Talk me off the ledge!

[Talon1313]

I am ready to give up on these contraptions (& I don't give up easily)! As I posted in my last thread "Losing MSRX Battle", every time I get close to getting this heli down, something breaks or gets out of whack, requiring more time & $$$$ in repairs. The last problem was the aileron servo. My soldering skills are not great, so when I found a new 4-1 board W/servos for $20, I figured replacing the board would be easier & not much more expensive. After new 4-1 she flew great for about 2 weeks, with my first gym flying yesterday. It was in ecstasy in the gym with the MSRX, 120SR & the Nano QX!
This morning, I try to fly the MSRX & SEVERE TBE. As I posted, checked everything, OK. Still TBE, only item I could think of was to replace rotor links. Go to LHS, buy links.
Dismantle bird again, during which I pop of the aileron gear. Replace gear on motor, lube new links, reassemble and use Swash leveler, power up and the servo screams like a scalded beast.

Can poping off the serbo gear and replacing it screw up the servo?

I am seriously debating giving up this hobby, I don't mind the repairs or cost, but the return I have been getting (especially w/the MSRX) doesn't seem worth it. Ie: more time repairing, trimming after repair than actual flying to gain proficiency.
Someone talk me off the edge!

[Pfloyd]

Technically, the MSRX is incaoable of having tbe as it is flybarless. How tight are you blades secured to the grips. Mine are loose as a goose and I have never had any problems with it. Never use rudder trim as doing so disables the AS3X system.

[JonJet]

If your swash is perfectly level, the mSRX will not fly well during left turns, with a left and back tendency...

To correct this, lengthen the aileron servo rod 4 full turns (ccw) and shorten the elevator servo rod 2 full turns

It looks crazy...but the mSRX will lift almost perfectly vertical, and piro's are smooth and precise

[Talon1313]

The blades are loose, they flop around. I know that TBE is very uncommon in FBL craft, but in reading posts, there are some FBL that exhibit TBE because of binding in links or worn links. My MSRX never had TBE, & flew great yesterday. But 1st flight today it certainly had TBE, as in, take off to establish hover, with no control input (before today it would slightly drift) it would enter a ever widening counterclockwise circle while the nose held heading.
But now my question is, can you damage a servo by accidentally pulling the servo gear off the servo motor.
I replaced the gear and it whined (constantly spinning). I took the gear off and it still whined. So I believe to servo is bad now.
It is really frustrating to get 1-2 hours of real flight time between malfunctions. I don't mind replacing blades, tail fins & rotors, grips & skids from wear & tear, or crashes.
But this servo to go out after less than 2 hours of flight time and no hard crashes. Did it go bad only because I pulled the gear off by mistake? Either way it's not a fun weekend.

[Talon1313]

Originally Posted by JonJet

If your swash is perfectly level, the mSRX will not fly well during left turns, with a left and back tendency...

To correct this, lengthen the aileron servo rod 4 full turns (ccw) and shorten the elevator servo rod 2 full turns

It looks crazy...but the mSRX will lift almost perfectly vertical, and piro's are smooth and precise

JJ, yes I have done this usually after repairs that I have the links and or the push rods off, I use the Rakon Swash leveler. Usually I have to adjust the rods, but last time after installing the Xtreme Swash and using the leveler I didn't have to adjust the rods, it flew great, until today. 1st flight TBE, check all components, use leveler, still TBE. The only other problem causing TBE I could think of (from this forum) was worn links, off to LHS for links and messed up the servo

[JonJet]

Originally Posted by Talon1313

JJ, yes I have done this usually after repairs that I have the links and or the push rods off, I use the Rakon Swash leveler. Usually I have to adjust the rods, but last time after installing the Xtreme Swash and using the leveler I didn't have to adjust the rods, it flew great, until today. 1st flight TBE, check all components, use leveler, still TBE. The only other problem causing TBE I could think of (from this forum) was worn links, off to LHS for links and messed up the servo

A tbe-like symptom can be several things...cracked main shaft, bad blade grip bearings, or the feathering shaft bent

I've always used the MH swash, but at swash level the mSRX has serious flight issues, which is why I detailed the modification above to cure them

[Talon1313]

Originally Posted by JonJet

A tbe-like symptom can be several things...cracked main shaft, bad blade grip bearings, or the feathering shaft bent

I've always used the MH swash, but at swash level the mSRX has serious flight issues, which is why I detailed the modification above to cure them

JJ, I checked all the components you mentioned, that's why I installed new links. But the servo issue is what sent me to the ledge.

Could I have damaged the servo by accidentally poping the gear off the servo motor?

[JonJet]

Originally Posted by Talon1313

JJ, I checked all the components you mentioned, that's why I installed new links. But the servo issue is what sent me to the ledge.

Could I have damaged the servo by accidentally poping the gear off the servo motor?

Yes, it sure is possible...

I'm just now repairing a mSRX that needed a new board, came in today

[Andy-B]

I would try going back to the stock head and blade grips assembly, if you have them on hand.

Take the feathering shaft out and check if its bent. If its nice and true, then when you put in back through the head put the little o- rings in kinda loose and snug the o-rings in just enough when putting the blade grips onto the head. For me this gives a nice soft slop free head and grips.

Sometimes I take it apart just to sort of loosen the o-rings from being over jammed into the head on the feathering shaft.

Also as others said, check the main shaft for cracks, simply hold the main gear and try softly turning the head, if its solo youre good, if its loose feel in you're probably cracked somewhere on the shaft.
The tail boom could also be cracked, check it as well. Even check for hair or anything on the tail rotor motor pin that could be wound up on there.

Definitely dont give up. Try to not get frustrated, these little things are a big exercise in patience. Just look at it from every angle and take one step at a time.

I would also recommend a can of deoxit to clean the servos without having to remove them from the board, that stuff works so excellently, its great.

[Talon1313]

Originally Posted by Andy-B

Also as others said, check the main shaft for cracks, simply hold the main gear and try softly turning the head, if its solid youre good, if its loose feel in you're probably cracked somewhere on the shaft.
The tail boom could also be cracked, check it as well. Even check for hair or anything on the tail rotor motor pin that could be wound up on there.

Andy, I checked everything you said. I did check the shaft, didn't see any cracks, however I did turn the head while holding the gear and did get some slight movement. I guess I will replace the shaft.
But what still puzzles me is that after 2 weeks of getting it to hover hands off & improving my proficiency, this TBE came from no where. It was flying great Friday (4 batts). Last flight Friday, did some FFF & fast right turns, hovered and landed precisely (well at least for me, within 8" of my target landing spot) & packed her up. But next day, 1st flight, got her stable after TO, & immediate TBE. I guess that something (like shaft) was about ready to fail, and 1st flight Saturday did it. It could be the aileron servo was bad, but it was the newest part on the craft. I did research the servo, and found many MSRXs have problems with the aileron servo (I know there is no difference between aileron & elevator servos). So I will replace the board (not fond of micro soldering) the shaft, and take it from there.

Thanks for all the imput from everyone

[Heli+yeah]

Before you try a new board_ _ _ _ Try a rebind!

[Talon1313]

Originally Posted by Heli+yeah

Before you try a new board_ _ _ _ Try a rebind!

I did try that, no joy. Thanks for the input.