Futaba GY501 gyro trouble

I bought a new Futaba GY501 gyro off of someone that had it and never used it. I put it in my heli and trying to set it up and when I move the rudder stick on the transmitter (Futaba T6XA 6 channel computer) to the left the servo won't move or moves very slightly and everything works fine when I move the stick to the right. If I plug the servo into the RX the servo work fine.

I talked to Great Planes Tech. support and they said that was normal when testing it on the ground and they want me to do a small hover to see if everything is OK. I'm a little scared taking it up small hover or otherwise without any left rudder. Has anyone else had or heard of this problem and if so what did you do to fix it? Or should I just take it up and hope for the best?

Thanks,

Mcox24

[Daz(DJLFlapper)]

Hi

I'm sorry to say that I can't give you a magical answer to this However what I will say is.
If I were in your shoes I would take out my training aid fit it to the skids. Making sure that the weather was perfect ie vertualy no wind I would then take the throttle up very very slowly so that the heli only gets light on the skids and the training aid stays in contact with the ground. (the ground needs to be concrete or smooth tarmac/asphelt.) This will then allow the heli to move without leaving the ground.

This way you should be able to see if the gyro is responding without leaving the ground and potentialy loosing the heli.
If the heli does not rotate then add a little more throttle to make the skids a little lighter and see if this does the trick. If everything works ok then job done and Hopfully away you go. If it does not then I would go to a local club or heli shop and ask them if they can test it for you. This may cost but its better than loseing your bird.

Hope this helps,
Darren,
This is not in any way the magic answer but it is what I would do. I would say that you need to be ready to shut the throttle off if when the heli gets light it starts to rotate without any control. This advice if followed will save you the hastle of replacing the heli.
If you where to take it to hover of the ground you might find yourself with a heli that is rotating and is dificult to land. Hence getting the training aid out to get the heli light without lift off.
Good luck

Thanks Darren, I will try that

Mike

[Daz(DJLFlapper)]

Hi Mike,

Just a quick note to ask if you would just mention how you get on when you do this, Also to say your welcome, advice dont cost nothing even for the person giving it. But in the right place it can do so much good.

Regards,
Darren.

Well if anyone is interested I found the magical answer to the gyro problem of not having left ruder. Great Plane's Tech support was half right by telling me that was normal and to take it up in a small hover to see what happens. With out having left rudder I was a little scared in doing so but after a month and several emails and 3 local heli pilots (they never heard of such a thing) today was the big day that I was going to try it and one of the heli pilots noticed that I had to much neg pitch. When he was adjusting it and still trying to get left rudder he had the throttle about half way and he then noticed I then had left rudder and it now works. What Great Plane's tech support didn't tell me is the throttle has to be about 1/3 or more open for the rudder to work. Thanks Great Plane's for the great info. Needless to say I haven't taken the heli up yet because it was to windy but it's ready now the first chance I get.

Thanks,

Mike

[Daz(DJLFlapper)]

Hi Mike

I am just writing to say that I am chuffed that you have got to the root of the problem. well done mate.
happy flying.
Regards Daz