GAS Tunnel Controls Help

[David Santistevan]

I am headed down the home stretch of getting my GS480 built and I am ready to start looking at radio box and controls. I have a list of questions for any of you running gas tunnels I would appreciate any help you could provide;

1) How many servos are your running for rudder and what are their torque specs?

2) Are you going direct from the servo(s) to the engine control horns or are you using intermediate bellcranks?

I would also love to see some pictures of other setups if you have them!!

Thanks,Dave

 

[James E Beasley]

Stainless steel push rods with 1/4 scale RC Buggy tie rod ends and turnbukles that slip fit inside the pushrods. Giant wheel collars to lock them down yet allow for adjustment. You can use 2 giant scale servos like this picture, or better yet is to use a Servo City "Gear Box" and 79XX HITEC digital servo for 1500 oz/in of torque, use the 5:1 gear ratio. Your welcome. James

 

[CapeTown73]

Hello David,

I too am starting with the radio installations phase of my GS 480 build, and for what it's worth, here's a comment or two.

1. I agree with James Beasley on using a servo-gearbox from ServoCity, I already have mine as it was also recommended by Fred Howe at R-Manufacturing from who I purchased my Lawless leg (lower). My gearbox has the HS-7950TH servo which with the 3.8 : 1 gear-ratio, supplies me with 1527 ounces/inch torque on 6 volt.
    
   
2. I will be using the aluminum rods and sturdy stainless-steel ball-joints as supplied in a kit from Lawless.
    
   
3. I will use a flexible Sullivan braided rod (in its yellow sleeve) from the throttle servo all the way to the throttle-arm on the carb. (Just like James has done , see his first two photos above.)
   

I hope this helps you. I attach a few photos of my current progress with the build.

Kind regards,

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Weenie,

Where are you getting your flex cables? I would like to get a couple extra for the GX480 FE tunnel I am building for SAW's using a Lawless lower. Mike

 

[RonShaw]

David,

Get me your email address. I was asked by a couple of people now for pics of my setup and radio box. I will email them to you as well. Thanks.

 

[CapeTown73]

Mike, I will be running Lawless flex-cables. Got my supply directly from Fred Howe at Lawless and I believe they will work well. I like the fact that the end of the squares are neatly welded.

Cheers,

Wennie.

 

[Mike Luszcz]

Wennie, are they pretty flexible? The one I have now is extremely flexible and I was told Joe at Zippkits was the importer at one time but the cost quadrupled. Not sure if he told you, but Donald will be getting his kit soon. Cant wait to see how the new design runs against the GS480. I am also ready to see that gear drive on his hull too. Will you be building his? Talk soon, Mike

 

[CapeTown73]

Mike,

They feel very flexible to me and I believe that is also important for their durability! I could be wrong but I think the Zippkits flex and the Lawless flex are the same product. Maybe Joe or Fred could chime in here and clarify that for us.

Yes, Donald was here this afternoon and he is now chomping at the bit to get started on his GX480 build! I'll help him if he asks for help but I think he should do OK on his own. I think we're all very keen to see how his Dragon drive works out!

Cheers,

 

[user 16820]

Hi Guys,

Weenie Wennie?? Mike types FAAAst.

Yes, Wennie i will really appreciate your help. I am sure The dragon can work out fine if the bearings, and the gears can do the trick. As you know i have spare gears that are ceramic coated. Time will tell. As for GX480... i can't wait!

See you on Saturday Wennie.

 

[LawlessMan]

Mike,

They feel very flexible to me and I believe that is also important for their durability! I could be wrong but I think the Zippkits flex and the Lawless flex are the same product. Maybe Joe or Fred could chime in here and clarify that for us.

Yes, Donald was here this afternoon and he is now chomping at the bit to get started on his GX480 build! I'll help him if he asks for help but I think he should do OK on his own. I think we're all very keen to see how his Dragon drive works out!

Cheers,

Just for the record, I would like everyone to know that Joe and I did cooperate twice on purchase ventures to get the gas drive flexshafts. The first supplier was the one that quadrupled the price on us. After much searching, we found a manufacturer that could supply them at a price that didn't make us shudder. Now that Joe has packed up and moved from NY to Indiana, he decided to no longer offer the flexshafts, but I have a good supply. The current shafts themselves are fairly flexible, but the current teflon sleeve I'm using is a bit stiff. While it will last a good long time, it may put up something of a struggle installing it in the assembled drive. I heat the sleeve and flexshaft with a heat gun (teflon melts at about 450 degrees, so there's little chance of actually damaging it unless you set it on fire), and push it down into the drive from the top. I use a second sleeve over the upper end of the flexshaft and push the warmed sleeve down until it is about flush with the lower bore. Once it is installed and cooled down, you can pull the flexshaft out for lubrication, or you can grease it up before installing it.

Fred "lawlessman".