DX6 Left stick centering Mod with Pictures
 

I bought a used Spektrum DX6 to use with the clod super I am building. Since it was used I could not request Horizon Hobby to do this mod for like you can if you order it new. Apparently Jason in Augusta had done this thread before but the pictures are now gone. After some searching on the forum and a couple PM's, I was directed to King Bling and CKRCCrawlers. I bought the DX6 mod kit from them.

Here is what you get:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2208/...0de620c4fe.jpg

These are some of the tools I used to shape the plastic rocker:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2327/...2b2c2c106c.jpg

Cut out the rocker shape from the piece of paper and trace it on to the plastic, then cut the plastic to size:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2120/...1e1b831576.jpg

Here's my DX6:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2078/...306e4a6cea.jpg

Here's the receiver:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2234/...b28952ea7c.jpg

Remove the battery cover, battery and the six screws that hold the back cover plate on:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/...b49304923c.jpg

What it looks like inside:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2407/...6d75a45555.jpg
Your now looking at it from behind so the left stick is on the right side. Notice the piece of metal to the outside on right.

This piece of metal is what needs to be removed:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2016/...b9f85e806a.jpg

With the metal piece removed, it's time to install the new rocker. Or so I thought. King Bling and CKRCCrawlers have the rocker shape too big. Sucks for me. The pre cut rocker I made in order to have a smooth installation does not fit. So I remover the left - right centering rocker and copy it. Here is a size comparison:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/...f18fd36f03.jpg
The top two are King Bling and CKRCCrawlers and the bottom two is the actual size removed from the DX6 and the copy I made of it.

Here's a close up of the correct size:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2093/...3dd9819ef5.jpg

Here is a picture of both the rockers reinstalled:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2013/...dd9f360334.jpg

Side view of the copied rocker:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2118/...c6deb2eb2d.jpg

Overall view ready to reinstall the back cover:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2103/...b59bfe3dd8.jpg

It's too bad Horizon / Spektrum won't sell the rockers. It's a very simple mod to do. The main skill needed doing it this way is the ability to shape a piece of plastic in the correct rocker shape. One thing to note, if you make your own rocker, the bottom pivot needs to be as deep or a tad deeper than the original. I didn't make it deep enough and I had to remove the rocker and make it deeper because I had play in the stick at center. Once I took it apart and made the rocker groove deeper it was all good.

I hope this helps some other forum members. With the DX6i and DX7 now out, you can get a DX6 cheap. I got this TX & RX for $110 shipped. The local hobby store sold one for $40 on ebay:shock:. So if you keep your eyes open you can score a used one, cheap and just do this your mod yourself. The toughest and most time consuming part is the rocker.

Sorry about the rocker. I'm glad you brought that to my attention, I will address this right away. PM sent.

:lol:

Mod kit.


All you had to do was remove the rocker from the rudder channel and trace it onto scrap plastic and install a spring.

Maybe I should've sold Xeroxes of my lever forever ago. :lol:

Oh well, another missed opportunity. :lol:

Having done it now, I agree with you JIA.

But when you have no idea what to do and have never done it before, you look for the easiest way to get it done smoothly. That is one of the reasons I posted this with pictures. I had searched the RCC forum and the internet and found no pictures, only written instructions. And most of the written instructions were extremely vague. A picture is worth a thousand words. LOL, how funny is it also, to have two different members post on the same subject today. I guess it just shows the info was needed and it will hopefully help someone.

Even without the pics the text in my post tells you exactly what to do.

That may be true. I still wanted pictures. Gosh man, I am sorry I am not a know it all veteran like you and all the other mods and top posters on the forum. I was trying to do something nice and contribute something worthy to the forum to help myself and others. Sorry to be such a waste.:roll:

Don't see it as a waste other than you spent money to do something that I had provided for free.


Not a big deal.

I understand JIA and please understand I mean you no disrespect. The kit was $3 and I bought two. One for me and one for Pariah (another RCC member building a super using a DX6). Shipping was $2. So I am out $8 bucks and King Bling already PM'd me and said he'd take care of me on this.

I'd never done this before and had no idea what to expect. For $8 I thought I had myself and a friend totally covered so it would be really simple. It still was simple, just the size of the rocker was bigger is all. It's done and over with. I have now been there and done that. Like I said, hopefully this will help someone else. It's a simple mod to do.

You may need to register with the site, but Twisted Creations did a nice write up not too long ago with pics.

http://www.tri-statecrawlers.com/for...ead.php?t=1890

Great write up and I like pics too! So what is the purpose of the piece of metal you have to remove, just curious.

The metal piece is what holds the gimbal on place (in the grooves on the back of the actuator arm) before modded.

Thanks for the Great DIY
 

Thanks for taking your time and putting together this DIY. THe pictures helped a lot, especially for someone like myself that has never done this before. "thumbsup"

Thank's for the pics, it will help me a lot when my DX6i finally come in...

It's on here as well. Jeremy just took new pictures to follow along with my text.

http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/electronics/99436-tech-mod-dx6-return-spring.html

where do you go about finding a proper spring? I've used ball point pen springs and such but Haven't really found one that feels like the others.

tower sells a 3 pack of futaba firm gimbal springs. PM me if you want one - i have 2 left.

You can get springs for $1.29 for three here.

Radio South also sells springs: www.radiosouthrc.com

I used a spring from a JR XR/XS series radio.

Thanks guys"thumbsup"

I don't need one now, but I will in the future for sure;-)

thanks for this thread and especially for the pics"thumbsup"...since my english isn't too good, i was afraid to start this mod only with written guide...even the best written guide is useless for someone, who doesn't understand half of the words:lol:...anyway the mod is quite easy, took me about half an hour, and most of the time i spent looking for the right spring...
have nice day

couldn't you just unscrew the gimble and then rotate it 90 deg and screw back in? this would give sprubg n/s and ratchet e/w.

just a thought!