Step 1
The best way to approach setting up any CCPM machine is with a
clean slate. If possible switch to another empty model in your TX
to be sure its completely clean. If you can't do that then check
that you do not have any sub trim or travel advance (ATV) for the
elevator, aileron, or pitch channels. Any of these things will
negate the advantage of using the leveler.
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Step 2
We will need to remove the rotorhead to use the swash plate leveling
tool, so it is best to just remove it first incase we happen to somehow
hit the throttle and spool things up. It also makes it easer for
us to get to the servo to swash links that we will be adjusting.
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Step 3
Next you need to move your collective stick to center (50%). Make
sure that you are in throttle hold or the motor is not connected.
I have learned from experience that doing bench setup not in
throttle hold will have negative consequences. By moving your
collective stick to center the 3 CCPM servos should be in the center of
their travel.
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Step 4
Place the servo arm on the servo on the left side of your
helicopter. Make sure it is on the spline which keeps it as close
to parallel with the servo as possible.
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Step 5
The servo horn will most likely not be perfectly lined up with the
servo. We will need to make this perfectly centered using the TX
sub-trim. Adjust the sub trim of the Pitch (JR) servo until the
arm is perfectly level
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Step 6
Next we will center
the elevator servo. Like we did for the pitch servo, first put
the servo arm onto the servo so it is closest to parallel with the
servo case. The splines will only give you 2 choices that are
close to parallel. If neither is closer it doesn't really matter
which position you select.
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Step 7
Adjust the elevator servo sub-trim until the servo arm is perfectly parallel with the servo case.
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Step 8
Because of the
design of the T-Rex, the third servo causes a bit of an
issue. The servo case is mounted too close to the main gear to
get the kind of travel we need for 3-D. As the arm comes down for
negative pitch, along with some cyclic, it will start to bind into the
rotation of the main gear. Our only option to prevent this is to
offset the servo arm away from the main gear. I like to move the
arm 1 spline away from level. The end result should be a servo
arm about 10 degrees off of parallel with the servo case.
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Step 9
Depending on how the splines lined up on your aileron servo, you may
need to do some sub-trimming to get the right angle for the servo
arm. Try to get it similar to the photo at right.
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Step 10
Now that all your
servos are completely centered we are ready for the leveling
tool. If you have flown your T-Rex already your rods are most
likely already close to the right length. If not don't worry we
are going to adjust their lengths in a moment. Double check that
your TX has the collective stick centered and all 3 CCPM servo arms are
where we set them.
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Step 11
Slide the swash
plate leveler down on the main shaft and onto the swashplate. At
this point we will be leveling the swash at 0 pitch. Because we
have already done the centering to the servos, all adjustments will be
made with the link lengths.
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Step 12
Match the tool arms up with the swash plate CCPM
points. For a perfectly level swash you will need to adjust each
of the links until the tool touches the swash at all 3 points.
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Step 13
Here is a photo of the leveling tool with the rods at the
correct length. As you can see the points are touching the swash.
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Step 14
Now that center has been leveled, we need to level the
endpoints. Move the collective stick to full positive
pitch. Now recheck your swash with the leveling tool. I'm
willing to bet that it is no longer level. This is because your
servos are not perfectly matched, plus the aileron servo being offset
will really screw with things.
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Step 15
To level these points you need to adjust the endpoint
travel of each of the servos. The rods are already the correct
length, and the servos are already where we want them, so messing with
those will not help the situation. For the points that are not
touching the leveling tool, just add some extra travel until that point
comes up and touches the tool. You may also decrease the travel
of those points that are too high, either method works. The end
result should be a level swash the same as we have at center stick.
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Step 16
The last step in getting a perfect level setup is leveling
the negative part of the collective range. We will do this
exactly the same as we did for the positive. Move the collective
stick all the way to the bottom.
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FINISHED!
You now have a perfectly leveled swash plate. Put
the rotorhead back on the helicopter and go fly. You should find
the helicopter is trimmed out after using this tool. Should the
helicopter not be in trim, read the page called "Trimming your T-Rex"
for more details.
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