Dealing with tail wag and lubricating your Nano CPX

[Imzzaudae]

On it's maiden flight my Nano wagged it's tail so bad 45 seconds into the flight I decided to take a look under the hood. That's right this helicopter has less than 1 minute flying time.


After closer inspection I found all of the bearings on the helicopter bone dry.



In the past I have tried everything I could think of from WD40 to white lithium grease in my micro helicopter bearing but have had the best results with light silicone lubricants. I have been using 3,000 weight silicone differential fluid on MCPX and BL helicopters for an extended period of time and many hundreds of flights with very good results.




But after a little consideration, I wanted to use a little less viscus lubricant on Nano so I elected to use this 10 weight silicone shock oil for RC trucks on the helicopter. I use ether a syringe or an old ink cartridge refill bottle to apply silicone.




After adding a drop to each main shaft bearing, the swash bearing & swash bushing.
I gave the main motor pinion end bushing a drop, Tail motor bushing a drop worked the silicone into the bushing and wiped up any excess.

I then put a 3 inch line of lubricant on a paper towel and let it soak into the towel.
Then rolled the main gear back and forth over the silicone soaked towel a few times.
Whipped the flat surfaces dry and re installed the main gear.

I then applied a few drops of lubricant to a Q tip and touched all of the swash and blade grip balls. Then re installed the links and touched the outer side of each link at the joint.

After re assembly the helicopter feels and flies much better! Although there is a very slight wag I'm thinking as the helicopter loosens up it will go away.

I have confidence in the 10 weight in every application accept the main bearings,
Time will tell. If the tail wag returns I will remove the main bearings again and give them a drop of the 3,000 weight as my past experience shows it stays in the bearings and works very well for extended periods of time.

I should add that many guys have used Tri-Flow in MCPX and MCPX-BL helicopters with very good results!
Others use Abu Garcia Silicone Reel Oil and reported back to me favorable results.
Any light silicone based lubricant will work.

[PDXDave]

I had the same bone dry bearings right out of the box as well, so I gave it a careful application of Tri Flo and she got a LOT smoother.

[rbhunter]

May I ask, what is tri-flow and where to get it?

[speedyrob]

Hmmm, mine flew great out of the box but I don't like the idea that the bearings are dry. Bachmann make a light gear lube for use with large scale locomotives bearings and siderods. I already have some, has a nice applicator bottle with a long thing metal tip to get in tight places.

I wonder if that would be acceptable for Nano bearings?

[NCcraig]

Originally Posted by rbhunter

May I ask, what is tri-flow and where to get it?

Here,
http://store.triflowlubricants.com/p...istercard?pp=8

or here,
http://www.helidirect.com/tri-flow-p...tor-p-7149.hdx

[Zor1]

Originally Posted by PDXDave

I had the same bone dry bearings right out of the box as well, so I gave it a careful application of Tri Flo and she got a LOT smoother.

Hello PDXDave,

Just to show appreciation to fellows in this thread to talk about lubrication.

I did lots of looking at the structure in my new Nano CP X and also found all dry bearings and lots of flop in the swash plate assembly.

I will be taking the swash plate out for closer examination and at the same time provide some lubrication to all the bearings and links.

Again thanks to all

Zor1

[Inat90degrees]

I have been using a syringe filled with sewing machine oil.

[rbhunter]

Thank you.

[-רחל]

Originally Posted by Zor1

Hello PDXDave,

Just to show appreciation to fellows in this thread to talk about lubrication.

I did lots of looking at the structure in my new Nano CP X and also found all dry bearings and lots of flop in the swash plate assembly.

I will be taking the swash plate out for closer examination and at the same time provide some lubrication to all the bearings and links.

Again thanks to all

Zor1

I bet you will be the first who rather ruins a Nano by over and over taking it apart and put it together again than by flying and crashing it.

[jp0160]

Originally Posted by -רחל

I bet you will be the first who rather ruins a Nano by over and over taking it apart and put it together again than by flying and crashing it.

LOL. "experimented" to death.

On another note, I tried to glue an old swash back together and filled the bearing with CA glue by mistake. Needless to say my flight times were very short

[JonJet]

Originally Posted by jp0160

LOL. "experimented" to death.

On another note, I tried to glue an old swash back together and filled the bearing with CA glue by mistake. Needless to say my flight times were very short

First flight with CA'd swash =

[John-Steed]

Hello,

I was able to find 15 weight silicone shock oil but not 10 weight in shops in my country. Does it make a big difference or should I use the 3,000 weight silicone differential fluid ?

Thank you for your answer(s)

Enjoy flying

John-Steed

[Imzzaudae]

On a helicopter this small I'm thinking use the 15 wt if you can get it,
3000 may be a little stiff