Posted: 02 September 2008 at 4:36pm | IP Logged

Welcome to the forums.

You didn't mention which heli you have.

  The "woof/poof" that you are talking about is not a common issue with any of the Raptor line.

Of the few cases we have seen, they were able to narrow it down to warped blades, bent spindles from crash damage, worn or damaged ball links or loose blade grips.

Which grips? 

Which blades? 

Any aftermarket parts?

What head speed?

All of those could play a part in causing your blades to go out of track.

Posted: 02 September 2008 at 11:39pm | IP Logged

This is very true. to elaborate on these points.. for example:

"worn or damaged ball links":

We've seen where after a crash, a screw that held the ball link for the blade grip was slightly bent. As the rotor turned and applied pressure to the ball, the bent screw would turn with it and thus change the pitch creating the said "woof-and-poof" reaction.

"loose blade grips":

Again, after a crash it has been seen where the hole that holds inner radial bearing (the bearing within the grip that is closest to the hub) of the main grips was "un-noticably damaged". The damage best described as the hole that holds this bearing has  been opened up larger than the bearing diameter causing the bearing to be loose or wobble within it's hole. This loosening is usually spotted with grabbing both blade grips of the head and moving them in an up and down fashion. If the "play" is found, it may be that this is what is causing this condition.

lastly:

It is important to examine all ball links. It's best to unscrew each screw that holds each ball to verify that the screw has not bent. It is also important to check not only the ball screws within the entire head, but the ball that handles pitch as well as all balls attached to all servo horns.

Also, please try to ream (and free up) all ball links throughout the helicopter. I found that un-even forces caused by a tight ball link can promote this condition.

We have also found the source of this condition to be the fault of a pitch servo. Where the pitch servo allowed a slight up and down movement (due to play found within the servo gears/mesh).

good luck and let us know how it turns out.

   - Bert

Posted: 13 January 2009 at 8:23pm | IP Logged

Ok, this is an old thread so I hope people are still watching it. I want an answer to the same question as I am not satasfied with the above answers. And here is why. I got my Raptor 30 V1 just before the V2 came out. It has less than one gallon of fuel through it. NEVER crashed. I was still learning to hover at this time. There was not enough time on the machine for anything to be worn out.

I have had it happen only once, only flew it a couple more times. And tracked fine. Than I put it away. Never to be flown again. One, I was having trouble tuning the engine after a while, two, moved several times, and three, was afraid to fly it again until the problem was solved.

I got back in helis when the Blade CP came out. Now I would like to revive my Raptor, but am afraid to until an answer. I have asked the same question several times  in the last two years and no one even knows what "woof and poof" is anymore.