KDE Quality?

[jimmy77611]

I just received the KDE performance tail pitch slider upgrade for my goblin 700, and man does it have tons of slop!

This is my 4th KDE product, and all 4 have had issues. My first was a 130x tail case, and the threaded hole for the tail fin wasn't threaded. I had to just run it without a bolt.

My second was a trex 700 one way bearing housing, and the top radial bearing that came in it was rough right out of the package. I had to buy some bearings from align to fix it before installation.

Third, I got the SXTS head for the same trex 700, and it appeared to have wobbles. Apparently KDE's machine shop's method for drilling the head button hole wasn't ideal (by their own admission).

I feel like I've been duped again with this sloppy tail slider setup. What gives? Where's the American-made quality? I feel most of my issues are minor, but they are there. Maybe I just have the worst luck, and happen to get the rare occasional bad parts.

Here's a video of my brand new "slop-free" (as KDE describes it) tail pitch slider, assembled as per the instructions.

[ame]http://youtu.be/48ALfRrKqqk[/ame]

[thenewguy]

Did you Loctite the bearing into place as the instructions say in step #3. This might help out a little.

http://kdedirect.com/files/SG630-700...on_Diagram.pdf

[jimmy77611]

I loctited the two big bearings into the slider, but if I were to loctite the little ones, they'd just pop right out of place when the screws were tightened.

[LaDon]

The bearings go in from the inside with the lip in if I remember right. If you put them in the other way you would have a lot of play. Take a look at that

[jimmy77611]

The slop in the video is with the bearings in from the inside, as per the instructions.

[LaDon]

On my phone the video is small enough I can't see it good enough

[LaDon]

I would call Patrick. He is a super nice guy and will get you fixed up

[jimmy77611]

I emailed him about it last night, but haven't received a reply yet.

[LoveToFly1]

i have not had a tail upgrade issue. but I have had that same OWB issue...bearing was bad out of the box. also the threads were messed up in one of the bolt holes that holds the gear to the OWB case, and I couldn't get the bolt out to save my life...broke it off in there.

[jimmy77611]

Update.

I heard from Patrick, and he said all the vertical play is normal, and there to keep it from binding. He said to use green Loctite to glue the bearings in. I did that, and it takes away the play. The only issue I see with it now is that I can't snug the screws down or the bearings will start to bind/side load or pop out of place. I have to run the screw down just until it's barely touching the bearing inner race and hope the Loctite will hold it. Doesn't have the play, but the screws are easily unscrewed even after the Loctite cures. I don't feel real confident not being able to snug down the screws.

My trex 700e has a very similar design pitch slider, doesn't have the same amount of play between the parts as the KDE, and doesn't bind.

WTH!

[PilotCR]

Everything I've purchased from KDE (My trex 700 is more KDE than Align), I couldn't be happier with in relation to quality/performance. Then to top it off Patrick is one of the most responsive, helpful, informative person I've ever spoken with in the hobby. I have the KDE tail on two 700e's without the vertical slop I see in your video. Don't know if this helps but its been my experience!

[ranchhand]

I'm a little late chiming in on this, but some of the Goblin tail booms are not always perfectly square, so when you tighten the side plate on the tail case the boom can cause the assembly to be miss aligned. Try loosening the tail case, if everything starts moving freely then that's it. You can try shimming the tail case to the boom fit, to get the system back in line when tightened up.

[Rob43]

I've had the KDE tail on two different bird, and they were perfecto. Zero issues. I have the KDE SXT head, main grip arms, FBL links, thrusted main bearings, tail slider mechanism, boom supports, tail boom clamp, and threaded adapters for the clamp all in my 700N, and it is one solid, slopless beast. Previously installed all of KDE's upgrades to the tail of a 600N and it made a very precisely performing tail of it as well. Everything that can be KDE is, and the bird sounds different than any 700N I've heard. There is simply no buzzing, rattling, or other sounds that are typical for an Align. Killer quality!

[KevinB]

I have the KDE tail upgrade on my Logo690sx. It took out all the slop of the stock linkage and is silky smooth. I also had some correspondence with Patrick regarding getting a motor for my Logo550 and he was very helpful.

KevinB