Sometimes Chinese Sh..tuff Just Pisses me off

[BTCat]

I got my EXI back up in the air after a crash the other day. I had to replace the shaft on the tail, as well as some linkage and the main shaft. Not too bad. the boom wasn't even dented. All of this is CopterX stuff with only about 6 or 7 packs run through it.

I flew 3 or 4 batteries through it this week, and was going to fly more today, but.....the tail fell off. Check out these picks. I was about 25 feet up when the piros started. The good part is I landed it pretty easily without the tail. But why in the he// did this POS break like this? I don't believe it was damaged in the crash. It appeared to break rather suddenly. My only theory, since the tail fin is no where to be found, is that maybe it came loose and went through the blades?? I didn't see anything like this going on, if it did.

[akphill]

Sorry to see that BT glad you saved it I don't beleive that the copter x tail is as good as one would think I have heard of others doing the same thing I'm thinking an Align tail for my belt sorry it happened

[Solitaire]

I've looked at your pics and looked at some tail assemblies I have here and there is a definite weak spot right where yours broke.

It's only attached to the part you clamp to the boom in two spots. The top and the bottom. The sides have a definite gap where the clamp meets the block. I suppose the clamp could be overtightened stressing the top and bottom attaching points. Maybe an undersized boom which increases the stress?

Just speculation, BT. I have both the Copter-X and the Deal Extreme tails and they are basically identical (top and bottom attached and the sides not). I'll have to check an Align tail now. You'd think it would be a one-piece clamp and block since they are supposed to be CNC.

...or maybe it was because you weren't flying your patented orange blades ;D

[rtfheli]

It looks like a defective piece of metal. Maybe a microfracture that just needed some stress flying to final break the piece off. It's ashame with quality control.

[BTCat]

Okay, I got my forensic engineering degree in the mail yesterday and I took the tail apart for another look. After I cleaned it up, I can see that the bottom piece broke first and the top last. There is slight fretting on the bottom (polished spots) indicative of a break that had a chance to rub. The top shows to be a clean, sudden break.

My conclusion is the bottom piece was previously cracked and the top finally gave way. Since I crashed this the other day and wiped out the tail shaft, I suspect I cracked it then. BUT I still am not going to apologize for the "Chinese Sh...tuff" insult. I'm sure they deserve it for other things too ;D

[Solitaire]

Congrats on the forensic engineering degree, BT ;D

I'm not really sure what your alternative to "Chinese" is on these tails...they ALL appear to be built there.

[BTCat]

Jun 7, 2009 15:14:07 GMT -6 Solitaire said:

Congrats on the forensic engineering degree, BT ;D

I'm not really sure what your alternative to "Chinese" is on these tails...they ALL appear to be built there.

Well, after a long windy spell, I'm back in the air and as stable as ever. Didn't cost me anything. I just through some of the original CNC tail and the CopterX together and borrowed my tail fin off my HB. I haven't had time to stop by the LHS to get a real one yet. Just hovered around the yard a bit for a couple of batteries, but it felt good to work the thumbs again. Only 5 days without flying? Seems like an eternity.

Thanks for the congratulations on the forinsic engineering degree, Sol. Got to go soon, I got my Sex Theropist degree in the mail today. ;D Now where did she go?

[Solitaire]

Sheesh, you southern boys get ALL the benefits ;D

BTW, did the blade grips, yoke and slider survive on that tail assembly? When my tail broke during the Spektrum incidents, the blade grips broke, but the housing is still intact. It's not economical to buy grips and yoke at $15 when the whole thing is only $20.

If you can use the housing, you can have it. Not a big deal, I know, but it's just sitting here. PM me and I'll throw it in the mail.

[BTCat]

Jun 11, 2009 21:16:26 GMT -6 Solitaire said:

Sheesh, you southern boys get ALL the benefits ;D

BTW, did the blade grips, yoke and slider survive on that tail assembly? When my tail broke during the Spektrum incidents, the blade grips broke, but the housing is still intact. It's not economical to buy grips and yoke at $15 when the whole thing is only $20.

If you can use the housing, you can have it. Not a big deal, I know, but it's just sitting here. PM me and I'll throw it in the mail.

Hey Sol, I still had the old pieces from my original cheapo CNC. They matched pretty well. There is one notible differance that was not obviouse. The spacers in one are .5mm shorter than the other. Just enough to bind up the bearings or make it super sloppy if you don't combine them right. I got it up and going. No orange blades, though

You may very well need that piece before I do. You know how that works: the day after you mail it, you would need it. Hang on to it and we'll see who needs it first. I very much appreciate the offer!