700 Ball Links

[Steve]

Has the old issue with TRex 700 ball links splitting been resolved by the manufacturer?

I don't want to change them if there's no point.

[snapshot]

To be honest, I had a kit from July/August 2008 one of the first available kits in the UK. It's still running the original ball links and main gear!

[mark lane]

Has the old issue with TRex 700 ball links splitting been resolved by the manufacturer?

I don't want to change them if there's no point.

Very good question Steve..... am i to change them for Quick uk ones when i build the 700 or not.

Await responses with interest

[Tim Procter]

I can comment here with experience on this matter.

On my original 700 I was using the supplied ball links and decided after all the reports of these splitting I would purchase the Quick UK upgrade and have them fitted.

After dozens of trouble free gallons with the standard Align links I fitted the Quick Uk ones and after only 2 gallons I had one split which caused a crash.

Just purchased the latest 700LE and there isnt a chance in hell I will be changing these.

If they are good enough for the likes of Szabo/Riva/Hornyak/Alsaadi/Kammerer etc they are good enough for me.

[Steve]

Well given all the bad publicity that the 700 got when it first came out on this issue, I would have expected Align to have sorted it out, and being as mine is a recent model, I don't expect there to be much wrong with them.

But............ with winter coming, cold weather conditions and brittle plastics, I would like to be sure, that is if anyone can shed any confirmed knowledge on it.

[snapshot]

I think the original reports were one off's and the tests that some users done were just ludicrous. i.e. stress tests by bending the link at 90°, a stress the link will never reach in normal flight!

[bish]

Steve me and a mate bought a 700 each last Xmas, Trevor at midland assured us the ball links are not a problem,one of my links let go on the fifth flight and totaled the Helli my mate is still flying his no problems almost a year on so draw from that what you will,my gut feeling even now though is go with the standard links. i rebuilt mine with the quick UK and its been OK i am building an Le at the moment and will use the standard links
I am sorry but this post isn't much help is it

[Steve]

How can anyone be really sure that a link caused a crash though? Links often break in a crash, so with what confidence can someone say that it broke in flight?

[Si_B]

I've just bought a nearly new 700, and decided to change the links to Quick uk ones. For 30 quid is was not worth the risk. I've not heard of many problems with the quick ones, but at least 10 with the Align links.

I was in the same position, but decided I would kick myself if a link failed.

Maiden flight on Saturday....can't wait !!.

Cheers,

Simon

[electricsceadu]

my 700 had the bendy links
when i changed them for the quick uk one i found one cracked link
i changed them due to all the reported failures
a good job i did
the quick uk ones were still perfect when i sold it at 6 months old

[Steve]

The links on my kit are far from bendy.

[Tom Burgess]

I am running the quick links other that those on my carbsmart. Strangely, the links on the carbsmart are sloppy as hell after only 3 gallons. I will stick with the quick links purely for longevity

[richieclarkie]

I find myself in a similar position in that I've now got one 700 with quick UK links and one with standard links. I would be suprised if Align hadn't sorted the links issue after this time.

I'd be tempted to keep as standard as it's a new kit and maybe put a spare link in the freezer and see how brittle it is.

[synergyn9]

Gone for Quick UK links on my new 700, wasn't going to take the risk when I've spent all that dosh

[Steve]

If any of the suppliers can shed light on this, or if anyone knows of an official statement by Align which they can offer a web link to, we would know for sure if the part has been changed, and therefore if there is reasonable risk of failure.