450 Squadron Parts Failure Heads-up!

I posted this in the Squadron sticky but thought I should post it here also, to cover those guys that don't follow the sticky updates:

Heads up Squadron Owners!

I have had the short transfer shaft/gears that drives the belt at the main gears fail on both of my Squadrons. Today at about 50' doing pieros and all of a sudden uncontrolled piero spinning. It gets your attention. The small plastic drive pully for the belt at the top of the shaft disconnects from the shaft and you lose tail rotation. I have replaced the shaft/gears, on the first failed Squadron, with an assembly from my $39.95 EXI, which seems more substantial with a metal drive gear. Today I'm disassembling the freshly crashed Squadron to replace the shaft/gear assy, main blades, blade holders, boom, main gear, and lord knows what else! Unfortunately the shaft/gear assy is buried deep inside the heli which requires a lot of disassembly.

Finished rebuilding the Squadron last nite and test flew it. Found the tail shaft bent, back to the bench, replaced and setup the tail in rate and switched to HH and all seems well. This morning I ran a couple of packs through it and it is back in shape.

Thought I might be able to save you guys some money on pants cleaning bills!

I feel really bad because that tail gear prob is the reason I won't fly or own and EXI 450 anymore. I had SOOOO many freaking probs with that tail drive, the tail boom constantly loosening and then crappy hardware. No more EXI's for me, ever.

Other than the tail jackshaft I haven't had too many problems with my EXI 450s. I did replace the tail assemblies with metal upgrades right away so I may have avoided some of the problems with the plastic tail assemblies. I haven't experienced the loose tail boom, hopefully won't.

So far I'm impressed with the quality of the parts I'm seeing with my EXI 500 CF. Everything I upgraded with the 450s already comes with the CF 500. We shall see after I get it built and get some flying under my belt.

Nuttcaze wrote:

I feel really bad because that tail gear prob is the reason I won't fly or own and EXI 450 anymore. I had SOOOO many freaking probs with that tail drive, the tail boom constantly loosening and then crappy hardware. No more EXI's for me, ever.

But still is an option as "next step" if we still get an EXI placing the electronics from the Belt CP, Nutt? it is my plan for next year.

Thanks.

alot of people don't have any probs with their EXI's but I did so I'll be staying away from them. Kinda interested in seeing the Copter X. Might have to order myself 1 one of these days soon.