Category: R/C Helicopters

E-flite Blade mCPx - One-way bearing mod

6/11/2011

Parts
Blade mCPx Main Gear [BLH3506]
Blade mCPx Main Shaft [BLH3507]
One-way bearing [Align 25018 or Gaui 203296]
Very small self tapping screw and washer

Tools
Drill bit set (7/64" to 7/32" in 1/64" increments)
1/8" to 1/2" Tapered Ream Harbor Freight Item #66936
X-acto knife with #11 blade
3/8" Washer (0.065" thick)
Cyanoacrylate (CA) "super glue"

This modification can be made without removing the main shaft from the helicopter (as a matter of fact, it is better to leave it installed to get the proper length of the main shaft when trimming).

Start by removing the main gear from the main shaft.
Next using a 7/64" drill bit, carefully drill through the center of the main gear.
Continue to enlarge the hole in 1/64" increments up to 7/32". Take care to ensure that the hole remains in the center of the gear. If is starts to get off-center, shave a bit off the 'thick' side with a #11 X-acto blade.

Once the hole is 7/32" use the tapered reamer to enlarge the hole to a point where the one-way bearing (OWB) fits snugly in the hole.

Place the bearing/gear assembly on top of the washer (to ensure proper clearance) and press down until the bearing is flush against the work surface and the main gear is flush against the washer. The side of the bearing with the washer thickness will be the top side so ensure that the OWB is properly oriented.

Apply a thin bead of CA around the washer on both sides of the gear.

Once the CA has cured, secure the gear/bearing assembly to the main shaft with a very small self-tapping screw that will thread into the main shaft without splitting the shaft.

1 Comment

E-flite Blase MSR - landing gear repair

1/9/2010

0 Comments

So far, the only thing that I have broken is the landing gear. What I have found is that glue does not stick to this plastic very well so I repaired it by wrapping the broken area with cotton thread and soaking it in CA then adding accelerator. This seems to be making a pretty good bond for now.

0 Comments

Pushrod length adjustment tool

8/30/2008

0 Comments

I saw a tool like this at my LHS, but as usual, it was for the larger helis so I had to adapt for the smaller helis that I fly.

First I pulled out some of my spare ball links and screws for my Gaui 200.
Next, I modified a plastic Vernier Caliper that I purchased from Harbor Freight Tools for $1.00. I cut off the measuring ends of the tool and sanded off the measurement increments from the outer slider portion of the tool.
Lastly, I mounted the balls in the proper locations to ensure accuracy to each other.

0 Comments

E-flite Pitch Gauge Modification

6/21/2008

0 Comments

Once again, there are not any tools for the micro size helis, so I adapted the smallest pitch gauge I could find to accommodate the main blades of my Gaui Hurricane 200. I had some sheet styrene on hand so I layered multiple pieces together with plastic model cement and cut to fit the leading edge of the tool and viola! It now accommodates my Gaui main blades.