Raptor 30 Tail Drive

[kevin]

All,

FYI - I'm relatively new to the Raptor.

Noticed after yesterdays session that I had a lot of 'white dust' on the
airframe/tail boom. It seems that the tail drive belt has been catching on
the red pulleys (well in fact slipping out of the pulleys by the main gear)
and hence rubbing on the pulley edges.

Are these belts prone to expansion following hot weather? Or is there a
simple way to keep the belt within the pulleys - as there appears to be a
lot of play in the belt and hence slippin?

Look forward to your suggestions.

Kevin.

[Ian McMillan]

"kevin" <kevin.steed@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:%nPZa.11048$Fu5.9166@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> All,
>
> FYI - I'm relatively new to the Raptor.
>
> Noticed after yesterdays session that I had a lot of 'white dust' on the
> airframe/tail boom. It seems that the tail drive belt has been catching
on
> the red pulleys (well in fact slipping out of the pulleys by the main
gear)
> and hence rubbing on the pulley edges.

Sounds like the belt may need tightening up. Loosen the tail boom and the
horizontal fin and pull the boom outward to tighten the belt. Make sure that
the belt is in both guide pulleys.

>
> Are these belts prone to expansion following hot weather?
Maybe - I have just had a belt stretch for no apparent reason. You can tell
they are stretched when you tighten them and they still slap the boom; only
cure I've found for that is a new belt.

Or is there a
> simple way to keep the belt within the pulleys - as there appears to be a
> lot of play in the belt and hence slippin?

The belt should feel reasonably tight when you push on it from the side. I
think the instructions say that you should not be able to deflect it more
than 3/16th of an inch (5mm).
Try it again when tightened and if it still slaps the boom and gives dust
then the belt is probably knackered and you will need a new one.

>
> Look forward to your suggestions.

See above :-)

Ian