Motor, vs. Belt, vs shaft?

[Dragon]

If this topic hase been covered before, please excuse me.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? The motor seems to be popular on the smaller helis (Blade CP) and the belt on the "larger micro" helis... and I have not really seen any shafts although I assume they are out there... aren't they?

Thx.

[Aztek1701]

Hi Dragon.

In order of merit the three tail types go..

1.Shaft

Advantages: ultimate tail control, makes the tail a bit crisper because of more efficient transfer of drive.

Disadvantages: More complex (really needs 2 gearboxes), noiser, costs more to repair (if you put a shaft drive in, you need a boom, shaft and ,usually gears)

2.Belt

Advantages : Quiet, positive transmission of drive to tail, simple, cheaper to fix than a shaft

Disadvantages : not QUITE as crisp a response out of the tail (not that a beginner would notice the difference), not as efficent as a shaft drive, belt can slip.

3.Motor

Advantages : Cheap, easy to install

Disadvantages : Motors burn out fast, tail control is wishy washy, higher failure rate.

To answer your last question.. The only micro heli that had a shaft drive as far as I know was the Protech Zoom 400, however in small helis, the belt is probably the best system for driving the tail because there is less distance between the drive and the tail however, on a full size model.. a shaft drive is better because the distance is bigger and more power gets to the tail.

Hope this helps... Azzy

[hawkman]

The Falcon3D/MiniPredator (uk version) has a shaft drive...or rather a wire drive.

I have heard people say that wire drives are not that good but I have never had a problem as such. If you get a wire drive then the gears are not tightly meshed...they dont have to be...otherwise they get a bit warm and cause more friction.

Belt drives are simpler....but make sure the belt is not silly tight...it needs a bit of slack...but not too much...too tight can rob power...too loose and the belt can slip or even come off the drive capstan.

[Dragon]

Thanks guys... I thought maybe a shaft would be better, but I didn't think about the damage aspect if you did a tail plant.

[BABY HUEY]

I don't like tail motors, they are an abomanation! Shafts are heavy and expensive to fix and can be a pain to get to run true so on most things a belt is hard to beat.

[Danimal]

Walkera also had a shaft driven tail for a wile on the original 35. It was almost an exact clone of the Shogun 400. I've got a pair of the 35's that I've been flying for a couple of years. I put a Hub Dave belt conversion on one and one that is still shaft drive. I would have to say that the shaft drive is defonetly the more efficient and responsive. But I think the reason that most everybody is going with the belt now days is that with the belt setup the tail is being driven as long as the main rotors are turning. If you've ever found your self trying to do an emergence auto with out any tail control you understand the value of constant drive. With a shaft as soon as the motor stops so do the tai blades.

[Dragon]

"With a shaft as soon as the motor stops so do the tai blades."... yea.. that would be, um, fun could be a word do describe it.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Can't wait 'til I finall do get a heli with a tail rotor. Soon... I've told he LHS to hold a 400 whenever it is they finally come off back-order.

[BABY HUEY]

Are you getting a Blade 400? That looks like a nice rig.