Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Radio Equipment => Topic started by: traylor1 on September 04, 2012, 05:11:39 pm

Title: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: traylor1 on September 04, 2012, 05:11:39 pm
All:

I have a Futaba remote control that i cannot find any model number on.  It is a 4 channel system though.  I teach a technology class and we actually control robots with these remotes.

My problem is that on the right joystick, the spring has popped off and I need to reinstall it, however, I can only find where to hook it on one side.  The second side I see nothing to hook it to.

Does anyone know of any sort of a diagram that demonstrates where to hook this spring to?

Randy
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: essex2visuvesi on September 04, 2012, 05:16:26 pm
can you post a picture of the TX
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: apennicardwood1 on September 04, 2012, 09:35:33 pm
It sounds like if you can not see where the spring should go then something more then just the spring coming off has happened, was there any bits floating around in the cover?
As essex2visuvesi has put a pic may help...
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: Tug-Kenny RIP on September 04, 2012, 09:37:13 pm
Hi Traylor1 and welcome to Mayhem..

I've moved your post over to this section as you will get a better response from the members.

Also it would be handy to put you location in your profile in case you have any local members that can help you.

Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: malcolmfrary on September 04, 2012, 10:33:53 pm
Using years of engineering experience, I would cheat by looking at the other stick, failing that, at another sprung channel where the spring still sits, and copy that. 
As suggested in post #3, there might have been a bit of plastic for it to hook onto that has wandered off.  Finding a way of replacing it could be a good little project for a technology class.
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: traylor1 on September 05, 2012, 03:40:33 pm
All thank you for the help!  I have taken the best photos I can of the unit outside and in.  I have made some marks in green so you can see where I can find to attach the springs.

As I stated earlier, I do teach a technology class we use this to operate robots.  As a result, I do have another unit and it has done the same thing.  I have talked to a colleague who has experienced this as well and he said this is a problem he has to fix yearly the spring just pops off.  It pretty much sounds like a design flaw, as I found no other pieces of plastic floating around.

Once again if anyone has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

Randy

Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: traylor1 on September 06, 2012, 03:27:37 pm
Anyone?  (crickets chirp)
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: Martin (Admin) on September 06, 2012, 03:57:29 pm
 
If it was my unit, I would just drill, melt a tiny hole in the stub  and hook the spring trough .....
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: Martin (Admin) on September 06, 2012, 04:10:53 pm
Sorry, misread you post.

I think you are looking for 'square plastic formed hook' in the guts n/ base of the joystick.
 I might be quite hard to locate but might look some thing like this.
 Maybe only be 5mm high, 3mm across.

Side view

Top view (black area might be a hole under the hook)
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: traylor1 on September 06, 2012, 07:43:35 pm
Martin:

That actually looks about like what I was trying to get it to attach to.  Although I am looking at it from above.  I have been having a booger of a time getting it to stay though.  I may try super gluing that side first.  The lever up top is not difficult to hook on to, so if I do hook below first, it should hook above.

I feel pretty good for guessing as to the location of it! :)
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: malcolmfrary on September 06, 2012, 09:05:22 pm
If the black plastic moulding has a pale grey bit where the plastic lug parted company, I would be tempted to insert a wire hook at that site, maybe drilling a fine hole there first to act as a guide, but probably fixing it by chasing it into the hole (or even directly into the plastic ) by using a hot soldering iron.  Practice elsewhere to get a feel for what happens helps.
I have successfully mounted small metal parts in plastic before now by getting both the part and the jaws of the pliers holding it hot enough and pressing the part into place, on letting go the pliers, the part cools quickly enough that it stays in place, does no further damage and the cooled plastic grips the part.
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: tobyker on September 06, 2012, 10:34:12 pm
FWIW, when I have to attach something like that I thread a piece of cotton through the top loop, hold the spring in tweezers and locate the bottom loop in the plastic hook, then keeping tension on the spring with the cotton, pull the top loop over the spring. If I try to use my sausage fingers the bottom loop always slips off just as I get the top one on!
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: Martin (Admin) on September 07, 2012, 12:38:22 am
 
I did mine a couple of weeks ago... the air turned slightly blue.  >>:-(

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=38906.msg388069#msg388069
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: traylor1 on September 20, 2012, 08:08:55 pm
Finally had time to work on this and the super glue and a pair of needle nose pliers did the trick.

Thanks guys for your help!

Randy
Title: Re: Attaching springs on a Futaba remote control
Post by: Martin (Admin) on September 20, 2012, 10:11:42 pm
 
 :-))