Building a Carbon Fiber tail pitch control rod.

[Lew L]

This is the one I bought.

http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=125860

The rod is 30 inches long 3/16" OD. Long enough for 2 500's,

Also got these,

http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/mer...Category_Code=

They are a little large for the 500's tail boom. Had to trim them to fit. The rod slides perfectly thru the guide holes.

Haven't assembled it yet, but will take some pics when it's done.

[ken22golf]

Originally Posted by ACKopter

Here you go Beebad,
http://www.readyheli.com/Quick_UK_Tr..._p/txt-242.htm
Definately an easy option. Just glue the ends to the appropriate size rod and your done. I make mine using some spare links and hollow CF tube. I file down the end of the link till it will press into the cf tube then wrap it with high strength string and then soak the string in ca glue. I've made two for my 450 and one for my HC 500.

What size tube or rod will fit in those ends? I would prefer to use a solid rod I think.

How stiff are the hollow tubes?

[caralmar]

Hey guys, don't shoot the curious dude.... what's all this fuss about CF pushrod about? I've been using the stock setup on my 500ESP now for over 300 flights and that tail is rock solid... what's wrong with the stock design? What is the advantage of this CF design you're all talking about? Thanks!

[ken22golf]

Originally Posted by caralmar

Hey guys, don't shoot the curious dude.... what's all this fuss about CF pushrod about? I've been using the stock setup on my 500ESP now for over 300 flights and that tail is rock solid... what's wrong with the stock design? What is the advantage of this CF design you're all talking about? Thanks!

To be honest, the stock one works fine most of the time.

I just had a CF tail control rod on my 450, and I really liked it. No guides required, no flexing, friction, or binding at all. The best part was the extreme ease of setup since it didn't require guides. The servo arm length can be whatever you want, and no need to get everything lined up.

[toolguy420]

Very nice & reasonably priced titanium pushrod ends can be found here:

Titanium Pushrod Ends

...and the CF tubes to go with them here:

Carbon Fiber Pushrods

[ACKopter]

Originally Posted by ken22golf

What size tube or rod will fit in those ends? I would prefer to use a solid rod I think.

How stiff are the hollow tubes?

Dont hold me to it as the rods are not here in front of me but I'm fairly certain they are .210 diameter and IMO the hollow rods are plenty strong.

[ken22golf]

Thanks

I just got mine in a few days ago. I ended up purchasing the QuickUK rod and silver ends and I purchased them from ronlunds.

It's very stiff and is no heavier than what I had before. This will definitely not bend or flex.

I like it and I'd recommend it if you want to get rid of the servo guides.

[ACKopter]

Ken, the CF rod and ends weigh the same as the stock wire rod? I know the CF is light but the ends are pretty stout and I would think heavier than the stock wire. I put off using the CF on my 500 as I'm already tail heavy and did not want to increase the problem. If they weigh the same or better yet the Quick UK set-up is lighter than I'll go ahead and switch.

[Santini]

Nice post, snj. OK, so I was thinking based on what I made on my for my 450s, that I could use that on my 500esp.

On my 450s, I took 2mm carbon rod (solid), gently sanded the ends a little bit, then screwed on standard links with some epoxy. It is very stiff stuff and there is no bend whatsoever on my 450s. Has anyone tried 2mm rod..?

[ken22golf]

Originally Posted by ACKopter

Ken, the CF rod and ends weigh the same as the stock wire rod? I know the CF is light but the ends are pretty stout and I would think heavier than the stock wire. I put off using the CF on my 500 as I'm already tail heavy and did not want to increase the problem. If they weigh the same or better yet the Quick UK set-up is lighter than I'll go ahead and switch.

The CF rod weighed less than what I was using before which was the stock metal rod and CF tube over it.

My Quick UK setup is 13.4g. The stock setup is 11.8g (including guides). So it's 1.6g heavier.

Here's a pic.

[ACKopter]

Nice and clean ken! That looks pretty sweet and even if it is a tad heavier I think I'll break down and do it.

Thanks for the weight comparison also, very helpful.

[xatled99]

My tail responsiveness increased dramatically when I put a CF pushrod on my 450. No more binding from the annoying guides!

I'm about to do the same with my 500. I saw the metal pushrod vibrating like mad yesterday. I'm planning to source some 2mm ID CF tube locally and then saw down my existing pushrod to make some pushrod ends and epoxy or CA them in place.

The protos comes stock with a CF pushrod; I think Align should too.

[povern]

I found for the 450 just buy the Beam control rod for the tail. CF with ends and works great. Been a while but I think it is pretty cheap too.

[xatled99]

That's exactly what I did for the 450. Unfortunately, the protos control rod looks too short for the trex 500.

[ken22golf]

Ok, I need to do a little follow up post.

The links on the Quick UK tail rod were a little loose to begin with, but just after a few flights they are sloppy loose. The rod is actually rattling because of it. Now I need to find some replacement links. The rod is too big for the stock 500/600 links. Does the 700 use the same size balls as the 500? I'm scared of buying more Quick UK links (if I can?) since these didn't fit well to begin with...

EDIT: I found some replacements, but I'm worried these may have the same problem...http://www.readyheli.com/ProductDeta...H2031&CartID=1

I need to find some balls that run a little larger ID I guess.

[xatled99]

I just picked up some 2.5mm ID / 4mm OD CF tube from LHS. I'm hoping that dubro 2mm threaded couplers will be the right diameter to fit, otherwise I might need to build up my existing rod ends with some thread+CA. I also ordered the 5/32 / 2mm rod+ends combo from central hobbies.

[ACKopter]

Originally Posted by ken22golf

Ok, I need to do a little follow up post.

The links on the Quick UK tail rod were a little loose to begin with, but just after a few flights they are sloppy loose. The rod is actually rattling because of it. Now I need to find some replacement links. The rod is too big for the stock 500/600 links. Does the 700 use the same size balls as the 500? I'm scared of buying more Quick UK links (if I can?) since these didn't fit well to begin with...

EDIT: I found some replacements, but I'm worried these may have the same problem...http://www.readyheli.com/ProductDeta...H2031&CartID=1

I need to find some balls that run a little larger ID I guess.

Ken, as you probably have already figured out the quick uk link ends are larger than the align balls. You'll have to get some new links probably and a few spares but will need the quick uk balls themselves.

Readyheli should have both.
http://www.readyheli.com/category_s/...show=10&page=2
go to page 1 for the shortest version.

[ken22golf]

Originally Posted by ACKopter

Ken, as you probably have already figured out the quick uk link ends are larger than the align balls. You'll have to get some new links probably and a few spares but will need the quick uk balls themselves.

Readyheli should have both.
http://www.readyheli.com/category_s/...show=10&page=2
go to page 1 for the shortest version.

Yeah, I started finding all the stuff after I made the post, but thanks for pointing it out.

The quick uk stuff is 3/16" which is 4.76mm, while the align stuff is supposed to be 4.75mm while it's actually 4.71-4.72mm according to my digital calipers...

No other links will fit the rod, so I'm just going to have to get the larger balls I guess. I could hear the rod rattling like crazy today...it kind of had me worried.

[ken22golf]

Actually, I think those balls will not fit. They have M3 threads while the 500 balls have M2.5....

I have a M3 drill and tap I could possibly use on my metal pitch slider lever. Fitting the ball on the servo horn isn't a problem.

[ACKopter]

I was going to say it is probably a fairly easy fix. I'm using the rocket links on one of my helis but still on the little metal control rod. I dont seem to have as bad an issue with the link fitment though, possibly with the additional syiffness of the CF rod it is transmitting all the vibration to the mounting points(link balls themselves) as this is the only area of support for the rod now and is causing the premature wear.