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ZoomsHobbies . HeliHobby . Ron’s HeliProz South

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e-Align T-REX 450-500-600 > T-Rex Swashplate Advisory
 
 
rob_jones
Key Veteran
Location: Oglethorpe, GA

The next time you are working on your T-Rex, you may want to take a few minutes to fix a potential problem.

I was flying mine Sunday and had a nasty crash caused by the inner part of the swashplate pulling out of the bearing. I was hovering inverted and it began sinking. When I tried to climb, nothing happened and I had no control when I tried to flip it back over. It went straight in on the nose and damaged the battery.

Overall damage to the copter itself was minor and will only cost about $25 to repair. So I am pleased about that. But the battery is an expensive item to replace! :WOW

I would recommend removing the swashplate and pulling out the inner section, then press the bearing out of the outer section. Then clean all surfaces with alcohol and either JB Weld or epoxy it back together. Of course, use caution to not get any glue in the bearing itself. But be sure the inner section is securely glued in and that the bearing is fully seated and squared up in the outer section. If you use JB Weld like I did, remember that it takes at least 48 hours to fully cure.

This is where the swashplate separated. It looks like it's held together with green locktite. I would use something more permanent. If you're worried about not being able to replace the bearing later on, the entire swashplate assembly is only $10.


Canopy is wasted. $8 for a new one.


Battery damaged when it was pushed into the motor. I might come up with some kind of battery tray to prevent this from happening again.


Slight damage to the frames. Going to JB Weld it here, too.


-----
Team MRC Hirobo
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
12-29-2004 Over year old.
 
 
Jarod
Veteran
Location: USA

Ouch Sorry about your crash, and Im really sorry for you battery! I just got my CNC swashplate today. I havent taken it out of the bag yet. I didnt realize it was a HeliHobby Swashplate. Im going to inspect it carefully before using it if I use it all. I might just return it since i have had such bad expeirences with there CNC junk.. I dont trust any of there CNC products. Hhmm what to do? I feel bad sending it back to the online store but I might have to. Has anyone else used there T-Rex swash with CCPM support? It feels kinda heavy and Im a nut about making my heli light. Ill break out the scale and compare it to the stock swash once I have them side by side.

After giving it further inspection it looks good and i see no defects in it. It will probably work better once its broken in. You must use the old grey links or it will bind.
12-29-2004 Over year old.
 
 
mapmanufacturer
Senior Heliman
Location: Bunker Hill, WV

Sorry to hear about your crash
Looks like I will be taken mine apart tonight I got 33 flights on my helicopter and it hasnt pull apart yet but im not going to take any chances.
12-29-2004 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
rob_jones
Key Veteran
Location: Oglethorpe, GA

I know of one other person this has happened to. And he has flown his a lot less than me. He also doesn't fly as hard as me. So I don't think that the number of flights has too much to do with it.

It's just something to look out for and may never be a problem. But it is a lot cheaper to fix now rather than after it causes a problem.

-----
Team MRC Hirobo
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
12-29-2004 Over year old.
 
 
Jarod
Veteran
Location: USA

I just received my HeliHobby swash. It works with the grey links. It supports CCPM. Its 5.8 grams heavier then a stock swash plate. It wont work with the new purple links as I just learned. I wasnt impressed at first but now that I have the right links its allot better. I was going back now Ill keep it.
12-29-2004 Over year old.
 
 
dkshema
rrProfessor
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

The newer series of kits are coming with a note tucked inside advising you to dismantle the swashplate, clean the bearings, then reassemble the whole thing using CA. It can be done, I reworked mine and it's a fairly painless exercise.

This should solve that problem. However, since I'm waiting for a motor, ESC and other goodies to arrive, I ordered MicroHeli swashplate. That should solve the problem permanently.

Dave
12-29-2004 Over year old.
 
 
Ninja-Rhyno
Senior Heliman
Location: Wigan uk

i have one of the newer kits but there was no note about the swash,
i just took my swash off and there is no way in memory of man can i part this swash.
they have either fixed the problem or im very lucky
12-29-2004 Over year old.
 
 
steph280
Key Veteran
Location: Irvine, California

Yup the newer kits does not have that swashplate note. I bought a second brand new kit just few days ago and it didnt have it either. However, I did notice some minor changes in the kit, such as shorter silver ball screws for swashplate (older black one can bind linkages), Align logo imprinted on the tailboom and also on landing skids. The swashplate in newer kits come pre-glued. However, when my swashplate came apart, I can see the glue mark on the bearing, yet it still came apart. I believe the oil I applied to main shaft worked into the swashplate and weakened it.

BTW, mine was the newer kit with purple links. So yes it CAN happen to newer kits.

Does the picture in this thread look familiar?
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=313770

Unfortunately my crash was a little more expensive since it did a boom strike. But even at $70 it's still the cheapest "worse" crash I've ever had.
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
Opfor
Senior Heliman
Location: Loudon, Tn

Hey Bimmer, I see you picture looks identical to mine. I put my post with same story on here 2 days ago. I also see where I made your post, lol. Heres mine,

Crash due to swash seperation ( page 1 2 )

opfor
Mike
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
lifepak-1
Senior Heliman
Location: Edmonton

I was building completing the setup of mine last night, and was thinking about the swash plate issue. I decided to take the swash out and play around with it. I managed to remove the outer ring without a problem and managed to glue that back with CA. Now after seeing this, I going to take the swash out again and double check the inner ring.
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
lifepak-1
Senior Heliman
Location: Edmonton

Well the inner ring came off without difficulty just like the outer ring. Both are glued on with the same green loctite. Might be a consideration to CA both to the bearing.
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
Gyronut
Elite Veteran
Location: Martinsville In.

Having read a number of posts concerning seperating swahsplates I decided to check mine out.

I was surprise at just how easy it came apart. Both inner and outer seperated with no trouble at all.

Up until now I have had 16 flights on this model....

Regards

Rick
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
rcisfunrem
Heliman
Location: Erie, PA

Has anybody contacted Align to make them aware that this serious problem exists?

RCISFUNREM
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
rob_jones
Key Veteran
Location: Oglethorpe, GA

I sent them an email, but haven't gotten a reply yet.

Hey Mike! I hope you didn't mind being used as an example!

-----
Team MRC Hirobo
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
JLundberg
Senior Heliman
Location: Denham Springs, Louisiana

Hello Everyone

Just to add to this.....

I have a new kit with purple links. I tried to pull the swahsplates apart before I put the kit together and couldn't. (also there was no note in my kit)

I hovered only one pack worth and when finished I did a look around and guess what..... it was beginning to separate. It was about .050 apart.

What has everyone found to be the best fix??

John
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
dkshema
rrProfessor
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

FWIW -- My kit also had the "purple links" AND the note to fix the swashplate.

Since Align has been putting the notes in the kit telling people to check and repair their swashplates -- it might be safe to assume that they are already aware of the problem.

Dave
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
steph280
Key Veteran
Location: Irvine, California

Align is aware of it. They told me to glue my swashplate back using the loctite included in the kit. Mine separated after FIVE flights.

John, did you use any oil in the area which might have gotten into the glue area?
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
wattz
Heliman
Location: Everett, Washington

Mine had the center ball binding in certain positions. Tried everything to loosen it up except the hammer. The only thing that worked was I debonded the upper cap(the one that holds the ball in place), tried all different four positions untill I found the best one(freest ball rotation). CA'd them back, works nice now.
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
JLundberg
Senior Heliman
Location: Denham Springs, Louisiana

steph280,

No oil at all.

I just got through taking it apart and using CA. We'll see what happens.
12-30-2004 Over year old.
 
 
JLundberg
Senior Heliman
Location: Denham Springs, Louisiana

Before I put mine back together with CA I scuffed up both surfaces to make a better bond.

Hope if works.

John
12-31-2004 Over year old.
 
 
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e-Align T-REX 450-500-600 > T-Rex Swashplate Advisory
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