don't use DJI props they snap 8"
- Thread starter rwijnhov
- Start date
I've seen a few videos of multi rotor crafts losing a prop during flight and crashing. One was due to cold weather causing the prop to break mid flight and the other was when a nut came loose. I use APC props. I would like to try the Graupner props one day. Right now I'm pretty happy with my Hexa setup.
yakjock
Member
I had a prop break on me this morning! it was warmish about 8 Celsius & fairl windy 16-18mph gusting a bit more. I am just glad it was nice & low level.
Have the vid from the onboard cam.
https://vimeo.com/40395014
Chris.
Have the vid from the onboard cam.
https://vimeo.com/40395014
Chris.
Well, I have been meaning to get some Graupners but just never got around to it. Today I was flying my FPV F450 and went out about 3/4 a mile because I was trying out a shortened antenna to see if it would work long range. I was on my way back and almost made it when I heard a noise and the quad started flipping. I took off my goggles and saw it fall into a tree. It got stuck up too high for me to get it out so I started the motors again and throttled it up to get it to come out. It fell down into some weeds. The quad was undamaged besides the broken prop. My video transmitter came off and still hasn't been found. The live output and usb plug were ripped out of my GoPro at an angle and it broke off the video out plug inside and broke the USB connector loose from the circuit board. I got the plug out of the gopro but I don't have any live output. So over a couple of dollar prop I lost around $400 worth of stuff.
I have good results with APC's. Most of mine are reworked and carefully balanced which does make a big difference to the vibration. Most important part of balancing is having the right insert to center the prop. firmly on the shaft. Never did like those flexible ones. They vibrate even when balanced.
Here's the cheapest place I found Graupners from. http://www.electronicarc.com/catalogo/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=graupner&osCsid=8e95bfbe36d6035f0d3de8bdf4160a70&x=0&y=0
I had 2 crashes due do the stock DJI 10" props breaking a blade while hovering.
This one broke my NAZA, but DJI was kind enough to replace it.
http://youtu.be/We12v-McC4Y
http://youtu.be/Nww9-BDEdjY
I had 2 crashes due do the stock DJI 10" props breaking a blade while hovering.
This one broke my NAZA, but DJI was kind enough to replace it.
http://youtu.be/We12v-McC4Y
http://youtu.be/Nww9-BDEdjY
Wow, that first one looks like it nearly got you. That could have been ugly. A friend had some 8" Graupners he wasn't going to use so I bought them from him yesterday. They don't have quite as much power as the DJI 8" because they are quite a bit thinner I assume. I probably could go a little bigger on my F450 on 4S but these are working okay. With the WKM though I really can't tell much difference unless I fly in manual mode and then it takes more stick to hover.
Ya, the Graupners are quite sharp. That would have totally sucked if it hit me. Luckily it hit my soft case lunch box that I keep all the FPV gear in. That broke the fall some.
I didn't want to wait for DJI to get my NAZA and then send me the brand new one so I bought another one and when the new one comes in I'll try to sell it or maybe buy a used F450 and use that for FPV and the F550 and my Sony Nex5n for aerial photography.
Add my F550 to the list of 8x5 DJI blade failures. Had about 40 flights on the stock set, waiting for backordered Graupners to show up. Blade sheered at the hub. The MRC didn't quite brick, but it pitched forward with a VERY fast decent from around 30' into soft dirt. Minimal damage; broke a second prop, but that was it. The 550 has the Aerial Iris landing gear extensions on it which, to his credit, took the brunt of the impact and survived the crash without a problem.
RCNut
Member
I emailed DJI some time ago regarding reports of the props breaking but never received a reply.
I broke an 8" prop doing some tests on my F550 with Naza. The #1 motor was vibrating a little and I attributed it to the fact that I did a dirt dive from 60' and made a note to replace the motor. I flew one pack with no problems, but when I took off for my second flight, the #1 prop flew off and took out the #4 prop as well. I was able to get it down without crashing my newly created quad. I was very lucky that it was opposing motors. I have ordered a new motor and esc along with some new 8" props. I am hoping that this will fix the problem. I normally fly Graupners but did not want to do it while I was testing. I did get a reply from DJI and the props have been modified.
Rick~K
Free Bird
I now think I joined the broken prop club... I was flying yesterday doing some test flights on my quad and hexa and I was doing power climbs from eye level to about 25ft. I did one then came down to about 4ft in a hover then all of a sudden the Hexa flipped over forward moving doing a 1/2 outside loop into the edge of a hey field that connects with my yard. Two props broken at the hub and not one the adjacent arm, I blamed it on what I thought was the ping pong ball had slid out of its mount and hit the prop because I seen it flying off as the show was going on. I think maybe it was a prop failure, lucky the hay was near 2ft high and I had no damage.
flying my 450 today after adding some new settings - suddenly 3 of 4 snapped at the same time. I was giving fast left and fast right, tail in movements only - when back into stable hover this happened ... no further damage but we were shocked when this happened ... also with the 8" ones ...
Learned a new trick today and it works not only for DJI props but MR props in general. Look at the root of the prop, if you see a little white line, it is the beginning of a fracture line and you should not use that prop again. I was flying with some guys today that were both doing flips and rolls. The last flight of the day was a dirt dart into the grass. Two props lost, but on closer inspection the other two had small white lines near the root. All it took was a small movement and they both broke. Just an FYI, inspect your props regularly.
Rick~K
Free Bird
I was flying at our local field today and was showing the 450 to some people interested in MRC's and was doing nothing but easy turns and low flight, I flew out to about 100ft high-stopped-turned and started back and it happen again..POP.. I think it was only one because as the quad was coming down it was trying to keep level. I did inspect the props before flight and they looked good. Mine are grounded until I get another brand of prop. These props are costing too much in repairs...plus I've lost 3 battery's too. :upset: