800 swash ceased

[macpass]

Today I landed after my first flight of the day on my XXtreme and noticed a 'squeak' coming from the heli. On closer inspection I found my swash plate has ceased! The ball inside the swash I mean - the movement on the shaft is fine. To the point where I believe if I wasn't running the monster torque Futaba 157HV's, it would have been a case of heli down!

I can't find anyone with a similar issue online - has anyone come across this before? I've pulled the swash off now but can the swash be dismantled (I'd rather ask first than bend it up trying to get it apart) or do I just have to buy a new one?

The whole thing is seriously like someone has spilt lock tight in it - really weird and I like to know what's happened but I guess it may have been a slowly growing issue??

[macpass]

Think I'm solving my own issue here but just in case anyone else comes across this problem here's what I've found so far.

After a lot of clean and working the ball around and more cleaning I've managed to get it free'd up a lot. not to the point where I'm happy to have it back on the heli so I put some Tri flow oil on it to see if that would help - it had the very opposite effect! The thing just ceased up again instantly. I'm back in cleaning mode again and trying to work the ball loose once again but I'm confident that it's just the oil that is having an adverse effect.

Has any one else had this issue? I think I'll stop using the oil on all main shafts and swash plates and try some grease

[rcmarty]

Mine is tight as **** also.

Triflow seems to work for alittle bit then goes right back to the creeking.

I have another bottle of oil I've been using on the swash and it seems to work much better.

I'm at 170 flights now and this swash is still tight ! So don't get your hopes up about it breaking in.

Try different oils , you will find one that makes the creeks go away.

Check often.

And a touch of oil on mainshaft is still a good idea. My logo 700 was sticking and made it fly very weird.

Martin

[macpass]

Thanks Martin,

After an hour or so of more cleaning using both WD40 and some alcohol to clean it, it is actually back to near what i would call normal.

I'm staying right away from the tri flow oil on the swash but will give some synthetic grease a try (and oil the shaft lightly after I've applied the grease). And as you say - I will keep an eye on it too.

I'd have some where around 70-80 flights on it at a guess and I've always used tri flow. I can only assume it must have always been tight and only just started the creaking yesterday for some reason.

Anyway it seems sorted now after a good clean and some bench running so will just monitor it closely from here.

[rcmarty]

I can hear it when it act up , makes the creaking on the walk back from the flightline.

Haven't had an issue with it locking up.

jr 8917 on 2 s lipo

Martin

[xfc3dcd]

I think most are waaaay too tight. Mine was so bad I was worried flying it even on HV servos. I took the swash apart and ran a bolt inserted into a plastic spacer sleeve to match the ball ID. I chucked this into a drill and clamped the drill into a vise. I then sanded the ball down to a perfect fit. Made a world of difference in how the heli feels in a hover now.

[rcmarty]

At 150 + flights my 800 is still tight (to tight IMO )

Do you have any info or pics on how to take apart ?

If I can get it fitted we know it won't ever wear out

Martin

[macpass]

I'd also be keen to see any pics or info how you did this. Especially on getting the swash apart?

I've put another 6 flights on mine since cleaning and working it 'loose'. Although it's not tightened up anymore it's still not as loose as it should be IMO. I'm actually using WD40 to lubricate which is keeping it free'd up.

When it was creaking it really was surprising the servos didn't burn out.

[xfc3dcd]

I didn't take time to take photos when I worked it over. I just used an arbor press (harbor freight) to press the ball out of the retaining ring (and press it back in after honing).