Tail servo jitters

[MrCrash]

Over the last 24hrs & 8 flights, my DS425M tail servo has started to "jitter" on pwr up / BX initialisation. It is just like a linear servo on the 130X when it jitters. Within a couple of seconds, and with stick input it stops, and it flies as normal. The only other change is that where the servo used to have a "fine" or "high pitch" tone under stick input, it is sounding louder, mechanical, agricultural - like the 130X drivechain ! In fact, I stopped flying tonight as it simply did not feel right, and I do not want to experience a mid air failure.

Has anyone else experienced this ? Or similar ?

If it was a DS76 cyclic that felt or sounded rough, I'd simply rebuild as the gear sets are dirt cheap, but Align gears are £10 vs £18 for a new servo. My question is whether or not to rebuild or if the servo is to be considered toast ?

[Wildcat1214]

A tail servo is one thing that I would not want to go out in flight, so my suggestion would be to just replace and avoid the issue altogether.


Sent from flying shrapnel that once was a heli

[MrCrash]

Noted. I have a new Savox tail servo to drop in as quick fix and get me back in the air quickly. ...will just have to get another to support my new build.

Overall, the cost of replacement is so much less than cost of crash, and therefore the most sensible option. But for my own learning, I would like to know what the root cause of the jitter is.

[terryv83]

I had a ds76t do exactly what you're describing, I didn't replace it and it started a tail wag then seized up mid flight, luckily it got stuck semi neutral and I could land. Good choice to replace your iffy servo.