Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

[retiredflyer]

I just installed the (now discontinued) A3 SE Pro gyro unit into my Hacker Katana. I have several other brands of gyros in my other planes so I'm familiar with the specifics (orientations/radios switches, etc). I noticed, also mentioned on the HobbyEagle website, that when I switch over to normal (gyro) mode, my throws go to maximum and VERY twitchy. The website says this is normal! Wow, I do not want to fly with the throws this high and twitchy. I normally fly with this plane the D/R at 60%. Also, the stick movement is not smooth, the servos jerk into position, especially the very first 1/4 inch or so. Sort of snaps to that then continues.
Is this normal? I do NOT want to try this in the air like this. The other brand gyros I have (Freewing) do not change my radio settings at all and the sticks/servos continue smooth with the gyro on or off.
This seems strange. The website says this movement is required for the gyro to work properly. Any ideas or other thoughts there? Thanks.

Keith

[StarHopper]

Re: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

Keith, I just (last week) bought 5 of those SE's. First one I plucked from the batch is, for lack of a better word, NUTS.
Won't go into 'Acro' nor 'Off' modes, moves rudder in one direction only, elevators try to compensate for rudder axis disturbance. No matter the alternative ways I try to hook it up, btw, so that's not the problem. That half-movement rudder....wildest part is the nose wheel won't steer, even tho both are common-powered off a 'Y'!

Haven't yet had time to try another from the batch as proof-of-pudding, but the plane & the parts are sittin' right by my elbow, _was_ next on the que. And all the while, that sudden Discontinuance is layin' heavy on my mind! I'm now hesitant about opening another of the remaining four - seriously thinking of asking for a refund instead & apply to some of the 6-ax units.

[StormyDog1962]

Re: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

One of the most important things to do is make sure you have the ability to turn off the gyro from the transmitter. We recommend taking off with the gyro off and climb to an altitude that you can recover from. Turn on the gyro and see how the plane reacts-if it goes out of control turn off gyro. The gyros react differently on the ground than they do in the air. Dual rates and expo may only appear when the plane is in flight. Set those up with the gyro off, check this thread.http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=29277315&postcount=475. It answers some questions about the gyro's, not specifically yours but this is HobbyEagle's reply. I know its not reassuring to see your plane twitch and act odd on the ground but they do react differently in flight.

[retiredflyer]

Re: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

Thanks for the reply, I was really wondering if it was something wrong with the gyro, NOW, I did go flying this morning anyway to try it out. I figured, what the heck, take off without it, get up high and flip it on. It was blowing about 5-10 MPH this morning and when I kicked the gyro on....smooth. The erratic, jerky, and EXTREME servo movements I saw on the workbench didn't seem to be happening in the air. So I guess, with some valuable input from you also, I answered my own question. It does work fine in the air. I didn't realize it would be different on the ground as the other gyro I have (Freewing) that doesn't exhibit that tendency.

Thanks everyone.

Keith

[StormyDog1962]

Re: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

Awesome--That twitching on the ground does not instill confidence but you have proven the darn things work. Glad it all worked out for you. Thanks for being a MotionRC family member.

[Silentrun]

Re: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

Typically with other Gyro's I have use, You need to "set level" in no wind or calm wind with plane in horizontal position. Set Level is usually accomplished by advancing throttle. I will hold the plane by vertical stabilizer until semi-horizontal (can't be perfect) and then advance throttle. The twitchy servos is indication gyro is already active and level has been set.

[WintrSol]

Re: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

The gyro stabilizer I use, the Eagle Tree Guardian, has what they call 'direct rate' controls, which interpret the command inputs as rotation rate 'requests'. Since the model doesn't move on the ground, it will give large commands to the servos, in an attempt to reach the commanded rotation rate. Does your gyro system have a similar control setting?

[trying2fly]

RE: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

Thanks for the reply, I was really wondering if it was something wrong with the gyro,  NOW, I did go flying this morning anyway to try it out.  I figured, what the heck, take off without it, get up high and flip it on.  It was blowing about 5-10 MPH this morning and when I kicked the gyro on....smooth.  The erratic, jerky, and EXTREME servo movements I saw on the workbench didn't seem to be happening in the air.  So I guess, with some valuable input from you also, I answered my own question.  It does work fine in the air.  I didn't realize it would be different on the ground as the other gyro I have (Freewing) that doesn't exhibit that tendency.

 Thanks everyone.

 Keith

[trying2fly]

RE: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

One of the most important things to do is make sure you have the ability to turn off the gyro from the transmitter. We recommend taking off with the gyro off and climb to an altitude that you can recover from. Turn on the gyro and see how the plane reacts-if it goes out of control turn off gyro. The gyros react differently on the ground than they do in the air. Dual rates and expo may only appear when the plane is in flight. Set those up with the gyro off, check this thread.http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=29277315&postcount=475. It answers some questions about the gyro's, not specifically yours but this is HobbyEagle's reply. I know its not reassuring to see your plane twitch and act odd on the ground but they do react differently in flight.

Try it with another transmitter/and/or/receiver.  That'll do the trick!!

[Pheonix]

RE: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

One of the most important things to do is make sure you have the ability to turn off the gyro from the transmitter. We recommend taking off with the gyro off and climb to an altitude that you can recover from. Turn on the gyro and see how the plane reacts-if it goes out of control turn off gyro. The gyros react differently on the ground than they do in the air. Dual rates and expo may only appear when the plane is in flight. Set those up with the gyro off, check this thread.http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=29277315&postcount=475. It answers some questions about the gyro's, not specifically yours but this is HobbyEagle's reply. I know its not reassuring to see your plane twitch and act odd on the ground but they do react differently in flight.

Try it with another transmitter/and/or/receiver.  That'll do the trick!!

Thanks Wyane.  You just answered one of my main concerns with stabilizers. I just finished installing an Eagle Tree Guardian in my Hawker and experienced the problems mentioned.  I am using a Futaba 14SG and tried to follow the instructions for gyros.  This was a bear.  I used an axillary channel with a 3-position switch and all works well now.

[stitch]

RE: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

mine does same i dialed down dr and that helps!

[xviper]

RE: Servo throws VERY high and TWITCHY now with gyro!

I have the A3 with auto-balance and auto-hover. In the default mode, hooked up to a 3-way switch, I have "normal", auto-balance and auto-hover. How do you "turn it off"?