Should I remove the idle pulley ???

[pwoodyp]

Originally Posted by JEB123

You're right pwoodyp! I just pulled it out of my extra parts box (the idler) and it is a bearing in there! I would have lost that bet, I never looked at it that closely!

Yeah same, pulled my idler out when I first got my kit and then pulled the bearing out just to see what was in there.... that's when I decided to use it to fill the void as show in the photo above.. anywayzzzzz so yup that's how I knew and why I was so certain Do I get a cookie now PS: LOL I even checked the doc's yesterday just to make sure I wurn't dreaming it but Align in their usual tardiness show the idler all has one piece so that was no help....

[JEB123]

Originally Posted by pwoodyp

Yeah same, pulled my idler out when I first got my kit and then pulled the bearing out just to see what was in there.... that's when I decided to use it to fill the void as show in the photo above.. anywayzzzzz so yup that's how I knew and why I was so certain Do I get a cookie now PS: LOL I even checked the doc's yesterday just to make sure I wurn't dreaming it but Align in their usual tardiness show the idler all has one piece so that was no help....

Cookie submitted.Yeah man, I looked at the manual here at work and it shows it as one piece. Bastardos.
Anyway, Happy Holidays dude, don't party too much (if there is such a thing)!

[pwoodyp]

Yeah same Merry Christmas

[GotM]

After reading this thread I have been keeping an eye on my belt. On the tenth flight I noticed a slight fraying of the belt on the left side.

Belt is changed, Idler pulley is gone.

[ov10mech]

I pulled mine just from reading some posts. Its been fine .. I do keep mine fairly well lubed though. Cant say its better or worse but it doesn't seem to hurt anything.

[tonyisenhoff]

I joined the ranks to remove the pulley.

I had the belt slip and totally bind the entire rotor system two times on a pretty new V2. Probably had less than 10 packs on it when it happened. Luckily I'm new and was just hovering in a gym so I landed softly. I replaced the belt with an align belt and ran a few more packs thru it and it appeared fine, but then I ran across this thread. Have since removed the pulley and got another 6 packs on the bird with no problems.

It definitely free'd up the entire system. You can really tell when you power down the heli that the main blades continue to spin MUCH longer than before. It's very apparant that there is a ton less drag...

On a side note, why wasn't this thread done as a Poll? Would have had a much more dramatic effect to see the numbers one way or another... Probably too late now, ya think?

[ferret30]

I read the first page of this thread and did a search hoping to find whether or not this was suggested for V1 style tails as well. I have an SA with the gray metal upgrade tail box and haven't had any problems, but I'd also like less drag and the idea of keeping it simple (stupid).

[Gary JP4]

Originally Posted by ferret30

I read the first page of this thread and did a search hoping to find whether or not this was suggested for V1 style tails as well. I have an SA with the gray metal upgrade tail box and haven't had any problems, but I'd also like less drag and the idea of keeping it simple (stupid).

Yes, it is. Your tail case, pulleys and idler pulley are the same as a V2.

[Bigdipper]

Geez...I can't beleive people are still talking about tail pulleys!!!! Just take em off!

[JEB123]

Originally Posted by Bigdipper

Geez...I can't beleive people are still talking about tail pulleys!!!! Just take em off!

Ya really think I should take off my idler pulley on the tail box? Why?

[MavriC]

Originally Posted by Bigdipper

Geez...I can't beleive people are still talking about tail pulleys!!!! Just take em off!

Why fix, what ain't broke? Right?

Been running the stock tail/pulley setup on my 450SE V2 now for 2 1/2 years now. My flying buddies too, same thing... not one problem with belts/tails what so ever!

We all run Silicon lube/spray on the belts though, so that might have aided the situation.

IF you're having a problem, then YES, you don't "need" the idler wheel/pulley. Make sure the belt is nicely lubed with a good quality Silicon lube spray, and with the correct belt tension, you'll have NO problems.

Rick.

[MavriC]

Originally Posted by JEB123

Ya really think I should take off my idler pulley on the tail box? Why?

I just answered that above. :-)

Rick.

[Bigdipper]

...years ago when I first got my 450SE V1 the belt would 'fray'. I removed the tail pulley and it never happpened again. If it isn't happening to you then leave it on.

[Skarn]

Originally Posted by MavriC

Why fix, what ain't broke? Right?

Because it adds unnessary friction to the system. You might not have any problems with it on, but it would be even better without it. Why add friction without any benefit?

Do this: Spin the blades of your heli and count how many rotations you get. Then remove the idler and do it again....you'll notice more rotations.

Skarn

[MavriC]

Originally Posted by Skarn

Because it adds unnessary friction to the system. You might not have any problems with it on, but it would be even better without it. Why add friction without any benefit?

Do this: Spin the blades of your heli and count how many rotations you get. Then remove the idler and do it again....you'll notice more rotations.

Skarn

Skarn, I've actually done that, and seen no difference. Remember the idler pulley is on bearings, so it has very little drag. Drag there is, but hardly any to notice a difference.

Well, at least on my Heli that is.

Rick.

[pwoodyp]

That drag is not from the bearing but the belt has it wraps around the idler pulley and the the tail pulley... Remove the idler and you remove that drag. Also as for testing this you can't because you can't say you adjust the belt exactly the same each time so it must be assumed there is an improvement.

[JEB123]

Originally Posted by MavriC

I just answered that above. :-)

Rick.

So much for being facetious. I was having mine fray and get wrapped. I switched to a Mavrikk belt and removed the idler and problem solved (on 2 heli's). I use the silicon spray as well and I know that helps, but that idler is a problem waiting to happen. Do you have to wait until you crash a heli to say "I should've removed it"? That's like saying "I always run red lights and stop signs and I've never had an accident. Why should I stop doing it"? Why take the chance if you don't need to?

[Skarn]

Originally Posted by JEB123

So much for being facetious. I was having mine fray and get wrapped. I switched to a Mavrikk belt and removed the idler and problem solved (on 2 heli's). I use the silicon spray as well and I know that helps, but that idler is a problem waiting to happen. Do you have to wait until you crash a heli to say "I should've removed it"? That's like saying "I always run red lights and stop signs and I've never had an accident. Why should I stop doing it"? Why take the chance if you don't need to?

VERY good point!

Skarn

[MavriC]

Originally Posted by JEB123

So much for being facetious. I was having mine fray and get wrapped. I switched to a Mavrikk belt and removed the idler and problem solved (on 2 heli's). I use the silicon spray as well and I know that helps, but that idler is a problem waiting to happen. Do you have to wait until you crash a heli to say "I should've removed it"? That's like saying "I always run red lights and stop signs and I've never had an accident. Why should I stop doing it"? Why take the chance if you don't need to?

Not the same thing. Not even close.

Do as you like with your Heli. If you want to remove it, do so... simple really.

Guy was asking a question, I gave him an answer based on 4 1/2 years of flying. Out of 4 of us, none has had ANY tail problems as of yet.

We've done bench testing, no tracking problems with the belt(s).

I gave him my personal experiences, and that of my close friends experiences... It's up to him what he does with my advice. If you personally don't like it, don't listen.

But don't compare Heli/belts to running red lights. Apples to oranges??

Facetious? I wasn't being facetious!

Like I said above... IF you are having belt fraying issues, or belt's coming de-railed... sure remove the idler pulley. IF you are not having any issues what so ever, and haven't for a LONG time... then why remove it? Clearly it's NOT an issue/problem.

Rick.

[Skarn]

I don't know Rick...I agree with JEB...his analogy might not be directly related to heli's, but it's not apples and oranges either. He's simply saying since there is NO benefit, and there have been MANY issues with it, why chance it at all?

Ok better analogy: I know many people have their gyro on TOP of the boom....and have never had a blade strike with it...for a LONG time. Using your logic, it's great, why move it? But the fact is that MANY have had issues with that...so why chance it?

I will agree however it's YOUR heli....each of us can do as we choose of course, but Jeb was tying to give advice to help PREVENT issues....again, why wait until you have one before removing it???

Skarn