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Thanks to Tanasit for the following text and pictures :
I finally got my hands on the new Align Trex metal swashplate and at the
same time I chose to install the metal mixing arm (metal washout ) too.
I hand tested the swashplate first and found absolutely no slop but I didn't
like the stiffness of the ballbearing because it felt like silicone filled.
I sprayed it with the engine cleaner and kept turning it a the same time
for a few minutes, let it dry and lube it with ballbearing oil. I
didn't have enough patience to break it in so the first hovering session
was awkward at best because it felt like a puppet! I then removed
both main and tail blades to break it in and noticed the vibration on the
swashplate front leg, so I decided to build a simple anti-rotation guide
from some fiber glass sheet and carbon rod. Since carbon rod can
wear out easily from friction I put clear shrink tube over the metal
leg. It was very windy 20 to 25 mph but I had to try this setup and
I was very happy with solid and crisp cyclic control. In fact, the
whole rotor head is now very rigid and no play at all. |