Going to upgrade Motor, ESC, and Blades Suggestions?

[Scotty T]

I'm going to pop in an ice 50 lite.

I'd like to get the SAB blades but can't find them anywhere so I'll probably go with the edge.

What motor suggestions do you have?

What head speed do you recommend with the carbon fiber blades?

Did you have to reconfig the AR7200BX when replacing the motor and ESC?

[Scotty T]

No one?

[JustPlaneChris]

There are a couple of motor upgrade threads here already. Scorpion and Don's Wicked motors (limited availability) seem to be the most popular choices.

There is a special procedure for calibrating the Castle ESC when used with the AR7200BX.

I run ~3200 max with carbon blades. Anything from 2700-3200 will give you good pop.

[Scotty T]

What model motor are people suggesting?

[JustPlaneChris]

A quick use of the 'search this forum function' returned many threads talking about Scorpion upgrades. Here are a few:

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread....light=scorpion
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread....light=scorpion
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread....light=scorpion

[Chris Gardill]

I've had very good results with both Edge 255 and SAB 253 blades. I'm flying Edge right now as I nearly tipped my 300 landing it in some pretty high winds and nicked up the SAB blades I was running at the time. Although I've not tried them personally, there are also good reviews generally from the folks that have tried the Gaui and Microheli blades that fit this heli.

On motors, I'm running the Don's Wicked 4800kv motor from Dylan with a HiModel 33a ESC running BLHeli and LOVE this combo. Many folks are happy with a couple of the Scorpion options, but the Wicked is a really nice setup for the cost if you can be patient for Dylan at Astroid to get them in stock again.


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[Scotty T]

Is an upgrade like this going to be an issue with out frame braces?

I'm interested in doing the motor and ESC, going to go with the Ice 50 Lite.

But am I going to tare this thing apart with that kind of upgrade and no frame braces?

[GSPI]

The majority of the issues noted with bracing is due in part to vibrations hitting a harmonic with the airframe. As the vibrations get stronger it flexes the area at the base of the main rotor tower opposite of the servo mounting. Eventually with these vibrations, the structure becomes weak and then tears which then flexes the tower assembly and can snap the main shaft without warning. Again this is something that may not be inherent in all of these units. My first one had it, the second one has not and many here have not had issues at all but used the braces as a cheap insurance policy.

[xpantz]

My stock 300 has no frame brace and has not broken a shaft (50+ flights)

My hottie (with lynx brace) snapped another mainshaft a few days ago.

In fact it just about exploded mid air.

It was running very smoothly at 3600 (and had been for several flights) when it suddenly started some pretty bad vibrations... I tried to get it down but I heard it snap.. then the entire rotor head and mainshaft down to the lower bolt hole went one way and the rest of the heli went straight down.

snapped the mainshaft, tore one arm (elevator) right of the swashplate, cracked the elevator servo housing (hitec, still working fine... after a little CA), threw 2 cyclic servo linkages and one mainshaft bearing.... KABOOM!!

Frame and Lynx brace are in perfect shape... everything else... no so much.

It's back in the air now but back down to 3350.

Bad vibrations will kill this heli... brace or not. :-)

[inner3]

Wish I knew a set of blades existed from places other than microheli and HH. Even though mine are new I want to try the SAB. Wish I could change the motor, a little more power never really hurt.

[Scotty T]

Originally Posted by xpantz

My stock 300 has no frame brace and has not broken a shaft (50+ flights)

My hottie (with lynx brace) snapped another mainshaft a few days ago.

In fact it just about exploded mid air.

It was running very smoothly at 3600 (and had been for several flights) when it suddenly started some pretty bad vibrations... I tried to get it down but I heard it snap.. then the entire rotor head and mainshaft down to the lower bolt hole went one way and the rest of the heli went straight down.

snapped the mainshaft, tore one arm (elevator) right of the swashplate, cracked the elevator servo housing (hitec, still working fine... after a little CA), threw 2 cyclic servo linkages and one mainshaft bearing.... KABOOM!!

Frame and Lynx brace are in perfect shape... everything else... no so much.

It's back in the air now but back down to 3350.

Bad vibrations will kill this heli... brace or not. :-)

I'm thinking the 3600 rpms is what did it. I'm not sure this heli should be running that hot.

[Scotty T]

OK just to cap off this post if people are upgrading. My upgrade went as follows.

Edge 253mm Blades
Don's wicked motor for the 300x
Castle Lite 50

I'm not going to go with the frame braces since there it seems to be undecided whether it really helps based on a few posts. I'm under the impression that people are running to hot and that's the issue. I'm going to start and stick with 3200 rpms tops until I find need more otherwise.

I'm going to dial in governor mode on the CC ESC.

And I think that's about it. I hope this helps someone in the future.

I have not received all the parts yet so I can't confirm this is a killer upgrade, just laying it out what I went with.

Oh, and I've purchase 3 Hobbyking mg90s servos for the cyclic for when I have a bad crash. I have no idea if they are any good but after shipping each were a little over 6 bucks. Can't beat that.

[xpantz]

Originally Posted by Scotty T

I'm thinking the 3600 rpms is what did it. I'm not sure this heli should be running that hot.

Yep... I'm starting to think the same.

It's possible... and fun... but things need to be perfect.

It's been doing ok at 3400. I might have to leave it at that.