130X Rebuild x2 (Getting 'em cheap and getting 'em flying again.)

(Jump to the 12:05 mark if you just want to see the successful re-flights)

Heli #1
I recently purchased a used but very clean Blade 130X 3D helicopter fitted with some aftermarket metal parts, a nice $30 fiberglass shell and came with nearly a hobby shop's worth of spare and aftermarket parts for same. There must be at least $200-$300 worth. Great deal for only $75 + $15 shipping.

The heli looked fresh, but I found that the screw shaft of the left side servo has sheared the end off and was falling out of the servo completely. I had another servo with a burned-out circuit board, so I used the good board from the broken servo with the good motor/screw mechanism from the burnt-out one and made one good servo from the junk. Saved me $20 - $25 there.

The only other issue I encountered with it were some loose tail blade grips that were causing noticeable tail wag. Tightening them proper fixed that quickly.

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Heli #2
The next day I was looking on eBay for 130X parts when I ran cross a used 130X for only $40 +$10 shipping that was described to have either a burnt out servo (not bad) or a burnt out control board (expensive). He stated the smoke came from the area of the control board and suspected that was the problem, so was letting it go cheap. This one also had an aftermarket fiberglass shell but no metal hardware. I snapped it up immediately to fix or use as parts.

When I got it (looked near-new) I found the front pitch-axis servo was visibly damaged/burnt. A test showed me that the control board was fine. YES! The 130X control board would have been four times the cost to replace IF you can find one. Servos are common.

I ordered a new servo, then looked online to find out how to replace it since it was buried in the middle of the frame. I found a method at the Helifreak forum to get it out without having to split the frame in half as is typical, but learned far more too.

IT WOULD SEEM that the 130X has a reputation for frying pitch servos, and the cause was the tail shaft main gear spinning within a hair's distance of the pitch servo's circuit board causing short circuits or something. Details here: https://www.helifreak.com/showthread....


After re-installing everything except for the blades, I did a desk top power-up test (PASS) followed by a run-up test (FAIL). The tail shaft was making a buzz as throttle advanced. At that point I noticed the tail boom was cracked and split. I tried gluing it with C.A. but no change in the noise. I swapped in a new hollow tail boom and the buzz went away. I did another run-up with blades installed and all seemed well.

THERE IS a sleeve bearing people have added to their tail booms to add support to the middle of the rotating tail shaft within, but I need to research more about it.


SO here are the first flight (hover) tests of both budget birds to see if they operate properly. Any that do not will be relegated to parts-donor status for my other 130X's (I have 4 total now). Watch to learn the test results. I hope you enjoy the video(s).

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P.S.....One of the songs used in the video resulted in the video being blocked by YouTube in one country....Russia. Not my fault. I have no ill feelings towards informed Russian citizens who do not support the invasion of Ukraine.
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