JR
6000T Gyro Setup and Operating Tips
Author : Dave Wilshere
Date : 9th July 2002
Author : Dave Wilshere
Date : 9th July 2002
I have used the 5000T for two years and didn't expect it to be improved upon.It's a great gyro for 3-D flying using heading hold all of the time. In contest flying (F3c) the heading hold facility can be a disadvantage.
The 6000T offers all the features of the 5000T with the added benefit of variable heading hold percentages. The idea of this is that for normal sport or F3c flying where the helicopter is flown fairly fast through loops and rolls, heading hold is a hindrance. A good gyro/tail set-up will hold the heading even when flying fast. If the tail is off line it will stay there and cause loops to be screwed out of. The heading hold power can be adjusted on the 6000T so you can have as little as 25% heading hold operating at 100% gain! When used in a cross wind some heading hold helps.
The 6000T is also supplied with a new four wire 8000SX servo, that has extra information fed to it. Setting it up is fairly straight forward the important things are the 150% ATV on the rudder and setting the end points using the trimmer so that the tail servo isn't stalled.
It has always surprised me when pilots accept 50-60% gain settings on something that offered 100% gain-Yes the tail holds ok at 50%, but it isn't holding as well as it would at 100%. On my XL-Pro I can get between 95% and 100% gain in the hover and 70-80% in the aero's. This is achieved by minimising the vibration to the gyro sensor and trimming the tail blades area (by sanding the trailing edge to reduce the cord)
Flying the same two makes of helicopter does give me an advantage as I know what to expect as far as the gyro gain setting. Having said that I haven't flown a machine yet where 75% wasn't easily possible. I'll start by fitting tailblades that I expect to be suitable :- SAB410 for 30-46, SAB452 for 46-50, SAB458 for 50-60, SAB454 most 60's, SAB451 60's (softer response) and SAB 442 70-90.
I expect the gain to be lower while a new machine is running in. The motor will be running rough and gears take a few tanks to bed in. Once the model is fully set-up (including getting the motor to run smooth) the final setting up can be done.
The amount of gain you can run and how well the gyro works is affected more by vibration levels than where it's actually mounted position wise. Mounting it away from the main shaft is only a disadvantage if the place it is mounted flexes.
I have used a piece of 3mm plywood between the gyro sensor and the mounting plate for some time. The idea being that it changes the frequency of any vibration in the helicopter. The new 80 and 90 machines have brought a new problem as the higher vibration levels are at a frequency that affects some gyros and can actually stop the gyro working for a second! One cure has been to fit a steel plate between the gyro sensor and mount. Adding too much gyro tape to try and protect the gyro from vibration causes other problems as the gyro sensor will oscillate on the tape if there is vibration present. Make the gyro mounting platform as solid as possible to get a consistent
setting and perfect stops.
6000T Gyro Sensor