Aerobird Extreme Motor problems

[andmak500]

Hi everyone,This is my first post on this forum.I'd like to say there is a wealth of information here.Nice to see people sharing their knowledge and experiences to help others.Hope I will be able to help out someday but right now I'm just getting my "feet wet".Never flow RC planes before but recently purchased an Aerobird Extreme (used).The plane came with a bunch of extra parts and seemed like a good deal,however ,the motor won't run.Have tried several fully charged batteries with no luck.Removed the receiver board form the fuselage and found that the heatsinked transistor (think that's what it is)which contols the motor speed is burn't.Called Hobby Zone and they only sell complete fuselages with the receiver board.Have a friend with the same plane and the same problem. My friend with the same plane called HobbyZone and asked if they would sell him only the transistor but they said it was a "propriatary part" and would not sell it seperate or give more info on it.If we knew what transistor they used then we could go to any local electronics supply store and have a cheap replacement.Is this a common problem??What is the fix apart from buying a new fuselage? Thanks in advance.

[Walks]

How long have you had the Extreme? Most reputable places should take it back if it wasn't working right out of the box.

You can buy a new fuse but with the Extreme it can be just the fuse so if you have to go that route make sure it includes the electronics. I'm not sure about what Hobby Zone was saying about the entire fuse with electronics :confused: . I just saw one empty at Hobby Town. I have an Extreme myself and haven't gotten to the point where I need to look into a new fuse but I would suspect if you can just buy the fuse you should be able to replace the electronics only (though I've been wrong many times before). It's not hard to swap out. The biggest thing you need to be is patient with is getting the tail wing on correctly. You'll want to get some fishing line (12-14 lb test) to replace the lines.

First check with who you got it from and see if they'll take a return/swap. Good luck; the Extreme is a blast to fly. When the wind picks up I put down my Challenger and go to town with the Extreme. Handles wind well ... but keep it close to you ... those huge wings will carry it a long way quickly.

Walks

[Piggy89373]

Since it's not a modular setup on the board, you're better off just getting a new fuse. Granted, it'd be nice to be able to drop 3 bucks on a new transistor instead of 55, but there's no telling what else burned out when the transistor blew. It may have surged and blown out something else. If you're just bent on replacing that part, see if there's a part number on it and Google it. You might be able to just order one or have a place like Radio Shack order it.

If you bought it at a hobby shop, even used, typically they'll replace it at no cost (or little to cover shipping) to you. That is, of course, given that it wasn't purchased "As is."

[whiteghost]

The heatsink resistor is in fact a MOSFET " field emiting transmitter"
You should replace the burnt one with this one 'IRLI3803'

This runs just as fast but gives off a lot less heat !!!

I use this in mine and few other flyers use this in theres to.......
have a look here to see where to get it :
http://ec.irf.com/v6/en/US/adirect/ir?cmd=catProductDetailFrame&productID=IRLI3803

[Dr_Who77]

Get a new fuse, it isn't that much more $$$. Thats one of the problems with RTFs.

The transotior could be fried, but many other unoticable things might of happened. Changes are the guy you bought it from burned out the motor. if you get a new fuse, you will save money, because you willhave the life of your xtreme longer, even though it may cost more money than a little part. (Wings and tails are goign to get beat up no matter what)

[andmak500]

"Whiteghost" and "DR who77",Thanks very much for your replies.I will order the RTF and check on installing the fuse.I have checked the motor and it works fine when battery power is supplied directly to it.Will let you know how it works out,again thanks for your imput.

[whiteghost]

The mosfet's are pretty cheap compared to the full fusalage !

plus some peeps I know have had simular problems with the new fuses as the mosfet fitted to the extreme has a tendancy to burn out if run at full power for to long.

The mosfet in my last post is a lot better and my extreme has had no probs with it and is flying well...

The mosfet blows to protect the circuit board, when mine blew I just replaced it and all is well. I checked with Hobby Zone and they sell either
the replacment fuse ( empty ) or with the control board attched !!

[andmak500]

Exactly "Whiteghost"!!! I got the same run around from Hobby Zone.They wanted to sell me the fuselage or the board.Sounds like this problem is not so uncommon and the last thing I'm going to do is buy new parts and have the same thing happen again.When you purchased the mosfet did they sell you one or did you have to buy a minimum quantity?Do you remember how much it cost?Thanks.

[airganism]

I am a hang glider pilot that is grounded for winter and I decided to get into r/c. I flew a ZAGI for awhile...but in my hands it was more 'smacki'...at least half the time. The other non dangerous to persons pets or plants portion of practice was very fun! I flew a thl on hi start as the only motors I felt qualified for were the one on the lawn mower and the one in my van.
But I got past that and bought an aero extreme. Now...it says on the box 'intermediate' which I am assuming both my fly and crashability to be. besides, I park on the main road by the school and keep the motor running just in case I have to get out of there real fast.
I had just got my kit together and followed all the directions to get a full charged battery...and about 10 secs after running at full tilt...I could not get any motor response at 2/3 speed control...falling progressively with motor operation. I cycled the battery(new) several times and it got better but no way is it of the duration claimed.
I live down the street from one of thos 'Yoda' flying guys that has been around since before ufo's had a name, and he said I'd be stuck dancing nicads in and out of this "dinosaur" every 8 to 14 mins (NOW I'm missing those AZ therms!)to have any fun with this thing. But the c.d action and what I read here lifts my spirits a bit. Parts numbers and everything! I think I will just go ahead and replace those parts you have collective issues with. In fact...I came here to see if anybody had anything to say about this bird. Lots it turns out. Appreciate it.

Whenever I see somebody driving a yellow car(kayak or??) I have been known to ask them: 'Hey...Does Big Bird know you are driving his car????'. Not always appreciated...but YELLOW (especially on a full sized new 'hey look at me' pickup truck) begs the joke. so...I painted my abex red and black with airbrush like blends. Should look real good in the air or on the repair bench.
I hope to find another local flier of same so we can kind of do that aerial combat(thinking ahead of course)thing on the cd demo. By the way Krylons' so-called "fusion" spray paint does not stick to plastic any better than their regular paint....even when I wiped the fuselage with Laquer thinner to remove any mfg mold release. Just did not want to have the banana.

My neighbor has offered to go with me(old flyers are great people)the first few times to check me out. I think I will do okay. If there is a great low cost place to get ni-cad back ups on the net(he says I can never use liths as they won't fit the compartment or in the right voltage. This is a heavy plane...so I guess I will be turning batteries like hot dogs at a barbecue on any good flying day. I will watch for further info on this plane.

By the way...have seen a few references to hang gliding here. If any of you fliers want to try it...PLEASE don't go on ebay and buy and try. It REALLY miffs me that new equipment and training are SO expensive(way too!!)especially given this day/age/ issues facing all of us. H.G. is too elitist and getting worse if you ask me(or don't)....and the friendly people and prices I see in r/c are a nice break from that. Case in point...unless you are amember you are not going to see hang gliding mag on any newstands. Too bad.

I still remember the first kite I ever had and the first time I flew it. Something happened in me on that day. I will always fly something....somehow.

best to everybody.

Time to make the tee shirts.......

[airganism]

I forgot to say....Hobby Zone wanted me to package this thing up and ship it back for repair. I had the c-board out of the fuselage already(and motor) and they wanted the whole fuselage. Huh?! Once again....good to have the common sense old time flyer down the street who was happy to check a few things out and quickly discern it as a non correctly charging battery(or poor battery charger...stock one in box...seems way cheesy and slow to take to any field?). I have on ni-cad and one ni-mhd and hope to fly it this weekend if the rain lets up. :)