New Sport Copter lower rotorhead installed and flown!

[bmoore2156]

My lower rotorhead came in the mail the other day, thanks to Evan up at Sport Copter. We had retrofitted the SC upper rotorhead to the RAF lower. I decided it was time to get rid of the RAF pivots and go With Sport Copters.
I put the cheek plates together and painted them. I decided to change the mast bushing while I had it apart. It still looked great, but had been in there for a long time. It was a nice clean install and everything went together smooth.
I was able to fly it today inbetween rain showers. The wind was blowing right down the runway at 30 kts+. I havn't flown in a week or so and was really itching to get off the ground again and boy was it fun. I made several helicopter style landings with no foward roll at all.
I took a break and reinspected my work before taking it out again. This time I went on a 1/2hr long flight. The first thing I noticed was the stick shake and the cabin hop that usually started around 80mph was GONE. I pushed her right up to 100mph and it was smooth as silk. I think the soft bushings in the lower rotorhead really made a big improvment.
It's like flying a whole new machine. Thanks Sport Copter!
Here are a couple of pics.
Brad
EDIT... I noticed the pics were taken before I was finished... All the rotorhead bolts are not installed in the pics.. Don't worry!

[Master Roda]

Very cool Brad!! I'm glad it's working good for you.

[All_In]

Thank you for the pilot report is sounds GREAT!!!
Keep us informed...

[jcarleto]

Looks good. Very clean install.

But where's the video? Flying pictures?? Hmmm?

[willisbr]

Brad is the hub bar similar to RAF in that you can set it and forget it? Or do you have to restring and all that each time? What's the reason you went SC?

[StanFoster]

Brian- When I had my RAF, I had the 24th generation blades. I stumbled upon a good deal for some 30 ft. Sportcopter blades. I thought I would try them, then keep which ones flew the best. The Sportcopter blades were very smooth, and they flew 8 mph faster. I sold my RAF blades . Stan

[bmoore2156]

Originally Posted by willisbr

Brad is the hub bar similar to RAF in that you can set it and forget it? Or do you have to restring and all that each time? What's the reason you went SC?

Brian
I did not see your question until now... Sorry I took SOOO long.. Yes and No.. The hub bar is nothing like RAF's, It's alot stronger. Yes, it's set it and forget it.
My machine came with SC rotors, a Sparrow Hawk rotorhead, and RAF pivots. It was a mixed breed of parts and it was just time to upgrade everything. RAF used aircraft bolts pivoting through an aluminum hole for pitch and roll. I did not like the for and aft stop bolts eating the aluminum away that was holding my a$$ in the air. Every time I went for a flight, I would look at those pivots and pray they would hold up for another hour.

I put my rotors in a 30' box in my trailer when I am traveling so I don't have to mess with taking the blades on and off the hub bar. It takes less than 5 minuets from start to finish for me to install the rotors by myself. It takes longer if someone is "helping" me.
Brad

[lanichol]

Brad,

What is your sub engine size, prop brand, and gear reduction.
****
Noticed on your muffler post you still have the 2.2L. So how are you getting up to 100 mph?

[CLS447]

That's a nice setup ! Does that 5th bolt actually bolt through the rotorhead ?

How do you like their brake ?

Is the upper bendix an improvement over the RAF one ?

Did the flex shaft fit right up ?

Is that a Wayne crossbar ?

Does this head have adjustable stops ?

I'll stop there !

One more....Where are your teeter(droop) stops ?

[bmoore2156]

Larry,
2.2L 68'' 3 blade warp and redrive is 2to1 I think.. Stock raf stuff.
I can scoot around at 100 indicated at full throttle. Come to think of it, my asi reads alittle fast so probably 90 mph. Have big plans for that soon.. ej20t??
Chris,
The top bolt is for the droop stops.. I just didn't have them on for the picture. The second bolt is the teeter bolt. I do like the bendix better, smoother and again.. stronger
Flex shaft slides right in. Yes, it's Wayne's crosbar. No adjustable stops. They are built in and area really cool... no metal to metal anywhere.

[CLS447]

I meant the middle one on the cheekplates.

How about a pic fully assembled ?

[bmoore2156]

Chris,
The 5th bolt has a bushing on it and it's actually the left/right stop. Yes, it passes all the way through. It does not hold the rotorhead. I can get a updated pic.
The rotor brake lever on the head is about half of the length of the stock one. It has nearly half of the power of the stock one. I could (and will) change the lever inside of the gyro so it will pull harder and should be back to the same stopping power.
Brad