RunRyder - Defective Aurora swashplates?

rrTV-PHOTO

New HD TV

HOME rrTV-PHOTO GALLERIES MY GALLERY HELP-FAQ

myHOME PM pmRR MEMBERS 559 ONLINE 20 EVENTS SEARCH REGISTER START HERE

2 pages [ << < ( 1 ) 2 NEXT >> ]

1414 views

TOPIC CLOSED

Ron’s HeliProz South	.	Century Helicopter	.	MTA Hobbies
	.		.

Avant Aurora - EFX - FX > Defective Aurora swashplates?

mike4406
Heliman
Location: chantilly, va

I have an Aurora from the original shipment, shipped direct from Avant (purchased from Heliproz). The bird is built, and was almost ready to fly when I discovered the swashplate inner ball has at least 1mm of play inside the swash. No prob, I contacted Avant and got a replacement, and guess what, the replacement swash inner ball is just as loose as my original. I could have easily not discovered this and flown the heli, but I was finishing up adjustments while setting up the pitch and heard a clicking sound, which ulimately turned out to be the inner ball banging around inside the swash. I can even shake the swash and hear the ball rattle around.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has discovered this problem (I assume its a prob, I have never had a swash with this much slop, nor do I consider it safe). I would advise folks to take a look and see if you have the same prob. And if its a new kit, I would check as well....

I have contacted Avant again via email but not getting any replies on the issue.

07-18-2008 07:45 PM

creightoncarr
Veteran
Location: Missouri City, Texas - USA

If it's up and down play you are talking about as opposed to side to side play, don't worry about it. They are all like that. The inner retention material is metal as opposed to plastic and it shouldn't cause any problems. If it's side to side play, however, that could cause your controls to be not as accurate.

07-18-2008 08:26 PM

mike4406
Heliman
Location: chantilly, va

I have never had a swash plate with inner ball that moves up and down at least 1 mm (maybe more). Why do you think that is normal? Have you checked to see if yours has this problem?

If the swash is on your heli, you might have to move your collective very slowly (pos to neg) to see the movement. However, if you remove the swash, and its like mine, you will be be able to feel it, and if you like music, just shake it, you can hear the ball rattle around..

07-18-2008 08:33 PM

Dakine
Elite Veteran
Location: OC, Commifornia

Side to side is okay. Up and down, I don't think it's good.

07-18-2008 09:00 PM

creightoncarr
Veteran
Location: Missouri City, Texas - USA

I have two. The balls in both move up and down by about a millimeter. I noticed it during the build and called my buddy who was building his at the same time. His swash was the same way. He ended up with a new swash for a completely different reason and it was also the same way. And there is someone else posting here whose also has up and down movement. I'm not really concerned by it as I don't foresee it causing any problems. Side-to-side movement, however, would concern me.

07-18-2008 09:02 PM

mike4406
Heliman
Location: chantilly, va

Then I would have to ask, WHY did Avant send me a new replacement if this was not a problem?
I sent PM's and emails, filled out the form and told them about the slop, and got my replacement. I even asked them if this was normal, and they did not answer the question. Matter fact, I have asked the question several times and still no official response..

07-18-2008 09:08 PM

creightoncarr
Veteran
Location: Missouri City, Texas - USA

I personally think they are just replacing things as a matter of course right now. I would be very surprised if you go one without any up and down play in it. But hey, I've been wrong before. All four I've seen, however, have been the exact same way.

07-18-2008 09:10 PM

mike4406
Heliman
Location: chantilly, va

I suppose we'll have to wait and see what the official response is from Avant. Somehow I just don't believe the inner ball should be that loose. And of course I don't want to risk 3K to find out...

07-18-2008 09:17 PM

creightoncarr
Veteran
Location: Missouri City, Texas - USA

It could be that yours have more play than the ones that I have seen.

07-18-2008 09:21 PM

captrlp
Senior Heliman
Location: spanish fork, utah - USA

I received my kit yesterday and my swashplate is the same. I have emailed and PM's Augusto regarding this issue as well.

take care, dont step on the toes today that may be connected to the butt you have to kiss tomorrow!!

07-18-2008 09:23 PM

HOMEPAGE

captrlp
Senior Heliman
Location: spanish fork, utah - USA

Mike,

Have you received your replacement yet? If so, is it the same way or is the swivel tight?

take care, dont step on the toes today that may be connected to the butt you have to kiss tomorrow!!

07-18-2008 09:25 PM

HOMEPAGE

mike4406
Heliman
Location: chantilly, va

yep, I rec'd a replacement and it was just as loose. That's what has me confused, if it is not a problem and they engineered it that way, why did Avant replace mine in the first place... What's worse, I'm looking at my replacement and there is even a small scratch on the inner ball, and when I rotate it, I can feel it scraping the inside wall.. I suppose I should have kept my original!
Oh well, I guess the heli will be sitting for a while... maybe a long time..

07-18-2008 09:31 PM

captrlp
Senior Heliman
Location: spanish fork, utah - USA

I just received a response from Avant. They stated that all of the swashplates have the vertical play. There response also stated that horizontal play is obviously bad!!

take care, dont step on the toes today that may be connected to the butt you have to kiss tomorrow!!

07-19-2008 12:09 AM

HOMEPAGE

mike4406
Heliman
Location: chantilly, va

Interesting. Thanks for the update. I personally still find it difficult to believe a swash should have that much slop engineered into it. Makes me wonder if that could cause any interference or glitches as well. Thus far I have not received any response from Avant telling me this is normal, or why it's was engineered this way... One thing for sure, I'm not flying mine for a while, I'll wait and see how this issue shakes out over time..

07-19-2008 12:18 AM

captrlp
Senior Heliman
Location: spanish fork, utah - USA

Im going to PM a few of the factory pilots and get their feedback. I'll post the information when I receive it.

take care, dont step on the toes today that may be connected to the butt you have to kiss tomorrow!!

07-19-2008 12:24 AM

HOMEPAGE

mike4406
Heliman
Location: chantilly, va

I just rec'd the reply as well from Avant, as follows:

If the swashplate ball has up-down play it's not an issue. It makes no difference in the operation of the swashplate. It would be an issue if it had excessive play sideways. If you check the team pilot helicopters you'll see that most of them have the same up-down play in their swashplates balls.

Regards,

Customer Service
Avant RC.

What's interesting here, it appears that most, but maybe not all team pilots have the excessive play.. In that case I would prefer to have a swash without the play. I would also like to know if Avant engineered the swash to have all excessive play, and what the purpose of it is for..

Also, after inspecting the new swashplate I rec'd yesterday, I noticed it had what I thought was a small scratch on the inner ball, but after putting under a magnifying glass, I now see there is a hair line fracture going extending from one side to another, all the way through the inner ball.

I suppose now I will be waiting for swash plate replacement # 3.

07-19-2008 12:51 AM

creightoncarr
Veteran
Location: Missouri City, Texas - USA

I still fail to see what the problem is with a little up and down play in the swash ball. As long as the CCPM servos are working there should never be a problem - the swash will stay exactly where the servos are holding it. Sideways play obviously is a problem because it could allow the geometry of the CCPM pushrods the vary slightly. I've got a lot of flights on mine as does my buddy. Zero issues with the swash.

07-19-2008 01:22 AM

mike4406
Heliman
Location: chantilly, va

I welcome your opinion. Mine obviously differs. I would agree initially this is probably not a showstopper, but over time, I would suspect that the inner ball would become more loose with the continuous beating it puts on the inner race supporting it. I still challenge anyone to show me a quality heli with a swash that has this issue. Just does not seem right to me, even if no one has experienced a problem (yet).

07-19-2008 01:40 AM

creightoncarr
Veteran
Location: Missouri City, Texas - USA

Well I guess I look at it like this - you can let the helicopter sit on the bench indefinitely and hope you win the lottery and get a swash with zero play, or, you can use a swash identical to that which 99% of the rest of the Aurora population is using, including team pilots, and actually enjoy the helicopter. And, if the swash develops a little more play after 400 flights and it causes some sort of problem you can buy another. They're only sixty bucks or so. FWIW, I just checked the swash on my N9. Granted it has several hundred flights on it, but there is a little play in it as well. I guess if it really bothers you that much you can always buy the the Quick UK swash:

http://www.quickuk.eu/cat/hirobo_parts/freya_parts.html

You might have to replace the balls though.

07-19-2008 02:01 AM

JA Allen
Senior Heliman
Location: NYC

Guys,

I have already logged about 50 flights on mine. I have about only .5mm of vert play on my swash, no horiz play.

I suspect this play is actually there, but I have to agree with Mike, none of my other 90 machines has any play in the swash ball at all.

With CCPM the way it is, let alone time on the mechanics and keeping it within spec, this play does not sound right.

On the other hand, my Aurora is doing fine, I may even need to replace dampers now, but the swash is ok in flight.

Go figure, maybe something we dont know was engineered here for a reason, or, and I suspect, A goofball got the tolerances wrong and sent them to Avant, and with the pressure to release, realized it wasnt hurting performance, or failing and not critical, let them out.

Mike, I understand, but trust me, it seems to be holding up. I still agree with you, its not the way they should be. That email from them...hrmmm. Fly it, of course when you send back that cracked swash and get a new one.

J.A.

07-19-2008 03:24 AM

HOMEPAGE

2 pages [ << < ( 1 ) 2 NEXT >> ]

1414 views

TOPIC CLOSED

Model Rectifier Corp	.	Heli Wholesaler	.	3D Heli Depot
	.		.

Avant Aurora - EFX - FX > Defective Aurora swashplates?

PRINT TOPIC

Advertisers

Subscribe to This Topic