Balance new blades

[pops98]

I tried to fly today, I actually got off the ground for a short time. A puff of wind caused me to land much to fast (crash), and got a chip in one of my blades, I am in the process of getting new blades and have read the balancing procedures, but what kind of tape do you guys use for balancing. I hope the blades come in soon, but for now I am back on the sim.
When I crash there, all I have to do is hit the space bar and the blades are balanced, along with all the other stuff that would be busted.

[Aztek1701]

Hi pops,

Depends on the model, if its a contra rotator or a small fixed pitch its not really worth the bother. Id use insulating tape to balance the blades if you want to do it though.

Hope this helps... Azzy

[pops98]

Thanks its the honeybee 4 fp but looking to make the heli as stabel as possible

[Macsgrafs]

I've always wondered what tape to use? insulating tape??? any one got any ideas here.

Regards
Ross

[hawkman]

I use coloured packing tape, its quite thin. I use red and yellow and put this on the blade ends...this helps with balance and also gives a good 'tracking' indicator...you can see which blade is riding higher. You can then adust that blade...in fact if the track is out by quite a long way then it pays to bring the lower blade into track...on collective pitch helis this is done by adjusting the relevant pitch rod...do not use the flybar mixing levers...only use the pitch control rods.

For fixed pitch small helis...I think you can adjust the track by gently heating the blade and giving it more or less 'twist' ....sometimes even tightening the relevant screw/bolt for the blade can adjust its 'track'.


You can use a proper blade balancer...or you could make one...the simple way is to bolt the blades together by thier bolt holes...get them as near straight as possible...and then hang the bolt on something...above a level surface...you can then compare the blade tips...like a see saw. Its worth doing.

Rob

[Macsgrafs]

Thanks for the info Rob.

Ross

[pops98]

Thanks for the info. I will try to find that tape since it seems to serve two functions.

[hawkman]

You can use pretty much any tape, as long as you get a good contrast between the two..I leave the tape there as a permanent thing...so every time you fly you can hover briefly and check the tracking...if you get blades that go out of track all the time and you have recently had a slight crash...then chances are the feathering shaft is bent.

This really only applies to the collective pitch type helis really.

Rob