ESC Endplay

Michael Lione · May 23, 2017

I posed this in the Solo Mod Group but would be very interested in your input as well.

I did a flip after landing. The bird was all goofy seeins the credit card message had already been announced. My bad. Really windy and I was in manual and it took longer than I expected to get her down. No damage, flew three sorties after a level calibration. Noticed a different whine and after closer inspection found the 04 pod had about .002 endplay. Spins the same, typical magnetic bumps on rotation. What say you? Should I can it? Maybe press the bottom bearing back in place? Or ignore the endplay.

just_bruce · May 23, 2017

Out of an abundance of caution, I'd at a minimum replace the bearings. Though the whole pod might be easier, honestly.

RichWest · May 24, 2017

I don't understand "esc endplay". Motor run-out? In either case, 5" out from the hub what does that .002" look like? Not good.

Could have a bent shaft, that 1/8" shaft is minimal. Top bearing takes the impact in a crash, the source of the noise.

Shafts are available, as are bearings...save yourself grief, swap out the motor pod.

Michael Lione · May 25, 2017

RichWest said:
I don't understand "esc endplay". Motor run-out? In either case, 5" out from the hub what does that .002" look like? Not good.

Could have a bent shaft, that 1/8" shaft is minimal. Top bearing takes the impact in a crash, the source of the noise.

Shafts are available, as are bearings...save yourself grief, swap out the motor pod.

Hey Rich, By end play I meant lateral (up and down) which I believe you correctly describe as "run out" vs bearing slop or wobble for a better way of putting it.

Michael Lione · May 25, 2017

So in the end as you can see my inquiry didn't seem to attract much attention. At $30 for a complete Pod I guess I can see why. I did decide to replace the pod. With nothing to loose I dug into the "sloppy" one I described above. Found the bottom e-clip flopping around in the groove. For shits and giggles I loosened the set screw and tapped the prop hub back down. And seemed to eliminate the end play. Does anyone know what size allen wrench the hub set screw is?