E5 Recommended Maintenance

[copenhagen]

Hey,  having put 12 flights on my E5, I got to wondering what type of maintenance schedules ya'll are following.  This is my first heli larger than a 450, so I'm hoping that all of you will chime in so I get a good idea of what things I need to be doing/looking for.

[flyalan]

There is really not a specific schedule in regards to the Heli other than preflight inspections.  Lubrication is infrequent.  You should have shot a little botolube in the blade grip holes when the build was finished to help keep the thrust bearings lubed.  I do spray the tail pitch slider and output shaft occasionally with WD40 or silicon lube.  On a Nitro this is not typically necessary.  Self lubrication is nice 

Do follow the lubrication recommendations of your motor MFG.  I oil my Scorpions about every 10-12 flights.

Preflight is important.  Develop some sort of routine.  Just like a General Aviation walk around.

Know what your heli should sound like and investigate any noticeable change in sound.  Even a well lubed bearing can fail.

Cheers
Alan

[Brandon Bartolomucci]

I think Alan covered it well. The pre-flight is your friend. Those usually get your bases covered with wear and tear, anything loose, anything broken, ETC.


Regards,
Brandon Bartolomucci

[flyalan]

I was just talking with a buddy about his misfortune regarding his recent E7se build. He somehow had not locktited the servo horn screws and during his second session of flying the SE the horn came loose in flight. Needless to say a crash was the result.
In the discussion we talked about nitro versus electric and we both agreed that one upside to nitro is the fact you DO have to clean the mess of the Heli post flight. That process in itself helps one look out for anything that may be amiss before it causes a crash. I have noted this myself. 
So maybe let's pretend your E5 is nitro and give it a good going over post flight.
Actually post flight might be better than preflight in that I personally tend to want to rush to get in the air when I arrive at the field. I am usually not in that much of a rush to leave. :-)

Cheers
Alan


Alan Butler
Team Synergy

[copenhagen]

I was just talking with a buddy about his misfortune regarding his recent E7se build. He somehow had not locktited the servo horn screws and during his second session of flying the SE the horn came loose in flight. Needless to say a crash was the result.
In the discussion we talked about nitro versus electric and we both agreed that one upside to nitro is the fact you DO have to clean the mess of the Heli post flight. That process in itself helps one look out for anything that may be amiss before it causes a crash. I have noted this myself. 
So maybe let's pretend your E5 is nitro and give it a good going over post flight.
Actually post flight might be better than preflight in that I personally tend to want to rush to get in the air when I arrive at the field. I am usually not in that much of a rush to leave. :-)

Cheers
Alan


Alan Butler
Team Synergy

Alan,

That is funny that you say that, because where I fly, I am forever having to do post flight de-dragon-flying.  I swear they suicidally hate my helicopters.   You can actually see them dive bombing the blades.  I'll have purple dragon fly guts on my blades and canopy after almost every flight.  I'm surprised I have not killed the population out yet this summer.  I'm just scared a hummingbird will try the same stunt- I did have one chase my Nano one time, but they seem to stay away from the larger helis.

I found the video on scorpions website about where/how to oil the bearings.  Can I use tri-flow or do I have to buy the scorpion oil?

[flyalan]

Yeah a Hummingbird would leave a little more that just bug splatter

Yes TriFLow is fine.

Cheers
Alan

[Ross Lawton]

Alan has pretty much covered all the bases there, it is good to develop a routine and something i try to recommend as much as possible.

What i typically do is a both a pre and post flight checks, consisting of checking everything is as it should, nothing loose or worn etc.. I also clean my machines at the end of each day of flying, this is mainly do to storing my machines in the house so they have to be clean and free from dirt and oil etc... I find cleaning my machines after each session a good time to check over the mechanics and general installation, it is also a good time to add lubrication where needed, this can be topping up the grease in the main thrust races which is where the lubrication holes in the E5 and E7se blade grips comes in handy. I also add a drop of light oil to the mainshaft and tail shafts. I will also periodically add lubrication to the motor if required my the motor manufacturer.

Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Ross