Esky 6ch Helicopter Setup

The following instructions are for a Belt CP but the setup for all 6 channel helicopters should follow this scheme.

A helicopter with proper linkage setup will have:

• No binding during movement
• A linear, mirrored response from the controls over the entire positive to negative pitch range
• Zero pitch at mid-stick, and the equal positive and negative pitch
• Blades that track well in the full +ve and -ve range

Part 1 - Prepare the linkages

1. Unplug the motor wires.
2. Power on the transmitter and helicopter.
3. Align both Paddle Control Arms horizontal on the flybar, and the paddles horizontal to the Paddle Control Arms.
4. In idle up mode, ensure your trasmitter pitch curve is programmed for zero pitch at mid-stick and moves evenly in both the positve and negative directions.
5. Move the throttle (left stick) to the center (mid-stick) position, where zero pitch will be set.

Part 2 - Setup the linkages

1. Remove the servo arm and rotate around each spline to set the servo arm as close to 90 degrees as possible; put the screw back in the servo arm.
2. Use the trim to get the arm exactly 90 degrees.
3. Adjust the linkage between the servo arm and the control horn to make the control arm parallel to the servo arm.
4. Complete this step for all 3 servos.
5. Adjust the 3 linkages to the swash to ensure the swash is level.
6. Adjust the linkage to each Bell Mixing Arm to make it horizontal.
7. If your pitch is not zero, adjust all 3 links to the swash to raise or lower it until you have zero pitch (and the same positive and negative pitch in each direction)

Part 3 - Blade tracking tips
With wood blades, tracking can be difficult due to shape tolerance, distortion of the plastic holder, structural clearance, etc. To make tracking easier, do the following:

1. Make an adjustable Bell Mixer Pushrod link (blade to mixing arm); leave one side with the fixed-length linkage.
2. Setup zero pitch using the fixed-length linkage (see part 2).
3. Use the variable-length link to adjust the blade for tracking.
4. If you still seem to need a 1/2 turn, adjust the Swashplate to Bell Mixing Arm linkage; do not adjust it more than 1/2 a turn.

Part 4 - Signs of a good setup

1. Throttle at mid-stick with zero pitch.
2. Swahplate is level.
3. Main blade clamp is horizontal (pitch is zero).
4. Paddle control arms are horizontal.
5. Bell mixer arm is horizontal.