Draganfly Draganflyer SAVS, Instruction & Operation Manual

Page: 20 / 26

Draganflyer Maintenance
Unlike a traditional helicopter, the Dragan fl yer requires very little maintenance, however there are
some simple tasks which must be performed on a regular basis. Prior to each fl ight, you should
check the following:
• Insure the rotor screws have not loosened.
• Check the alignment of the rotor blades, by making sure the motors are directly vertical when
the Dragan fl yer is on a fl at surface. ( This step is especially important after a crash )
• Check the rotor blades for chips and cracks. Small chips on the leading edge can be smoothed out
using 150 grit sandpaper. Cracked or damaged rotor blades should be replaced immediately to
avoid in
-fl ight failure.
• Inspect the helicopter frame for cracks in the nylon components or carbon
-fi ber tubes, any dam -
aged parts must be replaced before fl ying again. Twist each motor mount from side to side. If the
mount is cracked, the nylon will separate ( typically where the mount clamps to the carbon -fi ber
tube ) . If you are able to easily twist the mount assembly 90 degrees from vertical and the assem -
bly has a ‘ spongy ’ feel to it, it is very likely you have a cracked carbon -fi ber tube.
• Extend the transmitter antenna fully and inspect it for serious bends or cracks. Make sure the an
-
tenna is screwed completely into the transmitter base. Over time and with use it can become
loose.
• Check the circuit board to ensure it is
fi rmly retained in the vertical risers and that there is no
visible damage on it.
On a regular basis ( every 1 - 3 hours of fl ight time ) you should perform the following additional tasks:
• Re
- tighten all of the allen - head bolts in the frame ( Be careful not to over - tighten! ) as well as the
screws retaining the motors in their mounts and the acorn nuts on the carbon -fi ber base plate.
• Check the position of the magnets in the motors. Sometime in hard landing or crashes the mag
-
nets in the motors can “ fall ” down out of place. If a magnet is covering the vents on the motor
simply push it upwards with a fl athead screwdriver.
• Clean any dirt that may have collected on or in the helicopter components. Any dirt accumulated
on the circuit board can be cleaned by using a tooth brush. To clean out the motors you can
spray them with compressed air or electric motor cleaner.
• The four thermal sensors on the top of the circuit board will also need to be cleaned occasionally.
This can be done with isopropyl alcohol and a qtip or cotton ball.
This regular maintenance is a very important factor in you Dragan fl yer ’ s performance, failure to
perform these basic requirements may result in erratic performance in and in -fl ight failure of com -
ponents.
20