250 rebuild

[Doozer]

Today, I had the nastiest looking crash I've ever had. I was flying my 250 between flights of the Mini T, G5, and the FBL 600.
Do a couple of flips, then start some fast and low passes... loop, loop, not so loop. I buried this thing so hard off that third loop I actually heard it thud. Not "thwack" .... "THUD." To add insult to injury, I was in idle up and unprepared at the throttle cut.... chicken dance.... I could hear the gear strippin'. I was just hoping it was the gear and not the one way.

That 250 is one tough cookie man. I've pounded it pretty hard a couple of times and it just bounces back. So here's some pics of the wreckage:

This is all that broke .... really.

This is the freakiest thing I've had happen to my spindle. The heli hit with such force it snapped the spindle at the ends. When I found the blades they still had the grips on them with a piece of the spindle on both sides. I saw both blades fly off and I thought they were obiliterated.....

That chip was it.... flyable until I get new ones.

Here's the broken spindle next to its replacement.



I could use these in a pinch

These not so much.....

This doesn't look as bad as it sounded

Broken skid.

New tail blades on

Skid tube replaced. I would have thouth for sure the skids would have been toast in this crash. I would have bet money on it before I even got to the crash site.

Here's a cool trick I learned from my Gaui build. I'm applying a little grease to this bearing, being careful not to get it in the hole. I'm putting grease on it to hold the spacer that goes between the lower bearing block and the gear.

Now it wont slide off. You just have to be real careful with the grease. The shaft screw hole has to go through that bearing. That why I used a tiny key to apply the grease.

Works great!

Anyway, that was it. Any other heli vaporizes.... I had all the parts on hand. I blew all the dirt and sand out of it with my air compressor. Took a paint brush to it to get the dirt and sand from those stubborn places. Gave it a Tri-flow bath. I re-used the grips that blew off the heli . They are working perfectly.

Nothing on the head damaged except the spindle. Grips re-attached.

[McKrackin]

Any servo damage?
I have 5 lipos charged and ready for my first day of flying ever with a Trex 250.
I'm glad they're tough because I'm dumb.lol....

[19000rpm]

That is amazing. So little damage yet the spindle sheared on both ends.

I'm not an expert on physics, but I think the reason these little helis don't suffer as much as the larger ones do in a crash is related to the smaller mass of the heli. The parts being made of similar materials (just as strong) as larger helis they survive on impact because of the smaller mass of the heli generates less breaking force in a crash.

I've use the "grease as a glue" technique before. I like it.

What tells me we're in for another Official Crash Certification from ernie. ;D

[Doozer]

@ Ern ... No servo damage. I have the 410M's so they are pretty sturdy. I've spun it back up already and it's ready to fly. Don't try to Auto it from too high up or you'll be back in this forum.

@19000 I believe you are correct about the size and weight of the heli making it more durable. It's really the only logical explanation. A lot of people don't think so, but I think this is a great first heli to have after you step out of the Fixed pitch arena. Maybe even a great first single rotor heli period. Its very stable for such a small heli, and the build is super easy because it's most of the way done for you. The parts are cheap and you can get them at your LHS, and it's a very durable heli (cheap in a crash).

I'm getting tired of the smaller helis.... but not this one.

[akent]

That is amazingly light damage!
I hear you on the chicken dance. I've done that too, a few times! It's funny to watch later, not the live event!

I don't think I've ever had a crash, even a minor one with that little damage! I'm liking the 250 more and more, but it's not for me. It's just too incredibly tiny for my old eyes.
Kent

[McKrackin]

I know what you mean about small helis being alot of fun.
I made the mistake of getting a Blade SR and I'm totally addicted to it.
The big heli is broken and I don't even worry about it.

However,I wrecked the SR a little and had to fly my Trex 250 yesterday and I almost stroked out from the fun.lol...Flew ten packs with it.