Common "good" servo list?

[rdeis]

I'm getting ready to embark on my first full-house glass airplane and need to choose servos. The airplane is an older used model, a mid-90s 10 ft airplane (Laser, I think?) but I'd like to use gear that I could reasonably pull out of it and move to an unlimited moldie later.

I saw the thread last week about the JR and Airtronics digitals-- wow servos have gotten expensive!

The el-cheapo parkflyer servos are clearly not suitable, but perhaps there are some high quality analogs that can be trusted with this work for $30 or $50 instead of $100?

What sort of torque and speed ratings should I be looking for?

[georgeg]

I'm getting ready to embark on my first full-house glass airplane and need to choose servos. The airplane is an older used model, a mid-90s 10 ft airplane (Laser, I think?) but I'd like to use gear that I could reasonably pull out of it and move to an unlimited moldie later.

I saw the thread last week about the JR and Airtronics digitals-- wow servos have gotten expensive!

The el-cheapo parkflyer servos are clearly not suitable, but perhaps there are some high quality analogs that can be trusted with this work for $30 or $50 instead of $100?

What sort of torque and speed ratings should I be looking for?

You'll get a lot of opinions as to what servos to use. In analog servos, I personally like the JR 341 and 351 servos, although the 351 now costs almost as much as the 368 digital. In Airtronics, I like the 94141 servo. I've flown all of these in 3 meter sized sailplanes and they've been more than adequate.

[rdeis]

although the 351 now costs almost as much as the 368 digital.

And if the price difference if small, then go for the 368's extra precision, right?

I'm sure there are tons of opinions, problem is that for the moment I have none. Need to pick a up few (servo related) opinions from you guys.

[georgeg]

And if the price difference if small, then go for the 368's extra precision, right?



Exactly. Don't sell the JR 341's short. They may have plastic gears but they are rather beefy for plastic and are much cheaper than the 351 or 368. I put all 351s in my Slegers California Condor Mk IV when I built it about 7 or 8 years ago and the servos lasted 4 to 5 years of flying every week. I've replaced 5 of the 6 servos as the old ones wore out but the rudder servo is still original and going strong. (My Condor is still flying and still has 5 351 servos. I did replace the elevator servo with a 368 just to be safe. The old servo had never given me any problems but if the elevator servo goes out, you're liable to loose the airplane!)

[Soar_dude]

here is a good Hitec servo setup for full house HS-85MG for the flaps HS-82MG for the ailerons HS-422 if you can fit them. this is a good reliable economy setup.

Soar Dude

[rdeis]

What about Hitec? Less money, I see, but YGWYPF?

[Soar_dude]

What about Hitec? Less money, I see, but YGWYPF?

Not really I have only had a few problems when I started out picking the correct servo for what application. I found out the hard way not to put HS-81MG on the flaps they did not have the required holding power ended with fluttering flaps replaced them with 85MG's have not had a problem since. The HS-422 are very good servo I use on my rudder and elevator since I have lots of room in the nose for them. I have this setup in two different wings and planning to put them into another full house. Since I not likely to go up against the likes of Skip Miller, Daryl Perkins, or Joe Wurts I feel that the setup I have serves my needs.

Soar Dude

[regis]

First a disclaimer: I really know too little about different servos to recommend. I want to mention the Mini Polo Digi 4 - http://www.multiplexusa.com/product_fs.htm - because I see that others are using them, they seem less expensive for there specs, and because I obtained some in a plane I bought. However, I have heard not a peep about them (or any of the Multiplex servos) on the net forms. Personally, I have been lucky with Hitec servos and not had any fail in flight (so far). Regis

[fnnwizard]

I use mainly JR 3421, 368 and Airtronics 94761 digitals, but If I were short on $$$ but needed something for my Pike Perfect, yes a PIKE PERFECT, I would not hesitate to go with...

GWS Mighty Micro Metal Gear Servo.:eek:

Yep laugh all you want:p :p :p , for $19.25 each you can not find a better servo for 2 times the price.

Look here for specs and pricing.

http://www.servohut.com/HTML/micro_series.htm

All metal gears, 2 ball bearings, HUGE Torque, excellent speed, No play, No double centering whatsoever.
I do not have them in any of my models, but my flying partner/timer has for over 2 years and he is a lot tougher on his planes than I am and to this day they work like they are new.

He gave me one to test to destruction and I couldn't. I stalled it on 2- A123 (6.6v) batteries for 20 seconds and it got warm but kept on working. Torque was more than specs said using a one inch arm against my scale on my home made test stand. I would recommend this servo to anyone.

The only weakness I saw is the arms are not strong enough for the servos output and I dont know if other makes would fit. Try em you will not be disappointed.

[rdeis]

This is turning in to exactly what I wanted, thanks guys. We've got a top tier, some good ones that aren't so expensive, and a bargain or two that seem to do the job.

Can you add some "I would NEVER use this servo in my airplane ever again!" comments to round it out?

[rdwoebke]

rdeis,

I have HS85 MGs in my Psyko #1, and they work Ok. When I bought Psyko#1, they came in it. These servos seem to drift a little and have a little play in the gears.

Well, now I'm putting together Psyko#2, and what do I order for flaps, HS85MG. :) I haven't installed them yet, but they seem to have less play, so perhaps over time they develop some play or perhaps Hitec improved the HS85MG.

Ryan

[Doubletap]

I use Blue Bird BMS-380MG and BMS-380MAX in my moldies. They are stout metal gear micros with lots of torque and excellent centering. Specs are better than the Hitec HS-85MG at much less cost. I'm perfectly satisfied with mine.

http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=V443293&pid=T886880
http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=V443293&pid=U389563

Just recently, I tried the Hextronics HXT-9320MG from HobbyCity.com. Very inexpensive and very similar in performance to the BlueBirds and HS-85MG. So far so good; I'll continue to use these in my molded planes as long as they work this well.

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=3609

Doubletap

[lincoln]

snipIn Airtronics, I like the 94141 servo. snip
Can you really still get these?

[georgeg]

Can you really still get these?

Well, you can when you go into your equipment drawer and pull out six new in box servos that you squirrelled away, way back when! :rolleyes: I tend to accumulate parts for future projects faster than I build said projects. Of course, now there are better servos but from time to time these will show up on eBay or here on RCG so I guess they are still somewhat available.

[lincoln]

I only have two!

[rcflyer1984]

According to airtronics.net you can still get the 94141z. Though I don't see it listed on hobby peoples site.

Tim

[rdeis]

New set for people to try:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=932694&page=3

GWS has released and is pushing digital version of their servos with a programmer. $30.

Now someone go try one and tell me if they are any good! :D

[nuevo]

Try HS-225MG for flaps. A little beefier & faster than the HS85's. HS85's are fine for ailerons. The HS85/HS225's served me well for many years, before I went to digital servos.

I would go with metal geared servos for flaps, no matter what. One landing where you drag the flaps, and you'll wish you had metal geared servos.

You don't need digital servos, if this is your first full-house bird. They do hold position and center much more accurately than analogs, but not required. If you were to consider ONE digital servo, I'd put it on the elevator. Here's one place you will notice the difference.

[dwells]

Don't discount Tower or Hobbico branding. I believe these are Futaba servos for about 1/2 the cost. I've been flying/crashing them for a year now. The accuation and positioning is still perfect.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLN96

[SUNSQUINT]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the fatlion.com servo chart yet...though it doesn't rank servos, it does list the specs and usage of most all servos...

here is the link (http://www.fatlion.com/sailplanes/servochart.html)

[trend.ab]

The Futaba 3702 is my favorite analogue servo, it costs around USD 35.

The Hitec 5085 is a digital version of the HS85. You get it for USD 37 toddsmodels.com

I have no experience with it, but will try it out.

[jjc]

I have been using JR 331s on the ailerons and the rudder on my Thermal Dancer, and I used JR 368s on the flaps and elevator. The 331s are analog and use the same gears that are in the 341s. They center better then the HS85s that I have use in the past. The JR 331s servo case is the same size as the JR 368s. John

[atjurhs]

I think few would disagree that the JR 3421, 368 and Airtronics 94761 digitals are the cream of the crop for high-end full-house moldies.

For RES birds, I want a digital servo like the 368 on the elevator, and I like the HS-85MG or HS-82HB or HS-65HB or HS-45HB (depending on model size) on the rudder, particularly if it is a tail/rudder dragger.

For slope birds, I almost always go with that same set of HS-85MG or HS-82HB or HS-65HB or HS-45HB servos, but if it's bigger than 48inches then I'll use the HS-225M servos.

[Twizter68]

I use Blue Bird BMS-380MG and BMS-380MAX in my moldies. They are stout metal gear micros with lots of torque and excellent centering. Specs are better than the Hitec HS-85MG at much less cost. I'm perfectly satisfied with mine.

http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=V443293&pid=T886880
http://www.bphobbies.com/view.asp?id=V443293&pid=U389563



Doubletap


I'll second that motion; I'm still running the same two BMS-380MG's I bought two years ago, they are in plane #8, been through a few less-than-perfect landings, and two full power nose-ins, and never had a lick of trouble with them.

Just with my thumbs..... :o

[StevenatorLTFO]

rdeis,

I have HS85 MGs in my Psyko #1, and they work Ok. When I bought Psyko#1, they came in it. These servos seem to drift a little and have a little play in the gears.

Well, now I'm putting together Psyko#2, and what do I order for flaps, HS85MG. :) I haven't installed them yet, but they seem to have less play, so perhaps over time they develop some play or perhaps Hitec improved the HS85MG.

Ryan


Ryan,

I have 85mg's in my K2 light, and I've been told that over time, the 85mg's will get a little slop in them. I did have a couple of the plastic geared 85's on the ailerons, but have fluttered them both to geartrain destruction, and then put MG's in when I took the others out.

All my other birds have whatever came in them when I bought them servos, a real dukes mixture, with Airtronics, JR's, and even a plane full of Volz servos LOL

Steve

[target]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the fatlion.com servo chart yet...though it doesn't rank servos, it does list the specs and usage of most all servos...

here is the link (http://www.fatlion.com/sailplanes/servochart.html)

That chart is a <little> dated....
While most of the servos there still exist, and the specs are probably the same, a LOT of additions have been made since then.

T

[target]

Ryan,

I have 85mg's in my K2 light, and I've been told that over time, the 85mg's will get a little slop in them. I did have a couple of the plastic geared 85's on the ailerons, but have fluttered them both to geartrain destruction, and then put MG's in when I took the others out.

All my other birds have whatever came in them when I bought them servos, a real dukes mixture, with Airtronics, JR's, and even a plane full of Volz servos LOL

Steve

Steve-

I'm surprised that the 85's fluttered and stripped the gears. Was there any play in the linkages prior to the gears stripping?? I assume that was on launch, right??
I like to use resin geared servos where I can, the have less play. I wish Hitec would make the 85 in the Karbonite gear material.

Thanks, Target

[ACooper]

If you were to consider ONE digital servo, I'd put it on the elevator. Here's one place you will notice the difference.
That is great advice!