How to Adjust the Paddles on an RC Helicopter

Paddles help the helicopter find and maintain a center of balance.

The complex mechanics at work in the helicopter require precise calibration to ensure proper functionality. The slightest imbalance in the aircraft's rotors could result in a vibration that could potentially hinder flight. Balance is essential to your helicopter's aerial stability and overall performance. Learn how to adjust the radio-controlled (RC) helicopter's paddles to maintain your aircraft's optimum settings.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Tape
• Pitch gauge

Instructions

1. Loosen the main blades from the mounting brace, then remove them from the helicopter. Turn on the helicopter and hold it steady while you apply slight throttle. Feel the aircraft for vibration as the paddles rotate. Vibrations necessitate paddle adjustment.

2. Mark one paddle with a piece of tape to differentiate between the two. Unscrew the fastener bolt that secures the paddle to the fly bar, then loosen the screw that holds the weight in place. Slide the paddle and weight a millimeter out toward the end of the fly bar, then tighten them. Retest the helicopter to see if the vibration improves or worsens.

3. Move the paddle and weight incrementally until the vibration is negligible or completely eliminated. Continue to move it outward if the first change improved vibrations; move it back toward the center of the fly bar if the initial change made it worse.

4. Check the pitch of the paddles to ensure they are both positioned with zero pitch (or horizontal). Use the pitch gauge to identify the pitch, and set it back to zero degrees.

5. Reconnect the rotor blades once all adjustments to the paddles are finalized.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a tape measure to check the distance from the paddle to the rotor shaft. This distance should be identical on both ends of the fly bar. Make the necessary adjustments to establish congruence between both paddles.

References

• RC airplane World: Fly Bar Balance & Paddle Pitch