Grey or black dampers?

[alistair.howie]

Hi there - just nearing the end of my first ever build and I have a question on dampers in the main head. My Trex 550 3G system appears to have only come with black dampers (which were already installed in the head). Should I have bought grey ones and installed them instead? I'm a complete Newbie and will be running a vbar mini blueline express. Don't know if that makes any difference (hey, I did say I was a complete newbie)!

As usual, all advice gratefully received. Thanks

[Eckchaz]

The black ones are the right ones

[Mslater]

The black ones are the right ones

Normally I would agree but in the cold weather the black ones have been causing a few shakes with the Align 3G

It should have the black ones in there, but if it's a bit wobbly try the greys before anything else.

If you upgrade to Beast X use the blacks in all weather - it cares not !

[Mslater]

Sorry just noticed you said Vbar - got confused with 3G you mentioned earlier.


Put the Blacks in it.

[CChris]

The wobbles come when a hard damper are used with a low headspeed, from what I have seen of 550's at our club you won't have problems with low headspeed So I would stick with the black dampers. Are you going to use training undercarriage?

[alistair.howie]

Excellent! Thanks everyone. I was not going to use a training undercarriage because I've been told that it can cause problems/difficulties with FBL systems during take-off and landing if such manoeuvres are less than perfect, or at least not done positively or confidently, if you know what I mean. My intention is to learn to confidently take-off and land using another FB machine, then move back to mine for training. Well, that's the theory anyway. Takeoffs and landings are not proving to be an issue in Phoenix and I'm getting there with nose in hovering, but I appreciate the sim is one thing, reality is another. I'm intending to take proper training before I let myself loose on my own pride and joy :-)

[Eckchaz]

Alistair.. theres no rocket science behind take off/landing with FBL systems... just no major cyclic inputs during either or make sure the heli is at least light on its skids before doing so. Its just the FBL system will keep adding cyclic if you dont and it'll topple it over.. if you see it going, then whack aload off throttle on to get it off the ground

[alistair.howie]

Cool ... so it looks like I get the chance to crash my pride and joy even sooner than I thought :-)

While I'm online, can I ask a quick follow up question?

My tail pitch slider is not running smoothly - a bit notchy in one direction only. Pretty sure I've done everything by the book, so before I unlocktite and try again, I was wondering if it just needs some lubricant. I see everwhere that Tri-flow is recommended on the all the US sites, but I also see that we don't easily have that over here ... Can you recommend an alternative?

[Eckchaz]

I use these tri-flows and they have them at FL

Fast Lad Performance
Fast Lad Performance

Or you can be a cheap skate and use the grease supplied in the Align Kit.

If its definately the pitch slider? or is it the control arm bearing thats notchy?.. Take the arm off the tail slider ball and see if its just the slider or if its the arm when all connected. Also check the brass bush to see if its smooth if it is the slider. Also double check the tail grips as bearings may not be seated properly

[alistair.howie]

Great advice, thank you.

[CChris]

No need to panic about the VBar on the ground, you can put cyclic inputs in on the ground this will not cause the heli to tip. If you hold a cyclic input it will force it the heli over eventually. Most FBL have come a long way with that little problem.

I am a club trainer and beginners learn at different rates, some don't need taining UC, other need them for a long time. See what your trainer recomends, if you are going to take your time loosing the training UC I would convert your 550 to FB, for a while. You could pick up a FB head and Gyro (not sure you can use Vbar a just a gyro) second hand, there are so many people upgrading to FBL.

Hope this helps - and good luck ;-)

Chris