700 links

[raptorheli2]

was browsing one of other forums as i've been keeping an eye on the 700 link problems.

it seems the 700 links are VERY brittle when it's cold. it appears the magic number is about 8-10 degrees C or 45-50F give or take. as you know winter is coming................

full thread is here-http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=95264

for those that are not members i don't think you will see the pics so here is a quick rundown.

1. pull link apart at room temp



2. perform same test at 45F (guy said he didn't need much force)





3. was that a fluke? try again then-(guy said he didn't need much force)



4. perform same test with a 600 link-



5. perform test with one 600 link and one 700 link...guess which one snapped first.



we all know the 700 links are not the best and wear seems to be an issue. my own 700's are benched until i get the quk kit i ordered. the problem with that is the cage and blade grip links are not in the kit. there has been talk of MA links fitting which i'm looking into for the grips and cage. when i find out more i will update.

cheers

[ChrisB]

I have also been watching this issue closely,its odd why this sort of thing happens seeing as the 600 ones are OK,surely they use the same plastic or i wonder if they have hardened the plastic because the model is bigger thus causing it to become brittle.

Mine is still OK and will continue to be used but i am going to be swapping all of the links out soon,most of which are still banana shaped anyway,

I may also get the quick Uk set and just get extra Quick links to substitute the ones not covered even if they need to be cut down a bit...hmmm


Now the million dollar question is,are the newer NON Banana links any better or are they the same?

[mattie-lodge]

Chris, it is the million dollar question but I think my mind is made up now.

I'm going to order the quick links instead of the Align ones. Was board at work today and went sniffing and found the same as what Paul has just said.

Good heads up

Cheers

[Arky]

Yup very scary stuff thxs Paul for bringin this up m8, i hadn't stumbelled across it yet and have the new links comming from robby UK "I hope" and may well try this test on a couple and if thay snap rather than just bend after thay have been in the fridge for 20mins then im gona order the Quik link set and i will just turn up some stand-offs and use quick links and balls on the grips too, the flybar cage can have quick links too "reamed out" as there not going anywhere if thay pop off

again thxs for the heads up m8

[raptorheli2]

ok folks, someone just sent me pictures of trevs machine.



not good.

cheers

[Tim Procter]

Near enough £25 to buy but I was in Fastlads today and bought The Quick UK T-REX 700 Control Joint Set

After reading this thread tonight mine will be grounded until I get the whole heli moved over to the new links too..

Thanks Paul.

[Sesame]

mate of mine had a link snap on him cause a pile up. I already have bought the quick uk links not used them yet, but now will definately be doing so, but ovbiously the cage and blade ones are the problem. so keep us posted with any solutions for these.

[raptorheli2]

the rocket city links can be reemed out to suit matt has informed me. i will try to get some and give it a go but i beleive matt is using some of these already.

cheers

[mattie-lodge]

As Paul said I made a reamer and adjusted the Ouick UK links myself. The only thing you have to be sure of is getting the link in the middle of the reamer before you start.

Mines grounded now till I get the new links. Weather is starting to get colder now so taken no chances

Cheers

[raptorheli2]

http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/t462308p1/

quk take note!!!!!!

could easily do this properly and machine the arm inc the ball. i think i'll try to get a set of these though. waiting on reports.

cheers

[ChrisB]

I have just given mine a good check and i am happy enough to keep flying it but if they fail then hay ho its my problem.

Appreciate the heads up and i will be addressing the problem for sure


I agree with Matt in as much as i dont think i will bother with the Align link set for curing the banana issue,will just go straight for the QUK ones but will not ground the model unless fate grounds it for me.

I am wondering if these models have been previously crashed as i know Trevs has had several and i dont know if these links were on it all that time.Also mine as of yet has not done much flying as i dont fly that often,how many flights have these models done?,is there a pattern?How many 700`s are out there that have done loads of flights and have been OK?as always we only here about the bad stuff.

[Arky]

Monday morning I rang Robbie uk and spoke to Keith about my wonky links.

He said he would replace them, I then asked if i could just buy them as i didn't want the heli grounded !! asI was off for a few days,
he said don't worry send them in and he would get them out strait away, so i could definatly be flying again by the weekend,

OK i though and stripped the heli,and had them posted before 12 monday morning, well guess what its 11:00 Saturday and still no links, "Nice fast Service" NOT !! ,

I have ordered the Quick UK ones now anyway so i will test this new batch from robby if they ever arrive :/

IM NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE SERVICE FROM ROBBIE UK !

jason

[barney]

Interestingly here is the post from Align concerning the links problem. Theres loads of Info on both Helifreak/RR concerning failures.. There was also a mention that one of the moulding machines may have been incorrectly calibrated.

To fly or not to fly..that is the question?

Notice from Align Factory
"The Align factory and pilots have again tested the 700 ball link and found nothing to be out of the ordinary as far as failure, material or temperature related issues. However we have had many issues with the stock servo horns slipping on the JR servos. A servo horn slipping on the splines will almost certainly cause a catastrophic failure and can be easily blamed on a ball link failure. We have also noted that the JR servos have a very shallow angle spline on the output gear as compared to other brands, this combined with the extremely high torque of those servos is a serious issue and we have found that the Align servo horn seems to handle these issues a little better than the stock horn. Alan Szabo JR. highly recommends using only the Align servo horn on the 700 and replacing those after every crash."

From Align Taiwan.

Well can anyone confirm a link failure using servo's other than JR's. That would eliminate/confirm the possibility of a servo disc slipping?

Brian

[Ade_Law]

trev was using 9252 with align horns so either this issue isnt limited to the align horns for JR servos or they have a horn issue with JR as well as the ball links.

trevs crashes did strip gears but 9252 have a long history on being used on 90 size CCPM machines so i cant see them failing in flight.

when trev flew his 700 he was an align pilot and i remember him telling me he had reported it to align.

what is so wrong with admitting you have a problem? the multiple failures trev had cost him a lot of money on non sponsored parts like blades etc.

Ade

[barney]

Thanks Ade..that is exactly the kind of info we need to collate so Align can narrow down the problem and get on with a proper Fix

You can be sure Align is listening to forums like this ..there spies are everywhere...LOL..

Anyone else UK have a suspected link failure????

Brian