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Post by buggy285 on Sept 16, 2012 2:32:35 GMT 1
would the end of a screwdriver work to balance the prop?
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Post by flydiver on Sept 16, 2012 3:06:18 GMT 1
No - too crude. Look at those links I sent.
If you seriously strapped for cash find a nail that is almost the right size as the prop hole, cut off the head, and grind both ends down to fine points. Shim the nail with a little tape if necessary to make the prop fit snugly in the middle. Hold the sharpened ends in your finger tips as lightly as possible keeping the nail level. The heavy end swings down (duh). I actually use a bench vise with super-magnets in opposite corners mimicking the expensive magnetic balancers. The points don't actually have to touch on both sides to keep the nail in place. You can also make one out of wood.
Personally I add nail polish to the light side a little at a time-wait until it dries, the solvent weighs more than the polish. Some folks use scotch tape on the light side. Some people lightly sand down the flat back side of the heavy blade. Any improvement is better than none.
DO NOT FLY WITH SERIOUSLY DAMAGED PROPS!!!! Small nick and dings can be sanded out and balanced again. Props with bends or cracks should be tossed They are moving at thousands of RPM and CAN BLOW UP! The damage is not worth your eyes or a chunk of plastic stuck in a buddy's body, no matter how cheap you are.
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Post by luvofthagame on Sept 16, 2012 8:38:36 GMT 1
Id also add that at 5 bucks shipped (3.50 at LHS) for a new one, its not worth the whole plane to risk...I'm very strapped for cash now as well, but $5 for a prop is well worth the investment if you consider the $50-$100 you'll have to spend on big parts and electronics if you have a real nasty crash...besides the fuse,wing and receiver, all other parts are below $10...save your money and buy new props and replace small damaged parts!!!...
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Post by flydiver on Sept 16, 2012 17:10:57 GMT 1
Id also add that at 5 bucks shipped (3.50 at LHS) for a new one, its not worth the whole plane to risk...I'm very strapped for cash now as well, but $5 for a prop is well worth the investment if you consider the $50-$100 you'll have to spend on big parts and electronics if you have a real nasty crash...besides the fuse,wing and receiver, all other parts are below $10...save your money and buy new props and replace small damaged parts!!!... +1 on that. Even it a spinning prop breaks way up in the air the severe unbalance has a high chance of ripping your motor off the mount, damaging the cowl and front end, even pulling loose from the connectors and getting lost......then you crash.
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Post by buggy285 on Sept 16, 2012 21:37:22 GMT 1
i replaced the gear box and prop using stock parts since they where worn (probably from using shredded props).i balanced my prop and it runs a lot better now. when i was testing it i noticed that at the lowest throttle settings (almost off) the plane makes a tone and the prop wont spin unless i help it to start. is that normal and where is the tone coming from?
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Post by luvofthagame on Sept 17, 2012 3:20:58 GMT 1
Yes...its kind of a warning tone that its going to start...glad your getting it smoothed out...it flies like a dream when everything is properly working...happy flying...
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Post by buggy285 on Sept 18, 2012 0:24:28 GMT 1
i had a nose dive and the firewall came off. i used foam safe ca glue to put it back on. i dont think it will come off again without a lot of work.
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Post by flydiver on Sept 18, 2012 5:17:51 GMT 1
i had a nose dive and the firewall came off. i used foam safe ca glue to put it back on. i dont think it will come off again without a lot of work. That's generally a mistake. Those things also break and crack. Being plastic they don't glue well, with anything. So you generally end up trying to take them off for replacement and the firewall is now messed up with glue. They use something like bathroom caulk to hold it on. That's seems to be best for replacing it.
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