Do I balance before tracking??

[invasion]

This may be a silly question but do I balance my blades before I track them or doesnt it make a difference which way round I do it?
Also what tape is best to use for balancing? I just watched finless Bob's videos on balancing and tracking and I did like he said and found the registration mark and then put them on a main shaft on the table to find COG and they are quit a way out..to be honest didnt even know you could put tape on to balance the blades I thought that was just for tracking

[ddracer]

Yes mate always. I use red trim tape from the LHS.

[shaun.e]

I would balance first just to iron out any potential imbalance. The tracking tape will not affect the balance as it is removed after tracking. I use a balancing tool to clamp the blades and act as a pivot - Align do a nice one.

[invasion]

Ok great will balance them and then track Is the same tape ok for both Balancing and tracking ?

[EtheAv8r]

Yes, same tape is fine - make sure there are no forward facing edges, that the airflow can lift.

[BaRoN30s]

do all blades have to be balanced..? even the align carbon ones that come in the combo kits..?

[EtheAv8r]

do all blades have to be balanced..? even the align carbon ones that come in the combo kits..?

Oh yes.... check them at least, but normally they are a teeny bit out.

[coptermanic]

.....anything that rotates should be balanced. I check even my best carbons for the 600 - you never know.......

if you haven't already watched, the Helifreak Finless vids on this are great.

http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=...lancing101.wmv

http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=...racking101.wmv

[Mart61]

I used Finless' balancing techniques for almost all my blades. I was bought a Thunder Tiger blade balancer for Xmas tho and I found it's pretty good and allows both static and dynamic balancing.

[invasion]

Yes, same tape is fine - make sure there are no forward facing edges, that the airflow can lift.

OK will do..I take it this tape is very sticky you would think it would lift off anyway.
Thanks
Anyone having trouble leaving thanks Wanted to leave some this morning click thanks and nothing happens???

[jamesb72]

I use red/green electrical tape, as long as you overlap it and no forward edges it stays on fine for electrics. I always check new blades for balance using 0.01g scales and try to get within 0.02g with cofg within 2-3mm.

I've found most new blades are pretty well balanced out of the box, but depends a bit on blades, cheaper blades seem to be less well balanced - as expected.

[Biggles]

Radix blades cost around £100 for a set of 690's and they state they are ready to fly out of the box.

If they need to be balanced then they are going straight back.

I do weigh my blades and if they are more than 4gr out the would definetly go back.

[alfred]

No you shouldn't have to balance modern CF blades.
I have been flying helies for a very long time and yes we had to do it in the days of wooden blades.
If some insist of balancing then they should be aware that just balancing between two blades or by weight is just a rough setup.
If you are going to bother then you will have to make them match both, spanwise and chordwise CG.
Otherwise all you have achieved is a static balance.
Last time I looked, our rotor heads aren't static ;-)