tail servo intermittent

[Graham Warwick]

hi, i picked up a second hand trex 450 clone, i am going through setting it up on my radio gear, now i am a complete novice with helicopters and any flying.

the problem i am finding is that my tail servo works intermittently, i turn everything on and the gyro light keeps flashing, if i pull the leads out of the receiver and push them back in it will work, i turn it all off, when i turn it on i will have to do the same thing again.

anyone had a similar problem? the radio i am using is a futaba 6ex 2.4

Thanks

Graham

[Graham Warwick]

can anyone help here?

[sacko]

What make and model is the gyro?

[dam74]

I have NFI besides suggesting it could be a bad connection at either the servo -> gyro or gyro -> rx or a break in the cable. I'd also advise listing the gyro and servo so that others can say if they've had incompatible/problems in the past with the combination.

Paul we think alike

[acwman]

A suggestion would be that maybe there is nothing wrong with it at all..

As you are a 'complete novice' the tail servo may seem to act completely different to the cyclic servos.. ie the cyclic servos move as you move your sticks around... whereas a tail servo attached to a gyro may seem to act very strangely, or odd..ie move to one direction, and may seem to stay there and not move back to center.

..is this the case?

Would suggest you could get someone to check the thing over or test fly it for you.

[Boggy]

if the gyro is a 401 or clone it should be initiated in heading hold which would mean the light was steady. maybe your tx settings need looking at?

[moyesboy]

There are two connections from receiver to gyro - one to the rudder and one to the gear channel (usually). The gear channel sets the sensitivity of the gyro (known as gain). the rudder channel tells the gyro to turn the heli.
The gear channel in one direction makes the gyro operate in Heading hold (where the heli will point in one direction unless you turn the rudder, even if it means the heli is flying backwards or sideways fast).
The gear channel in the other direction make the gyro work in rate mode - then the heli will turn to point into wind so it wont easily go backwards or sideways.

The 401 and 401 clone gyros need to be set in heading hold before the red light goes steady and the gyro is set. so try powering up with the gear channel at the other extreme.
Once the red light is constant, then when you move the rudder stick it will flash.

Post again if you need more help settting up, there are lots of places on the web to find capious instructions on gyro setup!

[dam74]

Ron, I had a wierd moment today when playing around with the 450 Sport with a GP750 gyro and DS420 tail. I swear it was working one minute then the next no rudder input was driving the tail when in TH. Disconnected battery and reconnected and it worked fine. I have noticed a knick in the insulation of the servo cable but no visible sign of strand damage.

[Graham Warwick]

the gyro is an eflight 110hl.

I think i have it sorted now, i believe i have to put the transmitter on, connect up the heli leave it a little and the tail servo works ok now, i think i was turning it on in the wrong order.

Well fingers crossed everything is set up right, i have checked and double checked my settings, going to try checking the blade tracking.

Thanks for the response guys.

[dam74]

Graham, yes RTFM. We've all been there before

There is a correct procedure as you mentioned it usually goes a little like this:

Power Up

1. Visual check over the heli for any problems
2. Switch on TX and check settings are correct
3. Place heli on level ground and facing away from you.
4. Plug in lipo on heli, allow esc and gyro to initialise (esc/motor should make initiation beeps)
5. Flick into throttle hold and proceed to check sticks are operating control surfaces
6. Once verified, flick off throttle hold and spool the heli up slowly listening out for any sounds that are abnormal. Once verified you can put on the canopy.
7. Take off



Power Down

1. Land
2. Flick on Throttle Hold
3. Approach Heli remove canopy and disconnect lipo
4. Switch off TX
5. Visually inspect heli for any damage so you can repair it when you get home


They are a rough guide that I use when flying now and assume you're flying in FMode0 which is setup in Normal Flight operation.

Another tip to remember is never leave in the Bind Plug as this can prevent the rudder from operating and make you do daft things like change models while the heli is on which in my case resulted in the heli going to full throttle and for me to go in hot. Something I wouldn't recommend with a large heli or anything that has good build quality. Luckily it was a Blade400 and the jesus bolts just snapped instead of bones

[Graham Warwick]

Many thanks for that Darryl, if only i had a manual that i could have read on the heli, what you wrote was exactly what was looking for.

I have another question for you all. whilst i have been working on my heli and getting it set up i have had the motor disconnected, now the problem is i dont know which plugs they will get plugged into? all three wires coming out of the esc are blue, whilst the other side is coloured.

I am guessing that if i get a multimeter i should get continuity when checking the terminals, so i should easily be able to work out which is positive etc....

Graham

[acwman]

Just plug them in any way.

If the rotor spins the correct way you need do nothing else. If it spins in the wrong direction swap two of the wires over.

[Graham Warwick]

but there are three wires, you are saying just plug any of them in any order?

[acwman]

but there are three wires, you are saying just plug any of them in any order?

Yes... does not matter. But as I said, If the motor does rotates in the wrong direction, just swap any two wires around, and it will go in the right direction.

[HeliJosh]

just remember most harm is done whilst in the air well... usually falling out, so you will be fine by testing the wires like acwman said, and great first heli you have some balls you will love it, my tip is just enjoy it as much as possible sometimes the best bit is fixing it up and then flying again knowing you fixed the little beggar and got it back up there!!

good luck have fun!