Replacing main shaft. (Be aware of the flat spot)

[darmie]

I'm not sure if anyone else may have done this or not. I did and it didn't turn out so well. My biggest problem was unaware that the rotorhead part of the main shaft had a flat spot. As I was having a problem getting the original shaft out of the rotorhead, I gave it a few tugs and a slight twist. I was able to finally remove it. To my surprise when I went to install the new shaft, I seen the flat spot on one end. Then I realized that when I was twisting out the old one I messed up the aluminum rotorhead.
I did replace and put the pin back in. Put the heli all together and notice that the head now has a slight back and forth movement.

So, if anyone else is planing on removing the main shaft, keep in mind that you should not do any twisting while pulling apart from the rotorhead. I hope this saves someone from an $18.00 lesson.

[tucker13]

thank you! I was about to work on this!

[Deadalus]

Thanks for the tip, darmie. I too have a bent main shaft. How did you remove the pin from the head assembly that goes through the main shaft? I don't see pulling off the assembly without removing the pin, but I can't get the pin out. Thanks.

[darmie]

Wow, it seams like 10 years ago I was flying my first real helicopter, the walkera ufly. Since then I've been in a blade 400, then the trex 450 and now own and fly often my trex 500 and a nitro trex 600. ... So, I'm trying to remember what I may have used. I think i used a needle of some sort to tap on one end of the pin. I do remember it wasn't that easy and when there was a bit sticking out, I have a small set of channel locks that I gripped the other end. .. and I pulled and twisted. Remember, DO NOT twist for the rotor head and pin, well use to have a flat spot. I may have used the channel locks, or vice grips to hold the needle to tap on one end of the pin.

Hope it works out for you. It's not a bad helicopter for being a fixed pitch and stands up to a little bit of mishaps..

Originally Posted by Deadalus

Thanks for the tip, darmie. I too have a bent main shaft. How did you remove the pin from the head assembly that goes through the main shaft? I don't see pulling off the assembly without removing the pin, but I can't get the pin out. Thanks.

[Deadalus]

Originally Posted by darmie

Wow, it seams like 10 years ago I was flying my first real helicopter, the walkera ufly. Since then I've been in a blade 400, then the trex 450 and now own and fly often my trex 500 and a nitro trex 600. ... So, I'm trying to remember what I may have used. I think i used a needle of some sort to tap on one end of the pin. I do remember it wasn't that easy and when there was a bit sticking out, I have a small set of channel locks that I gripped the other end. .. and I pulled and twisted. Remember, DO NOT twist for the rotor head and pin, well use to have a flat spot. I may have used the channel locks, or vice grips to hold the needle to tap on one end of the pin.

Hope it works out for you. It's not a bad helicopter for being a fixed pitch and stands up to a little bit of mishaps..

Thanks for the reply. Funny, I didn't even look at the date of your post. However, that's very inspiring that you're flying a nitro 600 only a year after your UFLY