Incredible exploding Beam!

[chugga-bug]

I bought a Beam about a month ago from Paul (Sacko) and finally got round to putting the electrics from my V2 in it the other night.. So out I went on Sunday to try it out.. I've been running my Rex on 4s for ages now so planned on the same for this. After a couple of flights with 3 cells, to get the feel of it, sort the gain and swash mix's etc. I was liking it a lot! Felt far more locked in than the Rex. So I put a 4 cell in to give it a proper thrashing, took it up and after a couple of flips, started doing some tic-toc's and Bang!
Something let go big time and my new Beam was dropping like a stone!
I couldn't believe what I'd seen to be honest, and just stood there in shock for a few moments!
After inspection, it looks like one of the pitch link rods pulled out of its link! I can't even blame Paul! as I'd changed most of the links the night before! lol!
All the usual damage plus a ruined lipo.
Hopefully this isn't a regular event with the Beam is it??

[Paulice]

Unlucky, Sorry to hear that.

[moonmanflyer]

Unlucky mate, my lads beam has had one issue that keeps happening, the one way bearing auto collar breaks, had 3 fail in flight, most of the time without much damage but once it exploded and caused a bit crash, a frame breaker.
Haven't had any other issues though and it flys sweet so can forgive it for an odd niggle

[cupracing]

sorry to hear that, looks like the cursed beam strikes again!

[sacko]

Jesus, that must be agonising to watch!

Saying that, a person at the field had EXACTLY the same problem when running a 4S pack through his new Beam a couple of days ago. It ws flying spot on on a 3S though.

How much damage was done to it?

[Mart61]

Sorry to hear this. Hope you get back in the air real soon.

[richieclarkie]

What headspeed were you running?

[sacko]

Pretty sure Chuggas was on 13t when i sold it, but he may have changed it (from memory)

Daves (flyer at the field) is on a 12t when it happened, he was also using the Scorpion 2221-6/8 (cant remember which one, but its the better one )

[jamiem]

Daves got a scorpion -8...

[rspblake]

My take on this..

Pitch link rods pulled out of its link, has not happen over here, although I am sure i found one saying that it happened on RR, to be honest depends on which link goes it will happen on any model let alone the beam.

I don't know if mixing rods/links from any other 450, can cause the same problem not something Ive come across as this is the 1st I know over here.

Not a lot I can say, kinda all know if a main link does this will happen, I would prefer it never for you and i know you built a few models to know there right, can you tell if its pull out deep could it be one side was in more than the other.

Sleeves have always been a weaker link, most like it as its easy to change out to a new one, ones are now slightly stronger, but its a possibly that the one way bearing is faulty if three have gone, oiling bearing with a automatic trans oil is what Ive used.. and the only reason it not happened on the new ones they are stronger..

Anyway I know of one that possible went in flight in a 3d routine, having the crap beaten out of it, Richie, Matt and other have been fine, the new ones are stronger just on the chance of breaking more that a fault..

Main shafts are being supplied in the future will only be hardened ones, take being, any out of balance to the head running 3200 or above can bend the main shaft, there is a reason that once it starts to bend the vibe then can take the model out the air as the main can bend violently, it seem there is a limit to head speed to the softer main shaft and then a limit to the softer main with a out of balance head.. looking at a head speed cal just going up a cell and down a pinion is not enough of a drop in head speed, to be running the same as a three cell, again this is all, a why not a cure..

It the difficulty to call some faults on models as there is so many variables, i am learning bit like the knight days, if there is an inbuilt probs with the models, so far it been reasonably reliable and most pick it up as a 1st model to take to the field not the last.

Secondhand machines makes it harder to work out a cure, got there on a lot, but one or two I lost on..

Feedback is in the norm good, but a work in progress..

Most i suggest a hard main to start, if the vibe still there, the head hub can bend in a crash, if running a soft main the next few flight can bend in flight.. which is why the harder main for the test , you get a vibe not a model in bits.

Ive got a new son yesterday, he he! got to go collect him..

[Butuz]

Er isn't running 4s on a 2221-8 with gong to give some 4000rpm @ idle head speed on 12t and 4300 on 13t?

No onder it blew up!

Butuz

[moyesboy]

The beam has a thinner spindle than the trex (size of the 450 v1) - though it uses nuts on the end (like an x400) rather than m2 bolts. That is much stronger for the radial load of the blades.
however something else that might bend in the air during 3D is the spindle.

[chugga-bug]

Er isn't running 4s on a 2221-8 with gong to give some 4000rpm @ idle head speed on 12t and 4300 on 13t?

No wonder it blew up!

Butuz

Where did I say I was running that motor?
I was actually running an Align 430xl on an 11T pinion. 100% in idle 1 for 3s, 80% in idle 2 for 4s. Giving 3000 & 3200 rpm respectfully.

Let me say for the record, I'm not blaming the model here at all! I put it down to bad luck, nothing more.
Here's a pic of the guilty link. An Align one I might add!
Beam link Large Web view.jpg

I must admit though, looking at the state of the shaft, I'm not 100% sure that wasn't the cause. I don't know if it's a hardened one or not.
Beam shaft Large Web view.jpg

Anyway, the damage isn't too bad considering, so should be sorted out real soon. (if Robs not too busy changing nappies! )

[Guest]

So your not going to roll the shaft on a piece of glass to check it?
Bad luck mate.

Will have to get the locals together at some point again for a fly...

[chugga-bug]

So your not going to roll the shaft on a piece of glass to check it?
Bad luck mate.

Nah.. It'll hammer straight!