WARNING!!!!! Alternative ball links?

[mmracecars]

Originally Posted by Scott1115

This weekend I tried spare links from several manufacturers - thank you to all of my flying buddies who donated a spare link....

These all fit well on the threaded rod and the swash ball (may need to be fitted with ball link sizer):

Align FBL links for the 700 series
Blade 700E
Mikado (Logo 690)
Thunder Tiger Raptor 90

Scott
After a auto all three swash linkages are shorter now, the rods pushed all the way in the links, the align 700 ball links are larger than the compass balls, do you know the ball diameter of the 700x, as I can get those links local.

[Rockarruda]

The Align 550 ball links fit.. I had to use them once when I oversized one of my links..

[squeely531]

The 700x fbl links and servo to swash links fit perfect Mike. They are a little hard to thread but they fit perfect without having to size the link. Matt

[mmracecars]

perfect,all the alternatives seem to have the larger ball diam(5 mm),I meas the compass ones at 4.75mm.
will pick up some mon.
thanks matt.
mike

[Scott1115]

The Align 3G links for the 550, the ones that come in the package labeled "linkage rod set B" work. They fit the balls on the 7hv swash. I have them installed now and put 10 flights on them this weekend.

[Rob43]

I was able to find Rocket City links from Ron Lund. They seemed to fit well. Only issue is they are a tad longer than the stock links. I drilled the link with a 2.5mm to make them thread on perfectly. They seem to fit the balls very well, though.

[mmracecars]

thanks guys,i got a few of the rocket links and a 700x set,ill try the 550 ones as i prob have some of them.

[Scott1115]

After reviewing several options (I placed Align links on the aileron servo, Blade links on the pitch servo, and TT links on the elevator servo - pain in the a$$, BTW), here's my conclusions:

Align ball links although the fit on the balls and on the pushrods, the links are a little too loose on the ball for my comfort level.

The Blade links fit the pushrods well. The balls need to be sized. They are hard to snap on/off the balls but once on, they are smooth and move very free. They are longer than others. I did not need to cut them to length, just screwed them in further.

The TT links also fit the pushrods and balls. They too needed to be sized. The snap on/off as expected but they are not as free moving as the Blades.

In conclusion, I feel the sized Blade links are the best alternatives at this time. I will swap all links to these when I feel like re-leveling the swash and hooking up the vbar.

[mmracecars]

I used the 700x set ,cut 5 mm off ea end of the link rods , and they are a pain to get on the balls , but feel perfectly smooth ,
Thanks for the info guys, just took it for a test flight and flys great .
Mike

[JadAl_87]

Guys, are these the new ones?

http://www.prostarhobby.com/product-p/02-0709st.htm

[fjoe]

Yes, the "ST" version is the new ones.

[TheBum]

Originally Posted by JadAl_87

Guys, are these the new ones?

http://www.prostarhobby.com/product-p/02-0709st.htm

Yes.

[renaudrenaud]

Originally Posted by RedJoE

What's this did Compass actually listen to us about these links? Also, where do I purchase that serviceable swash plate?

https://www.facebook.com/CompassModel

Hello
The bad news is the ball links are exactly the same on the Chronos
Parts Number are the same ..
02-0709S

So if you get a problem with the plastic ball on the 7 HV that will be the same on the Chronos..
This are bad news for me because I planned to buy the Chronos .

[cyclo]

Originally Posted by renaudrenaud

Hello
The bad news is the ball links are exactly the same on the Chronos
Parts Number are the same ..
02-0709S

So if you get a problem with the plastic ball on the 7 HV that will be the same on the Chronos..
This are bad news for me because I planned to buy the Chronos .

Check the second to the last paragraph of this thread by Compass designer Sebastian:

https://www.helifreak.com/showpost.p...1&postcount=25

Here is the quote from that paragraph:

Failing Ball-Links – Its already adressed and solved. New ball-links 02-0709ST are way tighter on the rods but 02-0709S is changed now too. On some links (1 of 500 we know so far) the hole for the rod was a little too big.

The issue has been addressed even if the part number is the same (02-0709S). Also, I have not heard this issue crop up again on Chronos kits that have been built recently.

[renaudrenaud]

Super thanks a lot

[Bigpops]

I just got myself some of these new links (02-0709ST), along with the 6HVU / Chronos pitch links.

The only problem is, I cannot press the ball links onto the swash balls. I can't do it by hand, and I can't do it with my ball link pliers. I can see the pliers flex as I try.

Anyone got any tips?

[cyclo]

I have always sized the Compass links (and also Gaui) to make inserting them easier. I only size them on one end and I am careful not to remove to much material. The JR sizer is the best tool for doing this.

[Bigpops]

I can't even get my sizer into them either. I might be able to use it to put a chamfer on there to help them on.

I did think about heating them with a hair dryer, see if it would soften them up.

[cyclo]

Your sizer is probably shot. The Compass plastic seems to be especially tough. When I used a Compass sizer on my last 7HVU build it didn't even last long. I had to get a second JR sizer from the LHS. My first JR was already dull too.

You can try making the edges of the sizer a sharp again by running a knife through the split. However this is only a temporary fix... It is much better to get a high quality sizer such as the JR.

I would not use a hair dryer on those plastic. The structure might weaken.

[Ah Clem]

"The Compass plastic seems to be especially tough."

Amen!

On the new links, especially.

I did some testing on the new links for Prostar, prior to the Chronos being released. I could not get the JR sizer into the link. I finally pressed it in with an arbor press and reamed the links. Some might say that it should not be this challenging to ream/install the links, but I would much rather have it this way.

I cannot, under any circumstances, other than some bizarre level of abuse, see how anyone could blow one of these links off in flight. As I work on my older Compass machines, I will be converting them to these links.

They are thicker, wider, and tougher than any link I have ever seen.

They are superb!