Radio Setup - Aileron
last updated 3-31-2007

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Step 1: Install the four rubber grommets onto the servo.Next if you are going to use the metal servo mounting plates (PV0054) that come with the R50v2 and R60v2 then do not install the brass eyelets. Otherwise install the brass eyelets through the bottom side. This part is often misunderstood. The flared end of the eyelet needs to be against the mounting surface.
Step 2: The aileron servo needs to have the wire taped to the bottom of the servo. Do not pull the wire tight or the wire could eventually break just as it exits the strain relief on the side of the servo. Run the wire across the bottom of the servo case and secure it with a piece of electrical tape that will stretch from one side of the servo, across the bottom and over to the other side.
Note: you have to check this tape from time to time to make sure it has not broken. I have started using Goop (aka shoe glue).
Step 3: Mount the servo in the pitch arm. The spline of the servo needs to be on the side closer to the main shaft. Use four of the servo screws that came with the helicopter, not the ones that came with the servo to install it. The servo wire needs to come out on the left side of the helicopter.
Step 4: Connect the servo wire to the receiver. If you are connecting a Futaba plug to another brand receiver then you will need to remove the keyed edge from the connector. I use some diagonal cutters then use a file to grind the surface clean. Newer Futaba connectors already have two corners slanted as needed on the other brands so just remove the keyed edge then the connector will fit easily in another brands receiver.
The aileron plug will connect to either the 1st or the 2nd plug in the receiver (look at the chart). You can confirm this is the correct plug by moving the aileron stick and seeing the servo move with it. You will of course need the power to the receiver when you check it. If you do not see the servo move then make sure you have the plug in the correct direction.
The channel ordering is:
  Airtronics ===   Futaba ===   JR/Spektrum Radio
1. Elevator === 1. Aileron === 1. Throttle
2. Aileron === 2. Elevator === 2. Aileron
3. Throttle === 3. Throttle === 3. Elevator
4. Rudder === 4. Rudder === 4. Rudder
5. Gyro gain === 5. Gyro gain === 5. Gyro gain (aux2 for 9303/10X)
6. Collective pitch === 6. Collective pitch === 6. Collective pitch

Notice how only the first three channels change positions. And that it is the radio that designates the channel ordering, not the receiver. So if you used a JR receiver that has the first plug labeled throttle but your radio was an Airtronics then the first plug is where you plug the elevator servo in.
As a side note, different brand receivers can be used but it is important to use the right crystal and to do a range check. In the above example the radio was Airtroncs and the receiver was JR. If you changed the cyrstal in the receiver then the crystal should also be JR. Also note that not all radios can work with all receivers. A JR radio cannot use a Futaba receiver due to the negative pulse the Futaba uses. However a radio such as the Airtronics RD6000/8000 can be set to work on either positive or negative shift. Also if you have a PCM receiver you can only use the same brand radio. No other brand will work. This is due to copyright laws, each companies PCM code scheme is propietory.
Step 5: Center the trim. This is the small adjustment control under the aileron stick. A lot of the new radios use a digital trim and with these you look at the display to find the center position. Most have a bar indicating the current trim position. Others flash up the trim percentage on the display when you move the control.
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Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Ai' then down to 'TRM' and set it to 0%, if pressing the f.mode button at the bottom changes the display from N:,1:,2:,3: then for all modes set them to 0%.
JR 9303/8103DT (digital trim version) - watch the bar on the display to center the aileron. The radio will beep on each click but will make a different tone beep when you get to center position.
JR 6102 / 662 - When you press the aileron trim it will display the current value on the display. Set this to 0%.
JR 10X - Confirm the trim indicator on the display is in the center position.
Futaba 6X - Mechanical trim, just center it.
Futaba 8U - Watch the bar on the display to center the aileron. The radio will beep on each click but will make a different tone beep when you get to center position. For the other flight modes go to 'Offset' in the advanced menu.
Futaba 7C/9C - Watch the bar on the display to center the aileron. The radio will beep on each click but will make a different tone beep when you get to center position.
Spektrum DX7 - Watch the bar on the display to center the aileron. The radio will beep on each click but will make a different tone beep when you get to center position.
Step 6: Zero the sub-trim. This is also called Center in some radios.
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Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Ai' then down to 'CNT' and set it to 0%
JR 9303 - go to [Sub-trim] and use the scroll wheel to select 'AILE'. Press in on the scroll wheel and adjust the value to 0. Press in on the scroll wheel to store the value.
JR 8103 - go to [Sub-trim] and use the ch. button to get to 'AILE' then set to zero.
JR 6102 - go to [SUB TRIM] and press 'select' button to get to 'AI' and set to 0.
JR 662 - go to 'SB-TRIM' then to 'AIL' and set to 0.
JR 10X - enter code 15 [SUB TRIM] and press 'cl' under 'AILE' to zero it out.
Futaba 6X - go to 'STRM' then to channel 1 and set to 0.
Futaba 8U - go to 'SUBTRM' then to 'AIL' and set to 0.
Futaba 7C/9C - go to 'SUB-TRIM' then to 'CH1:AILE' then set to 0.
Spektrum DX7 - go to [SUB TRIM] and press 'select' button to get to 'AILE' and set to 0.
Step 7: Dual Rate to 100%. This needs to be 100% during setup otherwise you would never get the end points right. For more info on what Dual Rate means go <here>.
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Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Ai' then down to 'D/R' and set it to 100%. If the display has 1:,2:,or 3: then use the f.mode button to switch to N: and set the normal flight mode dual rate to 100%
JR 9303 - go to [D/R & EXP] and set the channel (to the left of POS-0) to 'AILE'. Then under the 'D/R' column set POS-0,1,2 to 100%. Now go all the way to the right side of the screen and set NORM and ST-1 to POS 0.
JR 8103 - go to [D/R & EXP] and use the ch. button to get to 'AILE' then set 'D/R' to 100%.
JR 6102 - go to [D/R & EXP] and select 'AILE' and set 'D/R' to 100%.
JR 662 - go to 'D/R' then to 'AI0' and set to 100%. Use the D/R switch and do the same for 'AI1', this sets both sides to 100%.
JR 10X - enter code 13 [D/R & EXP] and press 'PAGE' to get to 'AILE'. Press 'cl' under D/R to set the value to 100%.
Futaba 6X - go to 'D/R' then to channel 1 and set to 100%.
Futaba 8U - go to 'D/R-AI' and set both values to 100%.
Futaba7C/ 9C - go to [D/R, EXP] then to 'CH1:AILE' then set to 100%.
Spektrum DX7 - go to [D/R & EXP] and select 'AILE' and set 'D/R' to 100%.
Step 8: Set end points to 100% (aka E.Points, EPA, ATV, Travel Adjust). This functions sets how far the servo moves when the aileron stick is full left as well as when it is full right. To keep the servo speed linear you need to do a good mechanical setup so the end points are within 5% of each other. So end points of 75/102 would not be good as that would be a 27% difference. Also the ideal configuation would have the end points both at 100%. This is the optimal position because of the way the servo rotates in a circle. With the end points maxed out you are more into the arc of the circle relative to the link it is moving. And with end points less then 100% you are decreasing the effective strength of the servo (the ball too far out on the arm).
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Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Ai' then down to 'EPA'. Move the aileron stick left and set the value to 100%. Move the stick right and also set this value to 100%.
JR 9303 - go to [TRVL ADJ.] and select 'AILE'. Press in on the scroll wheel then move the aileron stick left and set the value to 100%. Move the stick right and also set this value to 100%. Press the scroll wheel again to store the values.
JR 8103 - go to [TRVL ADJ.] and use the ch. button to get to 'AILE'. Move the aileron stick left and set the value to 100%. Move the stick right and also set this value to 100%.
JR 6102 - go to [TRAVEL ADJ] and select 'AILE'. Move the aileron stick left and set the value to 100%. Move the stick right and also set this value to 100%.
JR 662 - go to 'TRV ADJ.' then to 'AIL'. Move the aileron stick left and set the value to 100%. Move the stick right and also set this value to 100%.
JR 10X - enter code 12 for [TRAVEL ADJUST]. Move the aileron stick left and press the 'cl' under 'AILE' to set the value to 100%. Hold the stick right and set this value also to 100%.
Futaba 6X - go to 'ATV' then to channel 1. Move the aileron stick left and set the value to 100%. Move the stick right and also set this value to 100%.
Futaba 8U - go to 'ATV-AI' and set both values to 100%.
Futaba 7C/9C - go to [E.POINT] then to 'CH1:AILE'. Move the aileron stick left and set the value to 100%. Move the stick right and also set this value to 100%.
Spektrum DX7 - go to [TRAVEL ADJUST] and select 'AILE'. Move the aileron stick left and set the value to 100%. Move the stick right and also set this value to 100%.
Step 9: Servo reverse setting. In this step we check if the servo is going the right direction and if not then we go to the reverse menu and change the value for the aileron channel. To check the direction move the aileron stick to the right while watching the servo spline. It needs to rotate clockwise. If not then use the instruction below to make it right.
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Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Ai' then down to 'REV' and use the 'inc' or 'dec' button to change the setting.
JR 9303 - go to [REV.SW] and use scroll wheel to select 'AIL' then change the value by pressing in on the scroll wheel.
JR 8103 - go to [REV.SW] and use the ch. button to get to ch. 2 'AILE' then change the value.
JR 6102 - go to [REVERSING SW] and select 'AIL' and change the value.
JR 662 - go to 'REV' then to 'AIL' and change the value.
JR 10X - enter code 11 for [REVERSE SW] and press 2 to change the value.
Futaba 6X - go to 'REV' then to channel 1 and change the value.
Futaba 8U - go to 'REVERS' and select 'AIL' then change the value.
Futaba 7C/9C - go to [REVERSE] then to 'CH1:AILE' then change the value.
Spektrum DX7 - go to [REVERSING SW] and select 'AILE' ch2 and change the value.
Step 10: Install the servo arm. The first step is to choose a servo arm. There are a wide variety of servo arms, from round to ones that have 2, 4, or 5 arms. You will need to choose one that has holes that are 10.5mm from the center so some of the really small arms will not work. Also the two holes you use need to be 180 degrees from each other so that means a 5 arm servo wheel won't work. Next as you can see in the picture on the right, the servo arm needs to be mounted so that the holes you install the two link balls into form a line that is 90 degrees to the main shaft. If you find that due to the teeth on the servo spline the arm is a little off then rotate the arm 180 degrees and see if that will align the way we need it. After you find the position the arm needs to be then mark the two holes that will be 10.5mm from center. Take the arm off and install the link balls. Note that one side of the ball has a lip on it. The head of the screw needs to be on the opposite side of this lip. The lip side will go against the servo arm. Now mount the arm back on the servo, again with the link balls 90 degrees to the direction of the main shaft. Install the center screw to secure the servo arm to the servo spline.
NOTE: When mounting a servo arm to a servo, it needs to be the same brand. Each company uses a different size spline so if you use the wrong brand arm then it will either not go on or will be a very loose fit.
Step 11: Level the swashplate. From the front of the helicopter look at the bottom of the swashplate. It needs to be parallel with the top of the frame. Do the same from the side view so the swashplate is level in both directions.
Step 12: Adjust the link going to the servo arm. Without unleveling the swashplate, gently move one of the aileron links up to the ball on the servo arm. If the link does not match up then adjust the length so that it does then snap the link on the ball. Be sure you did not unlevel the swashplate while doing this. Now adjust the length of the second link so that it will match up with the other ball. For the next step unsnap the links from the balls so there will not be any potential binding.
Note: When adjusting the length of any link you should keep the same amount of threads showing on both sides. It is not good if you have a lot of threads on the rod showing but few to none on the other side. Also you should always pull on the link after adjusting it. This will test how secure the link is. If it is only on by a few threads or something is wrong about the hole size in the link then it will come off when you pull on it.
Step 13: Set the end points. Push the right link all the way toward the back and pull the left link all the way forward. Now hold the aileron stick full right and then see if the link match up with the balls. If not then adjust the radio end point value so it matches up. In general with the link balls at 10.5mm and the radio end points at 100% it should match up or be very close. After you get the right side end point set, then do the left. The two end point values should be within 5% of each other.
NOTE: The distance the ball is from the center will set the volume of travel. As mentioned in Step 8, the idea is to set the end points in the 100% area. If you end up with 60% on both sides then the ball is too far from center. The advantage is the effective speed will be faster but the servo will not be as strong and the centering as well as the overall precision will be degraded. If you have end points of 150% then the servo will be stronger but slower. Also due to the arc angles at the ends the feel in flight will be like adding expo to the last 15% of the controls (not what you want).
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Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Ai' then down to 'EPA'.
JR 9303 - go to [TRVL ADJ.] and select 'AILE'. Press in on the scroll wheel then you can set the values for left and right aileron. Press the scroll wheel again to store the values.
JR 8103 - go to [TRVL ADJ.] and use the ch. button to get to 'AILE'.
JR 6102 - go to [TRAVEL ADJ] and select 'AILE'.
JR 662 - go to 'TRV ADJ.' then to 'AIL'.
JR 10X - enter code 12 for [TRAVEL ADJUST].
Futaba 6X - go to 'ATV' then to channel 1.
Futaba 8U - go to 'ATV-AI'
Futaba 7C/9C - go to [E.POINT] then to 'CH1:AILE'.
Spektrum DX7 - go to [TRAVEL ADJUST] and select 'AILE'.
Step 14: Snap the links in place and you are done.
Next setup the <Elevator> servo.
Troubleshooting resistance in the control system
<under construction 1-10-2004>
for now you can use <this> page