Maintenace For Protos 500

[solex227]

Hello

Im new to the Protos 500 I had purchased one from a HF member a few months back and as I get closer to a total strip down and re fresh of heli hardware I wanted to know.... what lubricants are out there to oil bearings and how do you go about cleaning, and general maintenance of the heli during the season. I have a Hyperion motor and I was told by the last owner to oil every 10 to 14 flight to keep the bearings happy. But what is the best product out there to use .. Whats your maintenance schedule like for your Protos 500?

Last but not least... the previous owner had the heli grounded with few wires I plan to either replace or do without. I have a carbon fiber version.. is this a wise idea to take off some of the wires and keep the tail boom grounded to the airframe/ motor mount as well as the esc? The owner said I could also use pure silicon on the belt to help keep the static charge issue to a minimum...


Solex227

[Dr. M]

Any light oil will work on the bearings. I use 3-in-1. Use grease on the thrust bearings and shafts. I use lithium grease on all my helis, including the dampers, shafts, servo gears, and thrust bearings.

I strongly recommend you keep the grounding wires. The previous owner put them there for a reason, and the Protos is know for creating lots of static issues because of the plastic tail case.

[solex227]

Thanks Dr M
A little thread surfing here and I found a thread on the whole issue by the previous owner (awesome) and found my answer thank you .

Solex227

[kavic5150]

I would lube the motor bearings every 5 flights or so. The 3 pulley bearings and the tail shaft bearings including the slider bearing and the tail shaft itself every 10 flights. Dont forget the big swashplate bearing too, I give that one a drop every 10 flights.

[solex227]

Thanks Kavic5150 I plan to pull the heli down this weekend and do all the lube and re loctite all metal to metal screws and freshing up some of the nyloc nuts that seem a bit worn. They should be replaced being they really work in this application a dozen times before the start to wear out and a few on the heli look due.

Solex227

[desertstalker]

Originally Posted by solex227

Thanks Kavic5150 I plan to pull the heli down this weekend and do all the lube and re loctite all metal to metal screws and freshing up some of the nyloc nuts that seem a bit worn. They should be replaced being they really work in this application a dozen times before the start to wear out and a few on the heli look due.

Solex227

You dont need to replace loctite unless you remove the screws, it does not wear out (at least not in the lifespan of any heli).

[kavic5150]

You probably already know this, but nyloc nuts and loctite do not mix.

Good old Finless.

[Dr. M]

One more thing that came up in the main forum: never lube the one way bearing. It will cause it to slip. And be careful if you oil the radial bearings that bracket the OWB in the pinion, lest oil leaks into the OWB...

[desertstalker]

Originally Posted by Dr. M

One more thing that came up in the main forum: never lube the one way bearing. It will cause it to slip. And be careful if you oil the radial bearings that bracket the OWB in the pinion, lest oil leaks into the OWB...

You shouldn't really need to oil those bearings, they dont spin very much (only when the one-way is not locked) so the lube they come with should last ages.

IMO best bet is not to lube em at all.

[solex227]

Originally Posted by kavic5150

You probably already know this, but nyloc nuts and loctite do not mix.

Good old Finless.

Thanks! Yeah know this already ..Use would defeat the propose of using a nyloc nut in the first place.
Yes Finless Bob videos are priceless!! love watching them even on helis I dont have!! Just good Information!

Originally Posted by Dr. M

One more thing that came up in the main forum: never lube the one way bearing. It will cause it to slip. And be careful if you oil the radial bearings that bracket the OWB in the pinion, lest oil leaks into the OWB...

Thanks Dr M I read that thread I wont oil the one way for sure! As for the radial bearing bracket I would very lightly oil before I installed it to the motor shaft and no where near the one way. Getting oil on the one way doesn't sound like a god idea from what I read...

Originally Posted by desertstalker

You dont need to replace loctite unless you remove the screws, it does not wear out (at least not in the lifespan of any heli).

Thank you also desertstalker, Your right ! But for my piece of mind being new to this heli Im treating this heli as if it was factory built and I will pull it down and re loctite any metal to metal surface and replace grub screw and nyloc nuts as needed. ( On the side of caution you should check because you never know what you may find.. owner might had back off screws to get to something and didn't mention it... Better safe then sorry later)

Thanks again

[Dr. M]

You're right, solex. I do the same thing to pre-owned birds and I've been, on occasion, appalled at the quality of construction others were flying. I've found dry dampers, thrust bearings installed backwards, missing washers, notchy motor bearings, etc. Other used birds I've bought were assembled to the same quality standard I would put into the build, but there's no way to know unless you verify.

[desertstalker]

Originally Posted by solex227

Thank you also desertstalker, Your right ! But for my piece of mind being new to this heli Im treating this heli as if it was factory built and I will pull it down and re loctite any metal to metal surface and replace grub screw and nyloc nuts as needed. ( On the side of caution you should check because you never know what you may find.. owner might had back off screws to get to something and didn't mention it... Better safe then sorry later)

Thanks again

Ah, didn't realise it was second hand, in that case I would rip it completely apart and re-assemble, just to be sure . Thought you were just asking about routine maintenance on a heli you built.

[solex227]

Originally Posted by Dr. M

You're right, solex. I do the same thing to pre-owned birds and I've been, on occasion, appalled at the quality of construction others were flying. I've found dry dampers, thrust bearings installed backwards, missing washers, notchy motor bearings, etc. Other used birds I've bought were assembled to the same quality standard I would put into the build, but there's no way to know unless you verify.

Boy you nailed this one DOC! Guess what ??? well while working on the heli I decided I would take down the servo block and mess around and install the 3 cyclic servos for fun.. but with further inspection I found 3 badly NOTCHY bearing with the mid one being the worst. The shaft told the story of how the bearing race couldn't keep up and was slipping on the main shaft causing friction, power loss and wear. I guess Im in the market for 3 bearings and a main shaft now.

Originally Posted by desertstalker

Ah, didn't realise it was second hand, in that case I would rip it completely apart and re-assemble, just to be sure . Thought you were just asking about routine maintenance on a heli you built.

No Prob ....Yeah! I got this one second hand off of a HF member and looking for some guidance from you senior Protos owners. but im starting to find little sore spots as I start to take it apart ..... I hope I dont find any more from here out..

[Freeskiken]

I bought mine used and have had to strip everything down. I have had to replace alot of parts. I think it would have been quicker and eaisier to start new. Everytime I find something I have to wait for parts. I guess from what I now now I should have stipped it down totally made a list and ordered parts and reassembled. Originally thought I would not have to but everything I have taken apart pretty well needed attention.

Hopefully the last mechanical area. The tail. Should I replace the shaft ? I thought I should. It has some scouring on it. I ordered a new one. It was assembled without two of the washers and the new one comes with te washers I need. I will replace the bearings as well.

Then start programing !!

[pani]

Originally Posted by Freeskiken

I bought mine used and have had to strip everything down. I have had to replace alot of parts. I think it would have been quicker and eaisier to start new. Everytime I find something I have to wait for parts. I guess from what I now now I should have stipped it down totally made a list and ordered parts and reassembled. Originally thought I would not have to but everything I have taken apart pretty well needed attention.

Hopefully the last mechanical area. The tail. Should I replace the shaft ? I thought I should. It has some scouring on it. I ordered a new one. It was assembled without two of the washers and the new one comes with te washers I need. I will replace the bearings as well.

Then start programing !!

You are missing one washer.

http://www.msheli.com/Manual/MSH51330_Tech_Data.pdf

[sctholson]

Unless you know it has been changed recently, I'd consider it cheap insurance to change the belt too. I had one fail in it's 170th flight.

[Freeskiken]

Yes, I have already put on a new belt, main gear, pinion, pinion brace, etc etc. I will replace the tail as well. Already installed new tail shaft. The only thing I haven't changed is the bearings in the rollers. Now I am wondering about them ?

[Dr. M]

Those are the fastest spinning and smallest bearings on the Protos. You should definitely check them.

[Freeskiken]

I just turned them by hand a first and they spin OK. After fixing or replacing everything on this heli I think I should take them apart. Can you replace the bearings inside and keep the rollers ?

[Dr. M]

Originally Posted by Freeskiken

I just turned them by hand a first and they spin OK. After fixing or replacing everything on this heli I think I should take them apart. Can you replace the bearings inside and keep the rollers ?

yes you can, but it's not easy to get that center pin out. However, if you spun them by hand and didn't feel any notchiness, they should be good to go for another 100 flights before you need to check again. Don't forget to oil these on both sides from time to time.