Intrepid Mw54 Gearbox not green anymore....discoloration

[HybridCycles]

Bought this used setup with about 17 hours on the engine, previous owner said that it just had its gearbox serviced by Ron about 2 hours ago.


I noticed that the gearbox cover is not green anymore. Is it normal for it to turn this color or it might have overheated at sometime before?

I know that it drips oil at the bottom plug which I would assume it's getting misted with fuel.

Just being paranoid coz I have no experience with turbines..

Thanks!

[cbergen]

Heat will cause the anodizing to turn colors, ultimately to a light sand color... Don't ask...

The gearbox isn't hurt, and the gears are fine. The only concern would be the internal seals, they get hard with higher temps and no longer seal properly.

These seals are easily obtained commercial items, as are the bearings. Although the bearings are costly at appx $100 a piece, they are available.

It should be fine, these gearboxes are VERY durable. The only time I've had an issue beyond replacing seals is when I personally did not set the mesh properly, allowing for backlash in the gears, eventually breaking off some teeth. So when you notice there's a lot of backlash, leave it that way!!

[HybridCycles]

Chris,

You read my mind! The backlash in gearbox was my next question... lol... the gears in the gearbox seems loose, so thats ok then? To allow for expansion?

Off topic, my main gear mesh to the clutch bell i thjnk is loose such that there is almost about half a tooth backlash. Is that ok?

I tried moving the engine but it wont budge.... is there an easy way to move the turbjne back and forth to adjust the mesh?

Thanks!
Arnold

[cbergen]

The main gear mesh should have NO backlash. You have to loosen the whole engine AND the triple bearing block above the clutch and move the whole assy.

The engine may be tight in the frames, sometimes a little prying on the back of the gearbox helps to get it moving.

[HybridCycles]

That's what I thought when I was going thru the manual.

I loosened all of those screws to no avail. It wouldn't budge...... I'll try the prying method. Thanks!

[helibeli]

The gearbox and engine seem to be well hidden with that model.In my Predator Wren54 everything is out in the open but those gearboxes get pretty hot all the same.

[cbergen]

Being "hidden" has nothing to do with it. There are plenty of ventilation cutouts and the fan on the output shaft helps air move along. We preferred to have a well constructed frame to allow for greater aerobatic capability.

The majority of these models out there never experience this discoloration, except when too much oil is put in the gearbox.

[HybridCycles]

Chris,

My gearbox drops oil from the bottom screw. Is that too much oil, and did you say that if there is too much oil causes discoloration or heats up more?

p.s.

are the pitch arms already in stock for the flybarless head?

[cbergen]

I went through major changes trying to locate the source for that "leak". Finally, I determined that its not a leak at all, its simply fuel/oil blowing by that area and collecting on that bolt.

Its bothersome, but it's normal.

I hope to have the arms back in stock this week.

Chris