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fgold · 10-08-2009, 09:32 PM

I received a 12Z which I bought used today and am very, very pleased with it. The only strange thing is when I handle the transmitter I can hear the sound of something loose clunking around inside. It's definitely not the battery. Just curious if any other 12Z owners have experienced the same thing. I had the back cover off and didn't see anything abnormal. I may dig in deeper tomorrow...

apleichau · 10-09-2009, 05:39 AM

I do have the same experience. It seems the sound coming from inside just below the antenna holder. I have open the back cover and could not find anything loosening to make the sound. At present, I shake the transmitter and can still hear the sound.

fgold · 10-09-2009, 06:37 AM

Thanks apleichau for the reply. That is exactly where I hear my rattle: in the area of the volume knobs. I wonder what that is?

fgold · 10-09-2009, 10:31 PM

It's fixed. For those of you experiencing a similar issue, the culprit is the translucent plastic piece which transmits light from an LED on the front most PCB to the pretty T12ZH emblem on the front panel. On mine this piece was very loose in the molded cavity which contains it. To solve the problem I wrapped a small amount of electrical tape around the offending plastic piece resulting in a much tighter fit in its retention cavity. A simple fix, but it does require near complete disassembly of the transmitter.

From what I observed, this issue was not a result of any misuse or abuse of the radio but most likely a manufacturing over-site. Perhaps I received an early model and Futaba reworked their molding dies to fix this issue...

apleichau · 10-10-2009, 10:06 AM

Thanks fgold. I should be grateful if you would point out where is as the attached picture?

fgold · 10-10-2009, 11:59 AM

I'm sorry to say the loose part is buried deeper than you have the transmitter apart in your picture. To access the part you need to remove all the PCBs until you have access to the back of the front housing. This takes ~30 minutes if you have done it before. The only thing that wasn't immediately obvious to me but is clear when you study the attached diagram is the dial wheel must be removed from the outside before the main PCB can be removed.

apleichau · 10-10-2009, 06:19 PM

Thank for your picture.

bossee · 10-10-2009, 06:22 PM

Hi,

That drawing was nice - do You have one for T14MZ also? I probably need to get inside my T14MZ to repalce with harder springs for tension of the sticks.

/Bo

apleichau · 10-10-2009, 06:24 PM

From your point of view, if it is not fixed, any issue can be raised?

fgold · 10-10-2009, 06:44 PM

The loose part is no issue other than the annoyance of the rattling. If I new what was rattling around, I most likely would not have opened up my radio.

fgold · 10-10-2009, 06:49 PM

I originally found the 12Z diagram at this link:

https://www.helifreak.com/showthread...hlight=diagram

I do not have a diagram for the 14MZ but perhaps someone else on the above thread might have it.

10-08-2009, 09:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
fgold Join Date: Oct 2009	Something loose inside 12Z I received a 12Z which I bought used today and am very, very pleased with it. The only strange thing is when I handle the transmitter I can hear the sound of something loose clunking around inside. It's definitely not the battery. Just curious if any other 12Z owners have experienced the same thing. I had the back cover off and didn't see anything abnormal. I may dig in deeper tomorrow...

10-10-2009, 10:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
apleichau Registered Users Join Date: May 2007	Thanks fgold. I should be grateful if you would point out where is as the attached picture? Attached Thumbnails

10-10-2009, 11:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
fgold Thread Starter Join Date: Oct 2009	I'm sorry to say the loose part is buried deeper than you have the transmitter apart in your picture. To access the part you need to remove all the PCBs until you have access to the back of the front housing. This takes ~30 minutes if you have done it before. The only thing that wasn't immediately obvious to me but is clear when you study the attached diagram is the dial wheel must be removed from the outside before the main PCB can be removed. Attached Thumbnails

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10-09-2009, 05:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
apleichau Registered Users Join Date: May 2007	I do have the same experience. It seems the sound coming from inside just below the antenna holder. I have open the back cover and could not find anything loosening to make the sound. At present, I shake the transmitter and can still hear the sound.

10-09-2009, 06:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
fgold Thread Starter Join Date: Oct 2009	Thanks apleichau for the reply. That is exactly where I hear my rattle: in the area of the volume knobs. I wonder what that is?

10-09-2009, 10:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
fgold Thread Starter Join Date: Oct 2009	It's fixed. For those of you experiencing a similar issue, the culprit is the translucent plastic piece which transmits light from an LED on the front most PCB to the pretty T12ZH emblem on the front panel. On mine this piece was very loose in the molded cavity which contains it. To solve the problem I wrapped a small amount of electrical tape around the offending plastic piece resulting in a much tighter fit in its retention cavity. A simple fix, but it does require near complete disassembly of the transmitter. From what I observed, this issue was not a result of any misuse or abuse of the radio but most likely a manufacturing over-site. Perhaps I received an early model and Futaba reworked their molding dies to fix this issue...

10-10-2009, 06:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
apleichau Registered Users Join Date: May 2007	Thank for your picture.

10-10-2009, 06:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
bossee Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2009	Hi, That drawing was nice - do You have one for T14MZ also? I probably need to get inside my T14MZ to repalce with harder springs for tension of the sticks. /Bo

10-10-2009, 06:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
apleichau Registered Users Join Date: May 2007	From your point of view, if it is not fixed, any issue can be raised?

10-10-2009, 06:44 PM	#10 (permalink)
fgold Thread Starter Join Date: Oct 2009	The loose part is no issue other than the annoyance of the rattling. If I new what was rattling around, I most likely would not have opened up my radio.

10-10-2009, 06:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
fgold Thread Starter Join Date: Oct 2009	I originally found the 12Z diagram at this link: https://www.helifreak.com/showthread...hlight=diagram I do not have a diagram for the 14MZ but perhaps someone else on the above thread might have it.

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