so what's the consensus?

[tomatwalden]

Originally Posted by jadewarrior

In the second video it looked like the tail let go on the ground which is kind of weird.

It lets go in flight ... it's just more obvious by the time it lands ...

[jadewarrior]

Originally Posted by tomatwalden

It lets go in flight ... it's just more obvious by the time it lands ...

But, there's a lot more power/torque on the head in flight than there is sitting on the ground with the weight of the heli mostly, if not totally, supported by the ground.

[Brian James]

set it up with a vBar with hard stops and starts, and stripping the tail gears is possible. Soften the stop and start and it doesn't happen. The 700x is certainly not the only model with this limitation. James and I don't have an issue with stripping tail gears using the AR7200bx.

[aclysma]

Originally Posted by Brian James

set it up with a vBar with hard stops and starts, and stripping the tail gears is possible. Soften the stop and start and it doesn't happen. The 700x is certainly not the only model with this limitation.

This is true for every torque tube model I've ever owned including some fairly recent machines that by in large are considered very strong.

I strongly recommend cutting stop gain on vbar in half if not more for any 700 using a torque tube. When I run vbar on 700x, I have it around 6-8 (from 20.)

Also be EXTREMELY careful with tail gain. If you see evidence of overgaining, change the gears. I run a much lower tail gain than I used to because overspeeding can induce this and weaken gears. I don't recall ever stripping a gear in flight where I didn't have an overgain at some point in that gear's lifetime, and with reduced stop gains on vbar.

Again this information isn't specific to the 700x. It applies to any torque tube 700.

[tomatwalden]

Originally Posted by Brian James

set it up with a vBar with hard stops and starts, and stripping the tail gears is possible. Soften the stop and start and it doesn't happen. The 700x is certainly not the only model with this limitation. James and I don't have an issue with stripping tail gears using the AR7200bx.

Whilst this may be a factual post, it's unlikely to win hearts and minds over to the concept of Pro class helis from Blade. Sorry, but it does come across a little bit as "we're all right jack!".

The 180CFX is a perfect example of listening to customer feedback and giving people what they want.

So how much better this would have read if it had said something like ...

"Setting up hard stops on the tail may push these gears beyond their design limits. We realise that some customers however prefer a heli setup like this, so we will be releasing optional extra strong tail gears for these customers".

I like my 700x and would like to see Blade push forward in this market. But as with the 130X/180CFX - listening to customers and addressing issues like this is the trick!

[b2lepre]

Has anyone ever tried the trex TT tail gears

[_Kyle_]

It's worth a shot! It wouldn't be expensive to just see if they fit.

[jadewarrior]

Does it really matter anymore? I just read yet another post from someone who was told by HH on the phone that the 700X is now also canceled when he asked about ordering black skids for one. If true, that's it for the entire Pro Series line. If I were someone thinking about getting a 700X today, I certainly wouldn't buy one because I would anticipate lack of continued parts availability for it. Now, I get to worry about both my 550X, which I already knew was done for and, now, my 700X. If the entire Pro Series line went kaput after just being released last year then it sure doesn't look good for parts support. Sure, they continue parts for years for helis that they sold in the zillions, but I don't think that's the case with the Pro Series. After all, if it were and they were sold well, why cancel them? And, not offer one single word about upgraded versions or complete replacement?

[raisinjack]

it was an email. not phone. they could have been wrong. the other thread has part of the email posted now.

I for one am not really worried about parts availability for the time being.

[jadewarrior]

Originally Posted by raisinjack

it was an email. not phone. they could have been wrong. the other thread has part of the email posted now.

Sorry for getting that mixed up with at least one other instance of someone else being told the same thing on the phone.

I for one am not really worried about parts availability for the time being.

Those being the operative words. It's easy to not be worried right now while the spare parts hopper is still full. Like I said, if they didn't sell enough helis, they probably aren't really going to be concerned about continuing to make parts for such a small demand base and those parts might dry up real fast. And hoarding, not crashing, may be the main cause of that. In fact, I'm off to do my part right now for my 700X as I've done with my 550X.

[vebbyson]

Please hoard enough to share! Wonder what my 700x could sell for.

[jadewarrior]

I generally don't hoard anything to share except with family or extremely close friends. Same goes for ammo.

But, if there's a killin' to be made on spare parts, I'll gladly sell off some of my stock. Same goes for ammo.