500 Tear down question

[D.O.G.]

Hello, I was just wondering how many flights before I need to take apart the DFC and tail assembly? I'm talking about tearing down everything to the bearings. My 500, which I don't fly very often, does have about two dozen flights now since last tear down. I check all the helis after every flight for any movement. The 500 still feels tight. So should I tear her down and give her a major once over or can I fly a few my times? My 450 and X3 get taken apart enough since they happen to be in more crashes then the 500 . How many flights do you do before a major overhaul to your bird? Thanks

 

[Tony]

They say every 10 flights and check the thrust bearings but I don't follow that logic. Just whenever I feel grit or something starting to bind, then I will take it apart.

 

[Geena]

I don`t follow the 10 flight rule either. I generally get 10 or more flights in every time I go to the field, so that would mean nightly tear downs for me. I pull the head apart and re-grease the thrust bearings every couple of months, and replace bearings when they start feeling notchy.

 

[D.O.G.]

Thank you Geena and Tony. I've heard different answers my self. So Geena , your avg. almost 50 flights per month before tear down. Cool, I can get a few more flights out of the 500 then since I can't fly no where near as hard or as good as you do.

 

[Smoggie]

I have to admit that i dont check mine very often, maybe once a year or if I start to feel slop or notchiness. So far on larger helis I dont recall needing to change a thrust bearing due to wear, I've just greased them and put them back in and they work as good as new.

 

[Admiral]

I used to pull mine apart every couple of weeks, but it had nothing to do with maintenance , since my flying has improved I have one 450 that has not been stripped down for over 12 months it gets checked before every flight and lubed about every 10 flights. I am going to have to pull it down soon as the belt is showing signs of wear and I'll go right over it at that stage.