The Blade 400 is a pre-built, ready to fly remote control (RC) helicopter. It features counter-rotating blades and five channel controls. Normal use of your helicopter can result in blade rotation problems. Sometimes rotation problems are due to a worn or loose component. However, if the helicopter encounters a blade strike, it can sustain significant damage. Since the helicopter came pre-built, it can be difficult to diagnose the problem and repair it, so ultimately you may have to contact a repair technician.
Flight Control Transmitter
Before operating your Blade 400 helicopter, it's a good idea to review the manual for instructions on use the primary flight controls on the transmitter. For example, the left-hand stick on the transmitter operates the throttle, collective pitch and rudder. Pushing the stick upward accelerates the blade speed and pitch and enables the helicopter to ascend into the air. However, the blade won't spin if you put the helicopter in normal or throttle hold flight mode when the left stick is in its lowest position and the throttle trim to the right of the stick is in the middle position. A wrong setting on the transmitter can result in rotation problems.
O-Ring
O-rings act as dampers on the counter-rotating blades of a Blade 400 helicopter and allow the blades to rotate smoothly while the helicopter is in flight. The helicopter has a total of four rubber O-rings - two on either side of the head block. Due to their function, O-rings are prone to wear quickly with normal use. Inspect the O-rings periodically to confirm they're not worn and replace them, if necessary, to prevent problems with uneven blade rotation. You can purchase O-rings from your local hobby shop or an online retailer.
Feathering Shaft
Check the feathering shaft for damage if your Blade 400 helicopter's counter-rotating blades aren't working properly. A blade strike can impact the feathering shaft and damage it. The feathering shaft is located in the rotor house or head block, which is in the middle of the helicopter blades and held in place with screws. The feathering shaft connects both blades together and allows them to rotate uniformly. If the feathering shaft breaks, you must replace it as this component can't usually be repaired. Additionally, since removing an existing feathering shaft requires the removal of several small parts, replacing the component is better left to a repair technician or returned to the manufacturer for inspection and repair. This way, you can guarantee that your helicopter is repaired right.
Loose Feathering Shaft Screws
The feathering shaft is attached to a Blade 400 helicopter with four screws. If one or several screws come loose or fall out, the blades can loosen and cause rotation problems. Although rare, multiple loose screws can even cause a blade to fall out. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to tighten the shaft's screws each time you use your helicopter to avoid blade rotation problems.
Considerations
Although applying thread locks to the feathering shaft's screws may keep the screws secure, thread locks can cause other components of the counter-rotating blades to seize up, such as the washers, shaft and bearings, and lead to rotation problems. Therefore, do not use thread locks on your Blade 400 helicopter. Instead, tighten the screws before you use the helicopter and, if flying it for several hours at a time, bring it in for maintenance every three to four hours to verify the shaft's screws are still tight.
Tags: feathering shaft, Blade helicopter, counter-rotating blades, blade rotation, , rotation problems