question on tail direction/gyro

[Balders]

ok, this may sound a totally newbish question, but it confused me at first, so can someone please confirm...

I took my heli (Trex 450 SEV2)for a quick tootle about this afternoon, but only got a few minutes in before the weather stopped play.

What I noticed was the tail seemed to be turning in the opposite direction to what I thought it should. As I moved rudder stick right, the heli turned to the left (or to put it another way, the tail moved same as the stick).

Now I'm assuming/pretty sure this is wrong, so I looked at the Tx once I got indoors and noticed rudder reversed, so I've un-reversed that and the rudder now moves the direction I would expect (but I've not had chance to test fly).

My real question is, will my un-reversing have affected the gyro, will I now also need to alter something on that? From twiddling the tail around, I think it's going to turn the pitch the correct direction, but would appreciate if anyone can confirm or debunk my thoughts (before I get chance to test fly)

Thanks in advance.
Balders

[David Drew]

You did well not to bin it with the servo reversed.

Depends on the gyro. I bet you've accidentally reversed the servo in the Tx at some point - assuming you have flown the heli before. In which case the gyro will be set to the correct way. If not, the gyro will need reversing too.

Just gently lift off & check if unsure.

David

[Boggy]

to check the direction of the servo move the rudder stick right. it should pull the control rod forwards towards the heli.
to check the gyro pick the heli up and swing the tail right(nose left) the control rod should move the same

[Balders]

my next lift off will certainly be gentle haha! It's only the second time I've even put a battery into the heli. It came pre-built from the USA, do they perhaps use a different directional "standard" to us?

[David Drew]

I think the laws of flight apply in America too

What you can do is put the heli on a table & spin it by hand to see which way the gyro/servo move the tail.

Interesting hobby ain't it?

David

[andylinney]

If you listen to 'finless' bob off've helifreak then you've two options when setting up, some folks including most of us 'steer' the nose of the heli whereas others 'steer' the tail. I think it's mainly a case of preference and what you've become accustomed to.

[Balders]

All my instincts say when I move stick to the right, I want the heli (I guess you could say the nose) to turn to the right. I think this is now how I have it set up, but a test flight will prove that. Just a bit nervous that the gyro will go hopelessly into a piro

[andylinney]

Balders, go and have a look at Finless Bob's 401 Setup video on Helifreak.com it's really very good and easy to follow, I tend to use his vids for all of my basic setups before I can get help at the field. I've been downloading them and putting them onto a dvd-r and keeping the disc with my heli instruction manuals. They're a cracking resource.

Andy

[zoombolt]

This is all I have to say about that!
The rear tail blades should be cutting up into the downwash from the main blades, thick end first. So rotate the main blades by hand in there normal turning direction, watch the direction of the rear blade holders & fit blades accordingly. Sorted.

Treat the tail blades like a boat rudder. If you push the rudder (thick end) right, the nose of the boat goes left & visa versa. Most steer heli's by the nose so, as per a post above, if the tail goes left, the nose goes right. You choose your style. Oh & well done landing it with everything upside down & back to front.