Cold
Weather Settings
Date: 1/5/01
Its
a simple procedure to prevent hanging up when the
temperature
changes substanially (30 deg plus):
1. Loosen
the allen keys on the side of the slider ball.
2. Loosen
the knurled ring a bit, and retighten to finger tight.
3. Mark
joint w/ a pencil, back off 1/2"-3/4".
4. Tighten
allen screws.
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Date: 1/5/01
9:33:30
PM Eastern Standard Time
From:
garywadams@earthlink.net (Gary Adams)
I ran
across this slider ball problem when I was just learning to fly. I
had the
ball adjusted per the maintence manual, and had been flying many
times, but
this must have been a warmer day. When on approach the cyclic
suddenly
seemed to have a lot of force pushing it to one side (I don't
remember if
it was right or left). Anyway, I got the helicopter on the
ground,
while manhandling the cyclic. While the rotor was spinning
down, I
had to hold
the cyclic tight as it wanted to flop wildly in a circular
motion.
After
checking things for a while (scratching our heads) and not seeing
anything
wrong, I started the engine again. Everything was smooth again. I
ran the
rotor rpm up a few times and the cyclic began to shake again.
It turned
out that it must have been a warmer day than my previous flights,
and when
everything got up to operating temperatures and the ball expanded,
it was a
little too tight. I backed off on the ball collar a little more
than the
manual specified and never had any more problems.
Gary W. Adams
5805
Colonial Hwy.
Evington, VA 24550-1887
(804) 821-6313
-----------------------------------------------------------
Date: 1/5/01
From:
cdhook@hotmail.com (ChopperDoc)
I agree
with you gary, If the slider is adjusted too tight, you will get
feedback
thru the cyclic. To the new pilot, this may not be noticed and
assumed
normal. There is no danger in leaving the slider a little looser
than the
manual states. In my last 250 hour overhaul. i decided to remove
the
mainshaft. well while it was out of the ship it would be a great time to
dismantel
it and check things prior to shimming etc. (why i'll never know).
Anyway, I
took every piece off the mainshaft and low and behold, the slider
ball was
worn beyond the specs of RW. I needed to purchase a new slider
ball.
My concern is, how many other ships are out there with time on them,
that have
worn slider balls. Nobody has every checked as far as I know. Now
is it a
disaster waiting to happen? I dont think so, but maybe something
that should
be inspected every 250 hours. Its not hard to inspect. Dont get
rediculous
on the adjustment.stay on the loose side of the limits. Also a
little
grease wont hurt.
Fly safe
Craig