New Scorpion motor vibration.

[franky975]

Hi guys.

Trying to sort the vibes on my trex 450 pro and decided to upgrade the motor as well. Bought a Scorpion 2221-8 installed it to the frame and found vibes comes from the motor. Is this motor out of balance or am i too picky? The esc is an Align rce-bl35p (stock).

There is a short video: motor vibe - YouTube

Cheers. Franky.

[Guest]

Was the frame vibration as bad with the stock motor, if so, then the vibration is coming from something else on the model. If the vibration is worse, then there is possibly an issue with the Scorpion.

There are quite a few issues with motors being out of balance at the moment, especially 600 sized motors (the Align 600MX being a particular issue), but also cases of Scorpions having the same or worse problem.

The only way to prove the issue is to set the motor up on a test rig and use a dial gauge to check if the motor can is running concentric in the first instance, although often the manufacturer will add weights to the assembly to try and balance them.

Next thing is to completely assemble the heli and see if the vibration is still there, as often a particular vibration may be cancelled out by another 'sympathetic' vibration elsewhere in the model. If it flies okay then you have to ask yourself if it's worth the time researching it, if you have a VBar then you could also check your flight logs......

[xygax]

You need one of these vibration analysers... Mini FU-BAR V5.3.4 3-Axis Flybarless Helicopter Control System

[Bronek]

FU-BAR , that's not exactly very marketable name

[franky975]

you have to ask yourself if it's worth the time researching it, if you have a VBar then you could also check your flight logs......

Well i could live with some vibrations-but the fbl controllers don't like them. I had on this heli a 3g, Beastx and currently a Barain all suffered from weird unwanted oscillations on the tail (the boom itself). Turned out i had loads of vibes also wanted to upgrade the motor so bought this scorpion. The question is, is it faulty or not as if so ill have to return it if it is ok then i can build the heli back and try how is the Brain likes it.

[Guest]

Without testing the motor it would be impossible to say if it's faulty or not, I'm sure if I could diagnose possible mechanical problems from a 54 second YouTube video, then Align or Scorpion would probably give me a job in their warranty departments starting 9am tomorrow.

Try mounting the motor on a bracket held in a vice, and connect it up to the ESC, any resonance then could only be created by the motor, not from the heli frame, if it shakes then it is out of balance.

You could also check the bearings to see if you have a knackered one, Scorpion motors have user replaceable bearings, which also require regular lubrication, with Scorpion Motor Oil......

[st200ol]

I just removed an older Scorpion motor of that model for the same reason, in my case it could have been the bearings causing the issue because its 100's of flights old.

I replaced it with a 450MX and the vibrations are still there but an improvement, according to my FU-BAR vibration analyser anyway.

I though they were supposed to balance the motors properly out of the factory though, another thing we have to do during a build now then. Many phones can do this too:

[franky975]

Thanks your input.

This method seems quite easy to do so I'll balance the motor and give it a go.

[Guest]

Major flaw in this method is that using insulating tape will only last until the motor can gets hot, then it will simply fling the tape off... This method will only give a very crude balance to the overall motor, you would need to alter the mass of the motor can in the correct X and Y position to give true balance...

[parksy]

Hey Franky, was the motor new from shop or 2nd hand? If new from shop you would think it would run smooth, if it's 2nd hand get some new bearings. Don't know if this will make a difference but worth a try before changing bearings, take off pinion, check if there's a flat spot on spindle, if not, turn the pinion quarter turn on spindle then retighten, might work, might not, but won't cost anything.

[lankey]

New Scorpion motor vibration.

Franky,

Are you using the same pinion on the Scorpion that came with the 450MX?

[parksy]

Do you have the correct timing for that motor set in the esc?

[franky975]

Thanks lads the input.

It was a new motor and pinion as well. I have it sorted now. The gear mes was set as per book but it vibrated so violently. I started to move the pinion away from the main gear and every time i moved it, it was better. I ended up with a quite big free play but the vibes almost completely gone. And yes the main gear was a new align one too.

[lankey]

Thanks lads the input.

It was a new motor and pinion as well. I have it sorted now. The gear mes was set as per book but it vibrated so violently. I started to move the pinion away from the main gear and every time i moved it, it was better. I ended up with a quite big free play but the vibes almost completely gone. And yes the main gear was a new align one too.

Good stuff mate.

I was just thinking along the lines of you having a pinion designed for a 3.5mm shaft (AKA 450MX) sitting on the Scorpions 3.17mm and being off centre as a result!

[parksy]

Hmm not sure if problem is solved or just eased. Lankeys post above may have hit on something. If you take out main gear, does motor vibe on full, 3/4, half throttle? If pinion isn't right size for spindle it'll vibe, if it's close to main gear it'll transfer vibe to frame through gear as well as motor mount. Moving it away from gear will ease it but you still have the vibe.