Heli Maintenance Schedule?

[AzHeliCrasher]

Just curious as to what you all fly AND the type of maintenance you do and how often?

[Gmoney]

Maintenance? When and IF I ever make it that far without crashing I'll let you know. Right now its just making sure the links are good and the main shaft and tail shaft are free and well lubed. Other than that its Check voltage,Fuel, start and CROSS FINGERS!

G

[jolio55]

I fly a E-sky Belt CP, not a bad little heli especially for $200.00. It being electric I don't really do all that much maintenence other than fixing it when I crash it. Before every flight I try to check over everything to try and make sure everything is tight and adjusted as it should be but that's about it.

[AzHeliCrasher]

So no real routine screw or belt tightening etc?

I have not flown enough as well to have a real schedule but just curious as to what some may do.

Thanks for the input so far.

[CSpaced]

I regularly check the belt tension and all ball links, and give the heli a thorough cleaning every couple of gallons (on Nitro heli's).

[toro]

Kind of CSpaced said. I do a semi annual tear down down of mechanics.... I go through the head, and tail rotor to make sure I have no cracks, or worn links. If I crash, I do it more often. Bearings get replaced annually, if notchy they get it more. I always check links before flying... grab a hold of all the head links, and wiggle em' make sure they dont seem to loose, or sloppy. Check servos, and linkages for play, and I clean pretty regularly with Nitro RC car spray, and Denatured alcohol in a squirt bottle. Lubrication..... I use food grade silicone for main, and tail shafts. You can get it @ smart and final/ restaurant supply stores, probably even a general grocery store. No residue, and makes metal on metal slippery.

[jolio55]

I just crash often enough that I have to rebuild my chopper about every month or so:eek:.... LOL just kidding.

[nybbler]

You definitely want to check the screws periodically -- ideally after every flying session, but yeah, like that's going to happen. In my CopterX, I've had the flybar grub screws back out, as well as the main shaft grub screws strip (probably from vibration), the tail shaft hub screws loosen (causes wagging, at least until it throws the tail grip -- fortunately I caught it before that), and the main blade nuts loosen (despite being nylock), and the head rocker screws back off (big time vibration, and hard to catch because those screws are inaccessible when the head is centered.

Ball links and the link balls need occasional replacement as well, especially if you've had crashes or vibration.

Any belts should be checked for tension, and to see if there are any worn spots or overall thinning.

Wires should be checked for worn spots (and relocated after repair/replacement) if they are wearing. Gyro tape should be replaced if it's peeling or it gets brittle. I haven't had to do that yet.

[FrankW]

I check the belt tension, gears, linkages and dampners between each flight session.

-Frank

[AzHeliCrasher]

Thanks for the input so far. Will the ball links just feel sloppy when they go bad? They move freely now but do not seem lose. Have not flown much, just a ton hovering and 3 forward flights now

[TDSwan]

I've got mostly 50 size nitros. I do the occasional screw-check and never neglect a pre-flight before the first flight of the day, but once winter comes, it's overhaul time. It's amost as extensive as an annual inspection on a full-scale heli. Any and all of the hard-use parts and bearings get the once-over and anything that's even marginal is replaced. These machines are dangerous and expensive, no need for the heli or someone else getting hurt because of poor maintenance.

[AzHeliCrasher]

I've got mostly 50 size nitros. I do the occasional screw-check and never neglect a pre-flight before the first flight of the day, but once winter comes, it's overhaul time. It's amost as extensive as an annual inspection on a full-scale heli. Any and all of the hard-use parts and bearings get the once-over and anything that's even marginal is replaced. These machines are dangerous and expensive, no need for the heli or someone else getting hurt because of poor maintenance.

The danger and expense is exactly why I am trying to get some kind of maintenance schedule. Thanks for your input as well.

So you basically tear the whole thing down during the winter and replace whatever you find/deem necessary?