Am I expecting too much....?

[Heliheaven]

When you buy a set of tail blades do you, like I did, expect that the two blades sealed in the plastic bag to be a pair? I mean a pair as in a matched set suitable to fit straight onto the model without any need for balancing.

I recently bought some carbon tail blades. They where packed the same as any other tail (and main) blades that I have bought and I am absolutely sure that there was no mention on any of the packaging that the balance of the blades should be checked

The model they where fitted to has just been rebuilt with lots of new parts, including a different engine so a vibration in the tail was not an immediate concern. After tuning the engine and loosing two tail control rods (Snapped clean off - in flight!) I checked the balance of the tail blades and they are WAY out

So is it my job to now balance the blades or do I try and get some sort of warranty replacement?

What would you do?

[Mike W]

I always check weight and cg on my blades before fitting them as matter of course .. tbh unless it states on the packet that they balanced before they sent out then I think its a mute point on getting them changed under warranty

[Heliheaven]

Mike, I admire your diligence with regard to your blades - a lesson for us all perhaps, but have I really got to drill holes in, or wrap tape around my shiny new carbon blades just to stop them wrecking my model! Surely some sort of quality control would cure this?

[lex7919]

depends what blades they are and much you paid??
If there a set of radix and badly out yes id return them if therer somr non descript blades the whip the tape outy its par for the course.

[coptermanic]

That's tough Andy. I have always "trusted" the tail rotor blades to be ok, whilst pedantically checking the main blades, whatever the copter. Food for thought, considering the damage potential.
If they were good quality carbons, I'd ring the supplier and ask his comments.

[Heliheaven]

I may of been unlucky as these are a 'main' brand blade bought in the UK.

I think that perhaps I was just taking modern standards for granted

[daren]

Come on mate!! as they were made in the UK you should have know we have no standards! You should have purchased some shoddy cheap chinese ones they'd have balanced spot on.

I know they are tail blades but look at the other end of the scale! would someone spending £100 on a set of mains balance them? Can you imagine flying at a competition with a big lump of tape wrapped around the end of one blade!
If the blade company can't make a matching pair they should get out of the business before someone gets hurt!

Name and shame them at least it will let others know to check the balance

[Tmac]

I bought a set of CF ones (from a UK retailer), they weren't even the same shape let alone weight.

[lex7919]

name and shame them at least it will let others know to check the balance [/quote]

agreed.

There are so many variables in blade manufacturing that its reasonable to expect not all blades main or tail will be balanced spot on every time.

Before doing what im fortunate enough to do for "work" now i could never afford the premium blades opting for a happy medium ie Align blades i think i had 1 set that were spot on the rest needed balancing, Nowthat ive had oppertunity to handle the "premium" blades they are much better balanced, Radix been the best balanced ive come accross so far no balancing needed at all to date!

But i dont take this for granted and still check every pair regardless including the tail blades.

[spunkmyer]

What thing that I find very strange about our hobby is how it seems to be the norm to buy some new part only then to have to balance it or do some sort of work on it before fitting to our helis.

I have read many times on this forum and in a few mags how users buy brand new parts only only then to adapt them to fit the heli or aircraft they were designed for.

Would you buy a new car only to have to strip the engine to get it to work or what if those nice new school shoes for you son or daughter fell apart would you glue them back together or take them start back to clarkes.

Its hard enough keeping our helis in the air with out worry about parts not fit for purpose.

Ok rant over.

[sacko]

Only really bought HK tail blades for a few $$ a pair, and I have never checked the weight or even if they balance. Maybe something I shall be doing in future though.

[jimheli]

i would all ways balance a set of blades , but some don't bother as its believed most come balanced , i was reading a post some time ago a guy had 3 sets of radix tails & all were out of balance.



jim

[Jamin_00]

What thing that I find very strange about our hobby is how it seems to be the norm to buy some new part only then to have to balance it or do some sort of work on it before fitting to our helis.

I have read many times on this forum and in a few mags how users buy brand new parts only only then to adapt them to fit the heli or aircraft they were designed for.

Would you buy a new car only to have to strip the engine to get it to work or what if those nice new school shoes for you son or daughter fell apart would you glue them back together or take them start back to clarkes.

Its hard enough keeping our helis in the air with out worry about parts not fit for purpose.

Ok rant over.

I have said the same thing before.

[Thomas]

V Blades used to be rubbish when it came to tail blades, never seemed to balance and sometimes they would be different shapes too.