modding fb heads to fbl heads

[dogbiscuit]

while endlessly pondering over what to do next with my helis (around fbl conversions to narrow it down a bit) I have noticed on hlefreak, a few pics of home modded fb heads......
this was documented in a magazine, but non of the links to it now work, so i was wondering how many of you on here have tried this sort of thing, and how well does it work...?
the obvious advantage is that is virtually free as it appears to use all standard fb parts to create a fbl head.....! this example is a trex 500.....I have a spare 500esp head.....fbl for free....what do you think?

[trillian]

Yeah, there's usually nothing special about FBL heads except that they often look better due to not having ever had a flybar seesaw going through them. I have seen some very good conversions of Align heads that work perfectly fine.

I modded an Ely.Q Vision Ultimate head which was super easy and actually ends up not even looking like it was obviously a flybarred head. Because the mixer arms are parallel to the flybar on the Ely.Q the grip arms already have quite good spacing so it was just a matter of removing the mixer arms and putting a link directly on the grips, then the flybar assembly on top comes off completely. The two link rod guides serve as a swash driver.

I'll try to dig up a pic.

[dogbiscuit]

Its looking like its not a very popular subject then, judging by the level of response..... Either that or your all too busy getting dolled up for new years eve's parties. Anyone done this....

[jimmyhorns]

presumably you do need the 'clamp' from the swash follower to make this work?... otherwise whats making the swash spin at the same speed as the shaft?..

[choppaholic]

try this thread http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/t-rex-...lp-please.html

what you are suggesting is similar to the new Raptor e720 or Alees rush head design. only difference is the wash followers are at 90 degrees to the main links when compared to direct link swash to FBL heads. from what i have read this give you more resolution and works very well. the Alees and Raptor heads are also very well received, also this design transfer less load on to the servos in a crash unlike direct link heads. this is from what i have read dont hold me to it

[Planehazza]

Its looking like its not a very popular subject then, judging by the level of response..... Either that or your all too busy getting dolled up for new years eve's parties. Anyone done this....

Sorry was just a bit of humour. Post removed

[GravityKills]

You need to get the geometry right, and the idea with the reducer levers can work pretty well.

I did this conversion once on a 450 (press 'stop' to see the pictures in the first couple of seconds how it's done).
T-Rex 450 pro flybarless conversion using original parts - YouTube

It flew very nicely, but I finally got the Align conversion to lower the head.

[dogbiscuit]

IMAG0312.jpgIMAG0313.jpgIMAG0314.jpgIMAG0315.jpg

well, after a bit of pondering i decided to have a go at it, and made this one, like the first post pics above.....none of the links to magazine article now work, so there are no instuctions, but its not too dificult to work out. this is obviously not a new idea, but i am sure there are plenty of folks out there not aware that you can do this to a fb head.

I took it to the field today to try it out and after a tweek or two with the beastx it flew well....only had a couple of packs with me so flight time was limited but it felt so much better than the fb head.

[KevDavies]

how did you stop the washout from dropping off the pins??

[trillian]

I found a pic of my modded Ely.Q head. I had to screen-grab this off my RR gallery.

Anyway, since the grip arms are already spaced quite wide it is OK with the links running direct to the swash. The black plastic guides work as a swash driver. All I had to do was remove the mixer arms and fit a ball link directly on the grip arms. In this case I used some oversized Robbe flybar links as they have just the right size hole for the bolt that goes into the grip arms and also they put the link right in the centre of the shaft. Then the whole flybar assembly on top comes off. The only other thing I did was drill a tiny hole and run a bit of wire through the ends of the guides so there's no way they could jam in the up or down position (I don't think they would anyway but this was a little bit of insurance).

This setup worked very well with the BeastX.

ELYQfblheadmod.jpg

[dogbiscuit]

how did you stop the washout from dropping off the pins??

the pins really need cutting off.... I only left them on incase this didnt work very well, and i could then convert back to fb rather than scrapping the head block. washout is inverted and turned 90 degrees, drilled and tapped on both sides and fixed to the main shaft with grub screws (through the groove where the pins used to locate)

[KevDavies]

the pins really need cutting off.... I only left them on incase this didnt work very well, and i could then convert back to fb rather than scrapping the head block. washout is inverted and turned 90 degrees, drilled and tapped on both sides and fixed to the main shaft with grub screws (through the groove where the pins used to locate)

Ahh I see now. Nice work! Will have a bash at my rappy when i get used to flying again. Ive got a spare head here so thats no issue just need a spartan vortex! LOL

[electricsceadu]

this is how its done on a sceadu001.jpgsceadu fbl2.jpgsceadu fbl1.jpgsceadu fbl3.jpg

[maddog7]

You need to get the geometry right, and the idea with the reducer levers can work pretty well.

I did this conversion once on a 450 (press 'stop' to see the pictures in the first couple of seconds how it's done).
T-Rex 450 pro flybarless conversion using original parts - YouTube

It flew very nicely, but I finally got the Align conversion to lower the head.

Loved the annotation on the video Gravity, Good flying too. (Mole hunting, love it!)
:-)

If I was going to DIY convert, which I'd like to do at some point, I'd try to go the compass/DFC route. If one can get that sorted the only thing to worry about then is the distance of the ball link from the centreline of the spindle.

[nitromad]

i converted my century hawk 50 rotor to fbl for my r22 scale was quick and simple 2 cuts and one trex 600 swash clamp and bit longer ball links and job was done.