Align Bearing Quality!!!

[Malc1]

As we all know Align bearings are seriously crap and within a very short time certain ones will need changing.

I've never had ones fail quite so quickly before though.

Flying my YS120 powered T Rex700 yesterday morning and managed to get two and half tanks though it before getting an uncontrollable tail wag.
Managed to get the heli down and on checking found this.....




These tail bearings were changed 12 flights ago......bit lucky this time I think.

[jwatts007]

Very nasty well done getting it down in one peace....

[GravityKills]

>> As we all know Align bearings are seriously crap

are they? The other side looks good as new
Seriously, the pictures speak for themselves, but I still use them in other helis, because cheap. Usually they get no chance to die of old age.

BTW, I would most definitely change the tail shaft, even if it's still straight, wouldn't want it to break after that abuse.

[Malc1]

Yeah,looks like a new tail shaft and a pair of good quality bearings.
I can't actually get the inner bearing sleeve from off the shaft - it's well seized..

[Toolman]

You mean you changed the bearings & put New Align bearings back in??

Tim.

[Rctintin]

SKF's all the way!

My 700n started making strange noises after about 18 flights when I had it new, it was the main shaft bearings. Put some SKF's in there and they are now over 150 flights old with no issue.

[milly0812]

Align Bearing Quality!!!

My 600 ESP is tuff on mainshaft bearings because there's only 2 bearing blocks but the rest of the Heli has been good for way over 100 flights. I've not tried different bearings mainly due to it being easier to add to cart whilst Heli shopping but also interested to hear of alternatives ;-)

[Rctintin]

Have a look for your local bearing stickiest in your town, and order SKF'S bearings. There are none better.

[waveydavey]

Again much the same experience as Don, because of my penchant for meeting with terra firma my 600 gets more abuse than some but never had to replace tail end bearings. I do replace main and clutch stack though, I get these from RC bearings rather than align bearings which in my opinion are over priced.

[Rctintin]

I'm the lucky one here as one of my best mates owns a bearing and transmission company. I have never paid for a bearing yet! He won't let me!! So I service his boiler for free as way of payment.

[Planehazza]

Are the regular bearings at RCBearings good? I've just received a load, but they're not SKFs as they were considerably more expensive.

[waveydavey]

I would say they're good enough as long as you regularly maintain your helis and replace when required. I've used them for years without problem mate, although I do replace ona reasonably regular basis. Not all of them but the normal ones that get totalled in a crash

[Malc1]

You mean you changed the bearings & put New Align bearings back in??

Tim.

Yeah,my mistake.

I needed some urgently as I was trying to get the YS120 run in.I had a pair spare to hand so I used them.
Didn't get around to pulling them out and upgrading - I should have left the heli grounded really and just ordered some decent ones - lesson learned.

[cjcj1949]

Real heli flyers don't let the bearings die of old age.

[pgkevet]

..could try learning to land on the skids..