X9303 - possible wire chaffing leading to loss of control

arizzo · Aug 02, 2008, 11:22 PM

I am back in the hobby after a few years off and have been very impressed with the New 2.4 JR radios. I was most interested in the X9303. However, I recently had a conversation with a buddy that caused some concern. He bought a X9303 when It first came out. He flew it alot indoors over the winter and decided to use it in his 40% planes also. However, one day when flying a foamy his aileron lock at full deflection. As he was troubleshooting the problem he realized that it was happening on all the models in his memory. After he determined it was a transmitter problem he took the back cover off. He found that the 3 wire braided wire that runs out of the inside pot for the aileron gimbal was rubbing on a chip on the circuit board. The blue wire in the strand had been completely severed. He determined that due to the design of the case the wires coming out of the pot are pushed against the sharp edge of this "chip" on the board. He called JR to explain what he had found but they did not want to hear about it.

He was telling some guys at the field about this problem and they volunteered to open up their radios and check. Sure enough, both radios showed wear on the same blue wire with one having bare wire already showing.

Has anyone else experienced this? It is a problem that would go unnoticed until a it causes failure.

Thanks

fhhuber506771 · Aug 03, 2008, 01:59 AM

Sounds like it needs to be looked into.

I'll open my case to check and reference this note in an e-mail to local members who also have the X9303

Note that my radio may have the issue averted already... I had it modified by Horizon to an unusual "mode". They've "been inside the case" already.

fhhuber506771 · Aug 03, 2008, 02:20 AM

I inspected my radio...

I can't see how this "defect" is even possible.

I'll see if I can get my flaky digital camera to operate... to show why I think its not possible.

arizzo · Aug 03, 2008, 03:10 PM

I edited my original post. The description of the location was wrong. the wear is occuring on the inside of the gimbal. There are two flat chips on the back of the board there. the wires were rubbing on the edge of the smaller of the chips. The wires do rotate as the stick is moved and this is causing the problem.

LAdams · Aug 03, 2008, 06:27 PM

I just checked my Tx, and indeed, both the red and blue wire on the right gimbal (left side looking a the back) the insulation has worn through and bare copper is showing. They are rubbing on the sharp edge giant voltage regulator of the 2.4 Tx board mounted on the case back.

Everyone with a 2.4 9303 should check this out. I plan on sealing the wires and then sanding the corner down on the voltage regulator. There is a ton of material there, some light sanding to round the edge a little should prevent any further wear but... JR needs to be made aware of this if they aren't already... Edit: Actually maybe Horizon might be more interested and they would have a lot more pull with JR...

LAdams · Aug 03, 2008, 06:51 PM

Repair done.

1) Tiny dab of dilicon to seal the cut in the insulation of the wires. Luckily the wire itself was as yet untouched.

2) Single wrap of electrical tape on wire.

3) dremmel with fine grinding tip (the small tapered one). Lightly ground the right hand edge of the voltage regulator round (as looking at it from the top). Done very lightly. There is a lot of material there but don't go too far

4) Used 400 grit sand paper to hone the edge smooth.

This was a fast and easy fix which should be fine but if you are not so hot on grinding an electrical component, then maybe a trip back to Horizon if it's still under warrenty and shows trhe damage is in order.

AT LEAST check the wire and wrap with a layer of tape, though if the edge is not softened, it'll cut through the tape as well eventually.

Pale Rider · Aug 03, 2008, 06:54 PM

Im going to check mine too--

rsteffen42 · Aug 03, 2008, 07:04 PM

I just pulled the back on my X9303, and it does look plausible that the wires could rub on that voltage regulator. However, I could find no evidence of that happening in my radio. The insulation on all three wires in that bundle was completely intact - not even a scuff mark.

But, I am going to start checking that periodically, and it will go back to Horizon if there is any sign of this happening in the future.

Pale Rider · Aug 03, 2008, 07:39 PM

Ok mine are perfect..In fact, it looks like they secured the bundle with some type of silicone--the only moving wires are on the outside and there is nothing for them to wear against.

scrape · Aug 04, 2008, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pale Rider

Ok mine are perfect..In fact, it looks like they secured the bundle with some type of silicone--the only moving wires are on the outside and there is nothing for them to wear against.

How long have you had yours? I just got the heli version. Really don't want to take it apart. It did come with a manual.

fhhuber506771 · Aug 04, 2008, 02:55 AM

"taking it apart" far enough to inspect is the same as opening the case to adjust stick tension...

Pull the battery and remove 6 screws.
The back pops free.
Don't pull hard... there are still wires connecting the back of the radio to the front, but they are long enough to slide the back out of the way.

The proceedure to adjust stick tension is in the manual...
Also... this is how you access the fuse. (don't bypass the fuse... no matter what anyone else says.)
So they EXPECT you to look in there.

Don't drop any metal bits inside...
Don't EVER attempt to open the case with the battery connected.
Don't connect the battery while the case is open.

Pale Rider · Aug 04, 2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrape

How long have you had yours? I just got the heli version. Really don't want to take it apart. It did come with a manual.

I have the AIR version and had it about 5 months

Richard314 · Aug 04, 2008, 11:28 AM

can someone attach a photo showing exact wires in question?

Richard314 · Aug 04, 2008, 11:36 AM

I've just been programing my new X9303. It appears that the Aux 4 channel is on the back right switch (labeled mixer), rather than the front switch. Is that what you found?

Pale Rider · Aug 04, 2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard314

I've just been programing my new X9303. It appears that the Aux 4 channel is on the back right switch (labeled mixer), rather than the front switch. Is that what you found?

Nope.. mine is in the front on the top right. The mix switch is behind it.

Aug 02, 2008, 11:22 PM	#1
arizzo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4	X9303 - possible wire chaffing leading to loss of control I am back in the hobby after a few years off and have been very impressed with the New 2.4 JR radios. I was most interested in the X9303. However, I recently had a conversation with a buddy that caused some concern. He bought a X9303 when It first came out. He flew it alot indoors over the winter and decided to use it in his 40% planes also. However, one day when flying a foamy his aileron lock at full deflection. As he was troubleshooting the problem he realized that it was happening on all the models in his memory. After he determined it was a transmitter problem he took the back cover off. He found that the 3 wire braided wire that runs out of the inside pot for the aileron gimbal was rubbing on a chip on the circuit board. The blue wire in the strand had been completely severed. He determined that due to the design of the case the wires coming out of the pot are pushed against the sharp edge of this "chip" on the board. He called JR to explain what he had found but they did not want to hear about it. He was telling some guys at the field about this problem and they volunteered to open up their radios and check. Sure enough, both radios showed wear on the same blue wire with one having bare wire already showing. Has anyone else experienced this? It is a problem that would go unnoticed until a it causes failure. Thanks Last edited by arizzo; Aug 18, 2008 at 03:30 PM. Reason: clarify issue

Aug 03, 2008, 06:27 PM	#5
LAdams Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 233	I just checked my Tx, and indeed, both the red and blue wire on the right gimbal (left side looking a the back) the insulation has worn through and bare copper is showing. They are rubbing on the sharp edge giant voltage regulator of the 2.4 Tx board mounted on the case back. Everyone with a 2.4 9303 should check this out. I plan on sealing the wires and then sanding the corner down on the voltage regulator. There is a ton of material there, some light sanding to round the edge a little should prevent any further wear but... JR needs to be made aware of this if they aren't already... Edit: Actually maybe Horizon might be more interested and they would have a lot more pull with JR... Last edited by LAdams; Aug 03, 2008 at 06:59 PM.

Aug 03, 2008, 01:59 AM	#2
fhhuber506771 Deletedfor proving Nauga wrong Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Posts: 15,865	Sounds like it needs to be looked into. I'll open my case to check and reference this note in an e-mail to local members who also have the X9303 Note that my radio may have the issue averted already... I had it modified by Horizon to an unusual "mode". They've "been inside the case" already.

Aug 03, 2008, 02:20 AM	#3
fhhuber506771 Deletedfor proving Nauga wrong Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Posts: 15,865	I inspected my radio... I can't see how this "defect" is even possible. I'll see if I can get my flaky digital camera to operate... to show why I think its not possible.

Aug 03, 2008, 03:10 PM	#4
arizzo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4	I edited my original post. The description of the location was wrong. the wear is occuring on the inside of the gimbal. There are two flat chips on the back of the board there. the wires were rubbing on the edge of the smaller of the chips. The wires do rotate as the stick is moved and this is causing the problem.

Aug 03, 2008, 06:51 PM	#6
LAdams Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 233	Repair done. 1) Tiny dab of dilicon to seal the cut in the insulation of the wires. Luckily the wire itself was as yet untouched. 2) Single wrap of electrical tape on wire. 3) dremmel with fine grinding tip (the small tapered one). Lightly ground the right hand edge of the voltage regulator round (as looking at it from the top). Done very lightly. There is a lot of material there but don't go too far 4) Used 400 grit sand paper to hone the edge smooth. This was a fast and easy fix which should be fine but if you are not so hot on grinding an electrical component, then maybe a trip back to Horizon if it's still under warrenty and shows trhe damage is in order. AT LEAST check the wire and wrap with a layer of tape, though if the edge is not softened, it'll cut through the tape as well eventually.

Aug 03, 2008, 06:54 PM	#7
Pale Rider Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 272	Im going to check mine too--

Aug 03, 2008, 07:04 PM	#8
rsteffen42 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 19	I just pulled the back on my X9303, and it does look plausible that the wires could rub on that voltage regulator. However, I could find no evidence of that happening in my radio. The insulation on all three wires in that bundle was completely intact - not even a scuff mark. But, I am going to start checking that periodically, and it will go back to Horizon if there is any sign of this happening in the future.

Aug 03, 2008, 07:39 PM	#9
Pale Rider Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 272	Ok mine are perfect..In fact, it looks like they secured the bundle with some type of silicone--the only moving wires are on the outside and there is nothing for them to wear against.

Aug 04, 2008, 02:55 AM	#11
fhhuber506771 Deletedfor proving Nauga wrong Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Posts: 15,865	"taking it apart" far enough to inspect is the same as opening the case to adjust stick tension... Pull the battery and remove 6 screws. The back pops free. Don't pull hard... there are still wires connecting the back of the radio to the front, but they are long enough to slide the back out of the way. The proceedure to adjust stick tension is in the manual... Also... this is how you access the fuse. (don't bypass the fuse... no matter what anyone else says.) So they EXPECT you to look in there. Don't drop any metal bits inside... Don't EVER attempt to open the case with the battery connected. Don't connect the battery while the case is open.

Aug 04, 2008, 11:28 AM	#13
Richard314 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 76	can someone attach a photo showing exact wires in question?

Aug 04, 2008, 11:36 AM	#14
Richard314 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 76	I've just been programing my new X9303. It appears that the Aux 4 channel is on the back right switch (labeled mixer), rather than the front switch. Is that what you found?