Another newbie failure!

[Grant85]

hovering and pitch knob are set to the middle and the white switches are, top one to the left and bottom to the right. Its got 2 and 1 on the right side and on on the left.

Gazza have a look at this video mate it may help you:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7UBBen6MXM]YouTube - Honey Bee King (HBK2) Swash Setup[/ame]
Cheers Grant

[chopperaddict]

>> the consensus would be for them to use a pitch gauge to ensure all is correct
and degrease every screw with solvent before applying loctite

I wouldn't call it a consensus, at least none where I'm involved. But never mind.
If you need a pitch gauge, that's fine, just don't forget to use common sense at the same time.

Do you believe someone who has owned half a dozen helis could make a 3 degree measurement error with a pitch gauge on a .90 heli? I do believe it now.
(Fortunately I checked it -before- test flying, otherwise getting it back down would have become an interesting exercise).
What's most funny about the story, the owner was adamant that he measured correctly and got quite ****ed at me when I told him otherwise. Needless to say, the test flight did not happen.

>> To be honest I am not quite sure how you can measure pitch range etc using this technique only
you look at the opening angle of the "V" between the blades. You'll get a feeling for it quickly, it's no rocket science.
Then set positive and negative equal for a symmetric setup. That may not work on any RTF heli, but for any serious 3D heli it's just what the doctor ordered.

As ylu say very rightly, for a 3d setup, magic, but most people asking questons here are not looking at 3D, they are looking at how to manage hover the little sod...... ?

Horses for courses seems to fit the bill here

I would agree that you, as indeed I can look at that angle and quickly assess what we have, but newbies really cannot do that, and that is what this forum is about ?????

We are trying to teach newbies how to reach our stages of "sophistication", and I would still argue that a pitch gauge is the way for them to learn what it all "should" look like, would you not agree with that ????

[chopperaddict]

Hi grant85

nice idea, a little complex to get into, but once you have made up the templates, works very well.

Well done for showing us all how someone else sorts this out, but it does really reinforce the points made here previously that settign this up is a science - more than just a quick art check with one eye cos you know what you are looking for............ ?

Useful input M8 !!!!!!

[GravityKills]

and I would still argue that a pitch gauge is the way for them to learn what it all "should" look like, would you not agree with that ????[/color]

I don't, but that's really my opinion, and usually I keep them to myself...

For example: with a symmetric setup, you can't go wrong with blade tracking:
If the blades are out of track, decide which one is low / high (tape). As usual.

Then compare full negative and full positive pitch: Do you have more positive or negative pitch? Fold back the blades, which "V" has a wider opening?
If your heli tends towards positive, you lower the higher blade. If, on the other hand, the heli tends towards negative pitch, you raise the lower blade.
Most beginners get badly confused after adjusting blade tracking ten times, because the total pitch "wanders". With the above method, it won't happen - one typical problem is avoided. But, you need a symmetric setup to start with, otherwise you have no reference for zero.

With symmetrical setup, all the answers you need to know about setting up would fit onto one page, and each of them makes sense (i.e. you can explain why it should be done this way, solely based on the symmetry argument).
On the other hand, you'll find thousands of pages of contradictory setup tips - read them all and you'll be none the wiser.

But, as said, that's an opinion. And I'm not really in the mood to do missionary work (and yes I know there are some very valid reasons for asymmetrical setups, but let's leave them to people who understand what they're doing)

And, to avoid misunderstandings, the above is only of limited usefulness if a RTF heli isn't designed symmetrically. But practically any modern 3D heli is.

[Grant85]

Guys,please stop spamming gaz's thread with how either of you measure pitch,take it to p'm's as your gunna end up confusing Gazza even more.
Cheers Grant

[GravityKills]

Grant85,

please have a look at the earlier discussion. Then please review your use of the word "spam".
I find your comment inappropriate and damaging.

[Grant85]

Grant85,

please have a look at the earlier discussion. Then please review your use of the word "spam".
I find your comment inappropriate and damaging.

Ok sorry.I'm not having a dig at either of you I just don't want Gazza to get confused by technical details of pitch etc when he is struggling as it is.Sorry for coming across that way mate.
Cheers Grant

[gazz]

the video did highlight some definite issues with my pitch set up and my balance rotor. Also have noticed that my large main gear has a few teeth missiing so obviously I'm losing some drive speed there I would think. One final thing I have also noticed is that with a fully charged lipo the helicopter will only run for about 2 minutes (brand new, genuine esky) and theres a funny, hot eletrical burning smell coming from the motor. Havin looked on youtube it would appear that mine doesnt seem to have the same rotor speed as some of the ones on there, so could I have a motor / speed controller issue?

[Grant85]

the video did highlight some definite issues with my pitch set up and my balance rotor. Also have noticed that my large main gear has a few teeth missiing so obviously I'm losing some drive speed there I would think. One final thing I have also noticed is that with a fully charged lipo the helicopter will only run for about 2 minutes (brand new, genuine esky) and theres a funny, hot eletrical burning smell coming from the motor. Havin looked on youtube it would appear that mine doesnt seem to have the same rotor speed as some of the ones on there, so could I have a motor / speed controller issue?

No wander there is a burning smell if your running it with teeth missing on the main gear you don't wanna be doing this mate unless you want to cause more damage to the heli.

[gazz]

I'm considering stripping the whole thing down and replacing all the worn or damaged components and rebuilding it following the manufacturers assembly guide, or should I just replace the known damaged parts and persevere with trying to get it set up correctly?

[Grant85]

I'm considering stripping the whole thing down and replacing all the worn or damaged components and rebuilding it following the manufacturers assembly guide, or should I just replace the known damaged parts and persevere with trying to get it set up correctly?

I would strip it down and completely rebuild that way you will know what is damaged and what isn't.You never know there may be parts that are damaged or worn which you would have never known about.This is what i have done when i crashed my Blade 400 just to be on the safe side.As for the motor is it the brushed or brushless? if it's not brushless then now is a good time to upgrade it along with ESC.As the esc's are known to catch fire having only been rated at 25amps.
I know ia cheap website.A guy came on here with the same problem as you and luckily he lived near me so i helped him set his heli up and test flew it for him and all was good.I will get you the link,or send Mattydred a p.m as his mate has a shop that stocks all the parts cheap and he even does a setup service aswell.I think this is the option for you mate.

[waveydavey]

Gazz, get some help from someone who has offered to and don't forget the Thanks button for those that already have. Grant85, GravityKills and chopperaddict have posted umpteen times without one! The King2 will fly it's just difficult for a good pilot who knows what they're about never mind a beginner. The manual is pants, use the videos and help on the forum mate.

[acwman]

theres a funny, hot eletrical burning smell coming from the motor.

Never a good sign

[bill91]

Sound like your heli is well messed up mate! might be worth buying a barebone kit and manual and starting from scratch and use whats left of your model as spares!

I take it you dont have the manual? If you did that would get you well on the way to setting up your model to something like right

[gazz]

Gazz, get some help from someone who has offered to and don't forget the Thanks button for those that already have.

My apologies, I didnt see it!

The motor does appear to be a brushed one so I will look for a brushless (is this going to be an esky part or a universal hop up part?) and likewise with esc?

I had been looking at this ESKY Honey Bee King 2 MAIN ROTOR and TAIL UPGRADE KIT on eBay (end time 25-Jun-09 01:48:28 BST)
If I'm doing a rebuild then nows the time to get it, or Is this going to be poorly made or affect the way my helicopter flie (or not as it is now!)