Radio
Setup - Elevator
last
updated 3-31-2007
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Radio
Setup - Elevator |
 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. |
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| Step 2: Mount the servo in the top slot of the servo tray. The top of the servo will be on the right side of the helicopter. And 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 3: 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 elevator plug will connect to one of the first three plugs in the receiver (look at the chart for the right one). You can confirm this is the correct plug by moving the elevator 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:
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. |
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| Step 4: Center the trim. This is the small
adjustment control to the left of the elevator 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. ====== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'El' 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 elevator. 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 elevator 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 elevator. 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 elevator. 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 elevator. The radio will beep on each click but will make a different tone beep when you get to center position. |
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| Step 5: Zero the sub-trim. This is also
called Center in some radios. =================== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'El' then down to 'CNT' and set it to 0% JR 9303 - go to [Sub-trim] and use the scroll wheel to select 'ELEV'. 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 'ELEV' then set to zero. JR 6102 - go to [SUB TRIM] and press 'select' button to get to 'ELE' and set to 0. JR 662 - go to 'SB-TRIM' then to 'ELE' and set to 0. JR 10X - enter code 15 [SUB TRIM] and press 'cl' under 'ELEV' to zero it out. Futaba 6X - go to 'STRM' then to channel 2 and set to 0. Futaba 8U - go to 'SUBTRM' then to 'ELE' and set to 0. Futaba 7C/9C - go to 'SUB-TRIM' then to 'CH2:ELE' then set to 0. Spektrum DX7 - go to [SUB TRIM] and press 'select' button to get to 'ELEV' and set to 0. |
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| Step 6: 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>. ==================== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'El' 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 'ELEV'. 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 'ELEV' then set 'D/R' to 100%. JR 6102 - go to [D/R & EXP] and select 'ELE' and set 'D/R' to 100%. JR 662 - go to 'D/R' then to 'El0' and set to 100%. Use the D/R switch and do the same for 'El1', this sets both sides to 100%. JR 10X - enter code 13 [D/R & EXP] and press 'PAGE' to get to 'ELEV'. Press 'cl' under D/R to set the value to 100%. Futaba 6X - go to 'D/R' then to channel 2 and set to 100%. Futaba 8U - go to 'D/R-El' and set both values to 100%. Futaba 7C/9C - go to [D/R, EXP] then to 'CH2:ELE' then set to 100%. Spektrum DX7 - go to [D/R & EXP] and select 'ELEV' and set 'D/R' to 100%. |
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| Step 7: Set end points to 100% (aka E.Points,
EPA, ATV, Travel Adjust). This functions sets how far the
servo moves when the elevator stick is full forward as
well as when it is full back. 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). ================== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'El' then down to 'EPA'. Move the elevator stick forward and set the value to 100%. Move the stick back and also set this value to 100%. JR 9303 - go to [TRVL ADJ.] and select 'ELEV'. 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 'ELE'. Move the elevator stick forward and set the value to 100%. Move the stick back and also set this value to 100%. JR 6102 - go to [TRAVEL ADJ] and select 'ELE'. Move the elevator stick forward and set the value to 100%. Move the stick back and also set this value to 100%. JR 662 - go to 'TRV ADJ.' then to 'ELE'. Move the elevator stick forward and set the value to 100%. Move the stick back and also set this value to 100%. JR 10X - enter code 12 for [TRAVEL ADJUST]. Move the elevator stick up and press the 'cl' under 'ELEV' to set the value to 100%. Hold the stick down and set this value also to 100%. Futaba 6X - go to 'ATV' then to channel 2. Move the elevator stick forward and set the value to 100%. Move the stick back and also set this value to 100%. Futaba 8U - go to 'ATV-El' and set both values to 100%. Futaba 7C/9C - go to [E.POINT] then to 'CH2:ELE'. Move the elevator stick forward and set the value to 100%. Move the stick back and also set this value to 100%. Spektrum DX7 - go to [TRAVEL ADJUST] and select 'ELEV'. Move the aileron stick forward and set the value to 100%. Move the stick back and also set this value to 100%. |
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| NOTE: If you have a Push-Pull elevator like comes with the Titan 50 then read <this>. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step 8: 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 elevator channel. To check the direction pull the
elevator stick backward while watching the servo spline.
It needs to rotate clockwise (***note if you have a push-pull
setup then the servo should rotate CCW***). If not then
use the instruction below to make it right. =============== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'El' 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 'ELE' 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 'ELE' then change the value. JR 6102 - go to [REVERSING SW] and select 'ELE' and change the value. JR 662 - go to 'REV' then to 'ELE' and change the value. JR 10X - enter code 11 for [REVERSE SW] and press 3 to change the value. Futaba 6X - go to 'REV' then to channel 2 and change the value. Futaba 8U - go to 'REVERS' and select 'ELE' then change the value. Futaba 7C/9C - go to [REVERSE] then to 'CH2:ELE' then change the value. Spektrum DX7 - go to [REVERSING SW] and select 'ELEV' ch3 and change the value. |
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 Step
9: 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. Next as
you can see in the picture on the right, the servo arm
needs to be mounted so that the holes in the arm form a
line that is straight up and 90 degrees to the elevator
link. It is important to look at the alignment of the
holes since some arms such as the one in the picture to
the right have a slanted side. 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. Once you find the correct
position for the arm mark the hole that will be 10.5mm
above the center. Take the arm off and install the link
ball. 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 ball
90 degrees to the direction of the link. 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. |
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 Step
10: Level the swashplate. From the side 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
front view so the swashplate is level in both directions. |
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| Step 11: At this point the swashplate is
level and levers #18 and #21 (page
9 of my manual) are straight down.
Adjust the length of rod from #18 to #21 to make the
intermediate lever (#21) straight down. Next adjust the
link going from the intermediate lever (#21) to the servo
arm. Without unleveling the swashplate, gently move the
elevator link up to the ball on the servo arm. If the
link does not match up then adjust the length so that it
does. Be sure you did not unlevel the swashplate while
doing this. 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. |
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| Step 12: Set the end points. Push the link
all the way toward the back of the helicopter. Now hold
the elevator stick full forward 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
forward side end point set, then do the back. 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 7, 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). ================== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'El' then down to 'EPA'. JR 9303 - go to [TRVL ADJ.] and select 'ELEV'. Press in on the scroll wheel then you can set the values for forward and back elevator. Press the scroll wheel again to store the values. JR 8103 - go to [TRVL ADJ.] and use the ch. button to get to 'ELE'. JR 6102 - go to [TRAVEL ADJ] and select 'ELE'. JR 662 - go to 'TRV ADJ.' then to 'ELE'. JR 10X - enter code 12 for [TRAVEL ADJUST]. Futaba 6X - go to 'ATV' then to channel 2. Futaba 8U - go to 'ATV-El' Futaba 7C/9C - go to [E.POINT] then to 'CH2:ELE'. Spektrum DX7 - go to [TRAVEL ADJUST] and select 'ELEV'. |
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| Step 13: Snap the link in place and you are done. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next setup the <Throttle> servo. |
| Troubleshooting resistance in the control system |
| <under construction 1-10-2004> for now you can use <this> page |