Help with a flyzone Seawind:

[rifleman_btx]

I've been having problems with this plane rotating off water and off the gear. It wouldn't hit 20mph before it reached the end of the pond. But once in the air it's nice (when it makes it into the air.) I'm not sure if it's thrust angle or what. When I had to swap the fuselage a few weeks ago, and it seem like since then it hasn't been right. I know there were some washers behind the mount, but I don't know how they were positioned. It seems like that's the only thing that could have changed to cause the problem. Before the swap it would take off as easy as can be. But now it rolls over 130ft before it trys to rotate.

[Alpha]

Hi Rifleman, welcome to Hobbysquawk :)

Would you be able to post photos of your Seawind? Especially where you may think there is a possible angle/incidence issue, so we can compare those photos with others on record. Also, for the record what is your CG and how are you balancing it (Upright, gear up?)?

[rifleman_btx]

https://youtu.be/fTYRBNXRNFI. Here's a video of how it takes off now. Here's a takeoff before the fuse was replaced. https://youtu.be/Vl60e3sidZg

[rifleman_btx]

I'll get close-ups of the motor mount when I get back to the house

[Alpha]

Hmm. It's not exactly clear to me of the difference, when viewed from the inside of the cockpit like that. Based off the timestamps, the takeoff time is very similar... about 4.5 seconds for each? But again, without an external view of the aircraft taking off from the same location, it's difficult to find a smoking fun. Perhaps the thrust line photos will help. Also, did anything else change on the model? Less glue in an area from a repair or reinforcement, different battery or location of FPV gear, taller grass that day, etc?

A god benchmark would be a takeoff from a paved surface. That would remove grass resistance from the equation entirely.

[rifleman_btx]

Copy that, grass was pretty much the same, battery is same one, 2650 20c 3s, and the fpv gear was just popped from one plane to the other as it's glued to the left front seat.

[xviper]

FPV for this purpose, is a poor indicator of the difference between the 2 take offs. You need a 2nd person view, ie, a video of the plane against the background as it takes off. 20 mph for this plane, even on 3s, 20C, is pretty slow. I don't know how long a run you have to do this, but 3s power should get this thing off the ground or water in an adequate fashion. Could you have, perhaps, installed the prop backwards? This has been the main cause for a couple of my fellow fliers having underpowered planes. Turn that prop around and BAM, it suddenly has punch. Writing on prop should always face the front. The fact that the motor is in a pod on top of the plane's back, makes it push the nose into the ground/water until it gets up enough airspeed.
PS. I fly mine on 2200mah, 4s, high C batteries, 11x8x3 prop. Goes like a scalded cat and does loops from level flight with no falling out near the top. Stock motor and ESC. Just don't fly it full throttle for extended periods.

[rifleman_btx]

Yeah prop is correct. I always look for the writing before installation

[rifleman_btx]

Here are the close ups of the motor thrust

[rifleman_btx]

Well going over it again, looks like I'll need to replace the motor. One of the wires were cut through when the zip tie slipped off

[xviper]

That's interesting. With one motor wire cut, I'm surprised that the motor would run at all. It usually just stutters and doesn't actually run.

[rifleman_btx]

Right there red has a gash in it

[xviper]

Ah, so not a complete cut. It's more like a semi-short with very few wires to transmit juice.

[rifleman_btx]

Yup yup, just enough to get it to run I guess

[xviper]

You might be able to untwist it and solder new wires. The motor may be fine.

[rifleman_btx]

I'll try that.

[rifleman_btx]

Mission success! She now pulls 28 amps and much harder. :)

[rifleman_btx]

Test flew today, she got off the ground at 23mph with ease, topped out at 65mph, back to being the dream to fly I always come to expect from this plane. :)