

[KevDavies]

I did consider this, but then what tail control rod do I use?

The EFL pro one is carbon...so cant really shorten it or owt...

Links -------->H50114 Metal Rudder Servo Mount
H60041T Rudder Servo Mount
H50040 Tail Boom

[KevDavies]

I know one link is a pair of booms, but Align dont sell the tail control rods seperate! Thats clever...............NOT

[3dx]

I don't think it could be the Vortex as long as you can see that it's getting plenty of travel in each direction, any heading hold gyro should pretty much just keep adding pitch until the rate you're asking for is reached.

I have the old style 500 ESP with a DS650 on the tail and it has worked flawlessly for a couple years.

That's the answer I was looking for !!

[Ade_Law]

It sounds much more likely to be a setup issue.

run it through the setup again after watching this video.

Spartan Vortex VX1 - Tail Setup - YouTube

it sounds like there is a lack of pitch.

not saying it isnt the servo wearing out but this is defo worth checking before you go out and spend money on a new one :-)