Coming back after 8 years

[Si Goodchild]

Hi guys,

I’m thinking of coming back to Helis after a long lay-off that started when I undertook a part time MSc while working full time: busy times!

Anyway, I have several 700size Helis in the garage which I will be checking over, lubricating and cleaning during the coming weeks. While I’d appreciate any tips there, I’m really hoping you can give me some steers on the following topics:

1. New BMFA rules. When I rejoin the BMFA and my local club, what additional processes do I need to go through to be legal. Can you point me at the right info?
2. LiPo and LiFe packs. I did a check tonight and it’s a mixed bag for my batteries. Some have remained remarkably well balanced while others have become unbalanced. Some are, a few tenths of a volt out, and a couple of never-used packs have had a cell pretty much collapse to 1volt or so. What precautions should I use trying to bring these back to life? At what point should I give up and safely dispose of them, however new?
3. Nitro. I have one TREX 700N. Should I just replace the bearings before even attempting to start it? Is the nitro fuel I still have likely to be useless now?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Si G

[snotvis]

I am in the same boat. Been out for three years. Lockdown has given me some time. Been dusting off my helis. Checking them over. Hovering them in the garden - the big ones are scary!
You need to do the CAA test, but can do that through the BMFA.
Good luck with it. Hopefully more make a comeback. It might be a positive from COVID.

[Si Goodchild]

Update: some cells in some packs refuse to come up past 3.8v to 4.0v. I guess they’re dead, or is there a way to shock them in to life?

[trillian]

Welcome back!

Regarding the BMFA, the only change is that now we must have a CAA ID number. If you have a BMFA A or B cert you can just join back up with the BMFA and they can take the CAA fee along with the membership and you'll get the CAA number. If you do not have an A or B cert then you have to take some kind of simple online test for the CAA, everyone says it super easy. Then we're supposed to put the CAA ID number on any aircraft over 250 grams in weight, it doesn't have to be any certain size or format and can even be under the canopy (I'm pretty sure they can be under the canopy - just in an accessible area - I haven't put the ID numbers on my helis yet)

If those Lipos are 8 years old, the chances they'll still be useable are fairly low I would think :-(

Nitro fuel will keep a very long time if it has been in a sealed container, so it's probably still good.

Engine bearings, just depends on how much moisture was in there, if they were scored or pitted at all, etc. I have had some engines that sat up for several years and were fine, so it's possible they may be OK.

[barryorbik]

Even if your Li-po's are showing the correct cell voltage the internal resistance of the cells will be pretty high by now, so their capacity and C ratings will be very low because dendrites and oxidation will have formed on the cell plates. You may have loads of time available so I would dismantle the nitro engines and replace anything that looks worn or rusty and the bearings anyway.

Have fun and we look forward to hearing of your adventures on your return to our wonderful hobby.

Barry

[Si Goodchild]

First test-hover with the Synergy E7 in the garden today. All good, just like putting on an old coat. Next job is to clean up the Raptor 90E conversion you see in in my avatar, and sort out battery packs between usable and junk.

[james_2k]

I feel like i've paid the CAA enough over the years for them to give me one of these for free. Not fair i say!

Also getting a chance to fly a lot during the lockdown which is great as i cant work at the moment.

If you have a charger which can show you the IR of your packs then its easy to see if there is a duff cell.

[Gazzer1uk]

I've had a bit of a layoff too..... got 2 x TGrex 600 Nitro, and electric 700, a scale Vario Lynx not built and a broken Blade CFX180... ordered parts for the 180, remembered the engine was misbehaving on one of the 600's and that I had a spare! So I changed the engine. I have about a litre of 2 year old fuel, batteries not been charged for a couple of years.... Cleaned and checked everything, Tx was showing 10.4 volts, 56% in the heli battery and my starter lead acid which is nearly 30 years old was trickle charged.....blow me, engine started first time, ran flawlessly in the back garden (lucky to have a big one) and run a tank of fuel through, I haven't forgotten how to hover and do some basic short turns and traverses....... The blade more neighbour friendly mind.... the wife thanked me for the smoke as the washing was out!!! Really enjoyed it though, can see me getting back into it!!

[PeteStewardson]

Its funny there’s a few of us picking up the helis again after a long time