Spartan settings on a Beam?

[Steve]

Any joy yet chugga?

[chugga-bug]

Any joy yet chugga?

Took it out today few a couple of packs and it was better but still won't hold well in backwards flight, and still a bit bouncy on stops. It also jumps about 10-15degs on full pitch climb outs.
I took my daughters laptop with me and the config files on a usb stick, but forgot to load the driver so I couldn't make any more adjustments.
I started off with 27% gain (software reading) which was 36% on my DX7. Ended up at 27% on the DX7. Gotta say I'm really disappointed as my 401 on the 450 v2 was far better. I could never make that blow out at all.

My settings are: 120 & 80 end points, Accel. profile 100%, Decel. profileabout 60%, both stop gains at 140% (Steve's settings in blue)

[Steve]

I would adjust the mechanical linkage to get the end points to 100% both ways, which won't make a massive improvement, but at least you can be confident that the geometry is right.

Other than that, maybe Paul can add some more advice?

[acwman]

As others have said on here.. I would try the next sized servo up. ie a 9257.

When I started off on 450 helis, I tried the similar sized servo a futaba 3154. Whatever I had with it, I could not get the tail to hold as I wanted. Read some ppl using the 9650, which although better was still not good. the 9257 solved everything. Have used this servo in all my other 450 helis with very good results.

[chugga-bug]

The reason I used that servo was because it worked brilliantly on my 450 Rex, even with a 'lowly' 401. I had a 9650 on it previously and the FS61 was WAY better. I'm sure I'll get it working eventually. Just a little ****ed at the moment.

[ChrisB]

I agree,adjust the mechanical side to allow you to get near as dammit same endpoint settings and above 100%.

I am using stock settings,9257,end points 120 each way flies fine.

[acwman]

OK..Never had a FS61, so unsure how it ever performed.. but if you say that it was good on the 450 rex then maybe try this.

Flip the tail grips over on the tail from leading edge to trailing edge. Doing this, you will also have to flip the pitch linkage over aswell. Re adjust the control rod, and reconfigure the controls and ensure the tail gives correct input, and the gyro is sensing correctly. You'll obviously have to flip the tail blades over aswell..

This worked on a 450 of mine which I put a complete tail drive from a beam onto it. Whatever I tried I could not get the tail to hold solid.. This was using the Align gp750 and the 9257 on it. I also tried the Mini-G with it, and it was no better and where I still could not get the tail right. Fast backwards flight into tight turns would blow the tail out, and also had your symptoms 'wags and bounces'. Doing the above has completely transformed it and is perfect now.. Guess it's worth a try and is pretty quick to do.

[Steve]

Well the servo is the only major difference between your Beam and mine I guess? I've got Align 325mm blades and stock Beam tail blades. My Spartan is mounted on the bottom plate in between the main frames behind the motor and my servo is attached to the tail pipe with upgraded metal mounting brackets that are more suited to the chunky 9257 than the stock plastic ones.

BTW - I bought my 9257 2nd hand off someone on the forum who's name I can't remember at the moment (jamin_00 maybe?) for a very sensible price, and it's worked faultlessly without breaking the bank. These servos seem to pop up for sale quote regularly, so keep your eyes peeled for one.

You could also ask Spartan (or Angelos on here) for some advice directly via their website, assuming all the mechanicals are spot on.

[chugga-bug]

OK..Never had a FS61, so unsure how it ever performed.. but if you say that it was good on the 450 rex then maybe try this.

Flip the tail grips over on the tail from leading edge to trailing edge. Doing this, you will also have to flip the pitch linkage over aswell. Re adjust the control rod, and reconfigure the controls and ensure the tail gives correct input, and the gyro is sensing correctly. You'll obviously have to flip the tail blades over aswell..

This worked on a 450 of mine which I put a complete tail drive from a beam onto it. Whatever I tried I could not get the tail to hold solid.. This was using the Align gp750 and the 9257 on it. I also tried the Mini-G with it, and it was no better and where I still could not get the tail right. Fast backwards flight into tight turns would blow the tail out, and also had your symptoms 'wags and bounces'. Doing the above has completely transformed it and is perfect now.. Guess it's worth a try and is pretty quick to do.

Funny enough, I've gone the other way with the grip flip . When I bought it, it was set up with trailing edge links. This is how I flew it originally. I swapped to leading edge before the last tests.

I don't know, maybe I've got a duff servo? The one on my Rex died shortly before I sold it (I replaced that with a DS520 which was rubbish in comparison), so this is a new one. Think I might try and get a 9257 anyway..

[acwman]

Funny enough, I've gone the other way with the grip flip . When I bought it, it was set up with trailing edge links. This is how I flew it originally. I swapped to leading edge before the last tests.

Any reason why you flipped it back to leading edge, or was the trailing edge not working, or was worse?

Just seems though that with trailing, you can get the slider nearer the centre of the tail rotor shaft. With the grips set on the leading edge, and with the blades set a few degrees to counteract torque, the slider is very much off centre.

[sacko]

As said in PM, I flipped them to give a better tail geometry. It flew flawlessly with the tail grips flipped to trailing edge, so I personally cannot see it being that.

I also had a 401 on it at the time.

I stil think it is the bearings as they tend to wear quite quickly after a crash, which bearings though is the next mission

[jiberjaber]

I never had to flip my tail grips to set it up. I suspect this is something that has taken off since Finless did his 450pro build vids

It sounds like a bearing or similar Chug, I would also check how warm your tail servo is, mine was doing some funny things before it blew a hole out of the back of itsself mid-flight!

I fitted a 5084 to mine and it worked ace.

[chugga-bug]

Any reason why you flipped it back to leading edge, or was the trailing edge not working, or was worse?

Just seems though that with trailing, you can get the slider nearer the centre of the tail rotor shaft. With the grips set on the leading edge, and with the blades set a few degrees to counteract torque, the slider is very much off centre.

Only reason was because it was flying so bad.
The tail shaft bearings are fine, I'll strip it down tonight and check all the others anyway.

Cheers

[jiberjaber]

If you talk to the Spartan pilots such as Paul (raptorheli2 on here), they generally say the same thing - set the clockwise and anti-clockwise stop gains up to about 140% each way, and drop the deceleration profile down to about 60%. Also set the gain on the Tx so that you get 26% on the PC interface.

I've used these settings ever since owning a Spartan (now got three) and they've just worked fine straight off. I've used 3 Spartan gyros on 4 helis with exactly these settings and they've all been faultless.

Weird thing is - if these are the settings that you need to make the gyro work well, why don't Spartan ship the gyros with these as the default settings?

Steve - I have finaly got round to looking at this, I havent flown the settings yet but I can advise that in my config files, 15 = 150% 14 = 140% etc.

I also noted that the gain shown in the diagnostics follows exactly the gain shown on the Futaba 10C with a 617 as the receiver. Not sure if this is the case for other recievers / TXs. So my gain is at 38% at the moment (hich does give me some tail wag in fff in to wind. I'll see if the other settings make a difference.