How to REVERSE a Servo.

[sbolandatutube]

Thanks Dave, just followed your video and successfully reversed my first servo, handy to know. this.Was a 9g servo and a bit harder becasue of the small soldering points and the eyes arent as good as they used to be. :)

[TheRandyrog]

i can hear your heart beating 

[AntDX316]

when I reversed the servo.. when I move the stick anyway they always move symmetrical, I need the servos to go opposite directions when doing a turn.. why isn't this doing that?

[bashardabst]

I could hear your heart beat :)

[gwsslowstick]

Dude you rock!!! I needed to do this for a used EDF jet I just got from a friend. It was missing the two eleveter servos so when I put a couple in one was moving the wrong way. Thank you for having this video.

[WarbirdFan66]

thanks for the nice tutorial video, works nice, just change one of my towerpro servos, thanks for sharing :)

[arizvela]

hey nightflyyer I have a Giant Big Stik which I made taildragger I installed a servo only for tail wheel assembly. I have a Y-harness installed for rudder and tail wheel servo but I am having the same problem with direction will this reverse servo video work for me...

[Bajesus042]

i did this with a losi micro rock crawler servo which has the same things and its just buzzes when i plug it into my car. please help!!!

[vettster1]

Is it the same for a Digital Servo?

Great vid,

Thanks

[GrateChef1]

Opened my DS821. No can do.

[icemanfiveoh]

I like your video, but dude, that soldering iron is GIGANTIC. it looks like a 100W radioshack gun that HUMS when you pull the trigger. I am going to do this to some of my servos as well. i am also building a servo reversing circuit so that any servo can be used without cracking it open. It is a great fix in a pinch and if you are cheap....haha (which i am too). great post keep it up!

[Halflife189]

Thank you very much for helpfull information.Have done it on my new plane,it works!

[roory20]

Is there some kind of switch to reverse polarity?

[kledder2]

Just change plority. Done.

[Level10Imp]

Huge thanks for the upload/vid :)

[XXXTITEXXX]

nice video man but i think in servos there is also a diode on the circuit board or the motor to prevent currents from the motor to the circuit. If there is one then it should be reversed as the motor wires. Just my two cents :):)

[POOPCABOB]

@soverato3, if you are trying to get two servos to operate in the same direction on a Y-harness, one must be reversed. Ex: if you are to run flaps on your plane, (one servo per flap) and you use a Y harness, flaps will act like ailerons unless you reverse one of them. Only other way, is to plug one servo into an aux port on your receiver, and then reverse that aux channel, and then slave it to the control channel. This can only be done with computer TX. Or mount servos asymmetrical. Nah Mean?

[soverato3]

nice but you can press the rev. button on your radio and you dunn allot quicker...

[POOPCABOB]

I wish I had watched this video before I tried it my own way and smoked a servo. Thanks for sharing.

[errroet]

Thank You !!!!! made my evening. worked perfectly!

[Blycker]

Very informative! Thanks a lot for the detail.

[just4playin1]

Hey Nightflyyer, you know on the clevis instead of using the rubber mounts for servos I use silicone fuel line cut into small pieces. They are much tighter and like with fuel line come in various sizes & colors. Not to mention are dirt cheap. Thought I would share that with you... Love all your videos man, its nice to know Im not the only genius out there... lol

[heberorozco]

hi man i just reversed my E-sky servo for helicopter and it didn't work after that, i checked again all the conections and it was ok, does that mean that the esky servos cannot be reversed?

[Zedman260]

Thanks for the valuable info.. needed two servo's to work off one channel for brakes on a large scale car; works like a charm! Modified a Hitec HS-645MG. Colours on the pot were different but works! Thanks again

[breezebro]

Get yourself a small soldering iron instead of that huge soldering gun and it should be a lot easier to do.

[kuruma10]

Thanks for the very good explanation! Well done.

[vilis65]

And how you can reverse a digital servo? It's the same method?

[xXShadowRejectsXx]

is that an airplane your working on?!?!? LOL

[psp10004]

is that a cheap screwdriverservo @ 0:21

[TokyoPerformComp]

nice 1 dude saved me a few £

[cednicek]

SOLVED. If you just easy want to reverse servo not in servo, you can modify your TX. SImply switch 1st and 3rd wire on the potentiometer (may be throttle or steering pot).

[cednicek]

I have RC car and would like to reverse servo, can I change wires on potentiometer in TX? There are three, red, yellow and black, should I switch first and last? Can I destroy TX?

Thank you for help

Czech republic viewer :)

Nice videos, Dave :)

[sindude300]

Why not just reverse from the radio??

[Hyper7er]

because the 2 servos (Connected one one chanal) need to go opersite directions i guess

so he will probly modify one and leve the other stock

[MegaJugMan]

Yes, there are alternate ways to reverse a servo.... Until THAT ONE SITUATION where this is the best solution! For me, it was a micro heli that originally came with a $3 fm TX, and I upgraded to a $5 2.4 ghz model. Both TX's have CCMP, BUT both were proprietary to the specific Heli they were intended for. Servo reducers are not weightless, and linkage geometry precluded flopping the arm. This was the ONLY solution that worked. The tip about smaller servos was a great idea too. Good Job Man!

[ctquicksilver]

you can buy a reversed servo but they cost more... just because your tx reverses servos doesnt mean you dont need this mod.. in the case of flaps or twin elevator servos you need both servos to move the same direction and by adding a y harness and two servos they will move in opposite directions...you have several options... use mixing on your radio if you have it and the spare channels to do so...reverse the servo...buy a reversed servo or buy a reverse servo y-harness.. this is the cheapest

[MrJordan55555]

Is this the same procedure as you would do with rc car steering servos??

Great vid.

[dtocv]

I am tryiny to reverse a hitec 475 hb right now, thanks for the video, I cant take the circuit away frow servo though :)

[qwertylockley]

Very good! Although all of our transmitters can do that anyway.

But still. Very good video.

[psp10004]

its usefull if you have Y wire to connect 2 servo to one channel and you need to reverse one of them

[ianramil123]

your brave

[lenny7494]

I KNEW there was a reason why I had subscribed to your EXTREMLY knowledge filled videos. I don't fly but, I am a NEWB level rock crawler and I was looking for a way of doing a reverse polarity servo, and I remembered & said to myself "The NightFlyyer" will have an answer for me, and behold, you my friend are a fountain of knowledge THANK YOU!!!

P.S.

Saludos desde Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, Thank you VREY much Mi Amigo, keep flying, I'll keep an eye in the sky for ya'!

[54thAggressors]

Why does nobody talk about buying a actual reverse servo ?? I know this guy knows his shit but wouldnt buying a reverse servo be the actual way to do this

go to horizen hobby and search reverse servo

[lenny7494]

Not to be an A**hole but, sometimes you just have a few servos lying around and don't need to buy a new one, but then again...

[rockonmyfriend]

thx

[Coenair]

I think a programmable Y-cable is also an option

[danratsnapnames]

most people who make planes can make linkages a little longer if needed.. i think i would rather stick to turning my servo 180 degrees and using a longer linkage, than tweeking the insides of a servo. seems like less work. even if it is just 5 wires, you still have to get out the soldering box.

[DelSolSea]

BTW NightFlyyer thanks for your contribution to the RC community! :)

[DelSolSea]

of course for special applications as suggested in the text lead in on the video (two servos on the same channel) fire up the soldering iron and get to hacking :)

[NightFlyyer]

Right.

[DelSolSea]

OR just purchase a modern transmitter with servo reversing option and set it in the configuration! Besides you enjoy the newer Spektrum technology and all the features it has to offer...

[NightFlyyer]

I have all the hi tech radios and have had servo reversing for years. But in certain applications, like this one, I needed a reversed servo.

If 2 servos are on the same channel, reversing them at the TX reverses BOTH servos, not just one. Understand?

[skypirate553]

very cool clip ... :)

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks kindly.

[taofledermaus]

I'm curious what applications would require reversing a servo,  rather than just mounting the clevis on the opposite side of the servo arm.

[NightFlyyer]

Helicopter swash plate servos (All 3 must be the same kind) and hooked to the servo for most direct controls., My f-18 that does not allow the rod to reach properly, and my Blue ray, that does not have reversing switches. Many other applications, and that is why they sell ccw and cw servos.

[taofledermaus]

Ah got ya. I appreciate the explanation.

Thank you!

[hopeso]

It used to be that this was the ONLY way to reverse a servo. A German fellow, who became a Canadian, installed switches in the transmitter to reverse the servos back in the early 60s, LONG before anyone thought it was a good idea. His name was Henry Reittinger. He lived in Timmins, Ontario Canada.

[NightFlyyer]

Yep True. When I worked at Kraft RC systems we installed reversing switches and it was new technology then. It was the first American and first digital proportional radio system on the market anywhere. Never heard of him. Thanks for the coments

[hopeso]

Henry built Heathkit, RC systems. They employed failure proof, variable capacitors instead of the wire-wound, potentiometers commonly employed at the time. The wire would eventually fail and down came your aircraft.

Those were the good old days.

Today we have ceramic, carbon elements in the pots.

These are even better days.

[NightFlyyer]

Yes, I still have my Heathkit radio. We used to upgrade our ceramic pots by adding a carbon wiper to them, if people asked, as it was much better.

[hantront]

you have a great talent with these things.

how long have you been doing this?

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks kindly.  Over 50 years.

[aserta]

wow ur camera microphone is soo sensitive i can actually hear the heart beats at..2:06

cool. and thanks for the tutorial it helped a lot.

[hantront]

thats becus he added the sound effects :)

if you read it says ''You have to be REALLY carefull'' and it stops when hes done

[aserta]

:))

[NightFlyyer]

Correct. LOL.

[NightFlyyer]

LOL. Thanks.

[superrcpilot1]

i heard a hart beat from 1:58-2:18

[NightFlyyer]

Good hearing.

[outlaw662sr]

Check out That new website yet Load some of your videos Please thanks patrick

[fspacerc1]

dave you should really invest in a futaba 7c it would enable you to mix and reverse anything

[NightFlyyer]

I have more computer radios than I care to mention and all have reversing switches, but in this case, tying 2 servos to one channel, you cannot switch just one.

[fspacerc1]

there has to be a way because ive seen it done on giant scale airplanes wit the alerons (2 servos on each side) I'll get back to you if I find an easier solution

[NightFlyyer]

Come on man, you can't do it from the TX if both servos are on the same line. Period. Just last night we replaced the servo on Jeffs F-18. It has one on each side of the fuselage to run each elevator. The one servo was reversed. Switching the servo on the tx always switches both, and only one will ever be right. The linkage would not reach on the reversed servo, so there was no choice, other than to reverse the servo or buy one already reversed.

[MilesB1975]

If you need 2 Flap servos for instance you probably a left and right hand servo.

You can buy inline hardware servo reversers, but it is cheaper to do this mod.

I have a Futaba FF7 and an 8CH set and you still need to do this sometimes.You simply run out of mixes without it.

[Scari45]

he's been doing this for 50 years if there was an easier solution I thik he'd be doing it. If two servos are on the same channel one has to be reversed, maybe on giant scale planes there's more channels and don't need reversed servos?

[fspacerc1]

actually there is. you can buy a wire for it. Its only like 2 bucks. then you can change out your servos without having to worry about which one is reversed.Even my dad knows that and hes been flying for 39 years(1970)

[Scari45]

That's great now maybe you can move on to someone elses video and tell them how to do things. Beats me why people have to post on someone's video and tell them how they're wrong. I get the feeling Dave just likes doing it this way, but good to know there's a wire you can buy.

[puggster]

good stuff

fortuantly all the radios ive bought came with a reverser switch but i can see how this can be usefull for custom applications and also if you dont have a radio with reverse or in this case you need 2 oposit running servos on one channel :)

good stuff

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks very much, Thanks very much.

[retiredrider]

Thanks Dave had done that years ago this was a great refresher. 5 stars

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks very much Greg. I appreciate that.

[corbystarlet]

how about you put the controll rod on the other side of the arm, then it would be reversed

[NightFlyyer]

Normally I could, but not with the application I am using it in this time. 

In the early days, you could buy them both ways. The reversed ones had green dots on them.

[jamiekenta]

thats really cool! btw, can u make a vid on how to solder? im really not good at it, and whenever i try, i get too nervous and my hand starts shaking a lot cause i get afraid that i might damage something and i shut off the soldering iron, lol.

[NightFlyyer]

That is an interesting idea. I will consider doing that. Thanks.

[danratsnapnames]

just rest the base of your hand holding the iron on something. you shake becuse your tensing up and holding it tighter will only make it worse.. hold loose, and use LOW heat. :) there's tuns of soldering vids online already.

[jamiekenta]

thnx!

[danratsnapnames]

it also helps to use some aligator clips to hold things in place, so that you have 2 hands to handle the iron. there has been times that a small 1/10 mm solder point was hard for me, using 2 hands is kind of like using 2 hands to do fine detail with a airbrush. also, i preferr to use Soldernig GUNS over Irons, unless the Iron has a Variable heat adjustment.. the Gun allows you to turn the heat on and off when needed.

[YupHio]

cool

[Partok81]

Dave, can't some of todays sophisticated rc transmitters do reversing electronically?

[NightFlyyer]

Yes, but I needed 2 servos on one channel. The tx only reverses the servo or servos on that channel both the same, and I needed only one reversed.

[jadberro]

you are giving a servo to each aileron right ???

[NightFlyyer]

No. This has to do with my WIFOWIF? video and my Thrust vectoring setup.

[xxSuperJackxx]

wow your great at helping me it has been great and im making my own plane now thanks for all the help :)

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks kindly for your comments.

[onmyway21]

HAHAHA thought so, lol five stars!

[spektrum33]

I remember when the servos had a green or black label ..the black was for normal direction and the green did reverse..this was before they had servo reversing on the radio sets..i think this was futaba........oh how old am I {*_*}

[cooldisel]

nice vid :)

how watts is the soldering iron?

[NightFlyyer]

I run it on low just till it melts the solder, at about 80 Watts, but a 40-60 watt pencil iron will do just a well and with a smaller tip. Thanks.

[kapitanC]

good to know. thanx sir.

[NightFlyyer]

Thank you.

[sheldonholy]

Great one Dave! I saw this on a forum a while ago as well. As for the clevises, i always find it easier to use some fuel tubing or a cable-tie (wire tie..?). Just my opinion... As for the 'Will It Fly' plane... with the bigger wings, you need a larger tail on a carbon boom....

Thanks for all the great videos!

Sheldon

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks kindly. I used to make RC servos for a living in 1979, so that is where I learned about the servos.

I used silicone for years too, but the metal fatigued them or they just split open for no reason.?? But for years that was my choice too. Hey, my gas flying wings all fly with no tail! but I am just having fun with everybody as it spurs their brain to think! Seen last years vid on WIFOWI? Wait'll you see what I did to the next version of WIFOWI?

Thanks again for the kind words.

[sheldonholy]

Haha 'WIFOWI' - that took me some time to figure it out :D I'll have a video up here later of how to convert a Fox to RC.

Sheldon

[NightFlyyer]

Haha. You got it though, and that is good. I knew you would.

[sheldonholy]

LOL Thanks!

Sheldon

[vetterman008]

Thanks for the tips Dave.

[NightFlyyer]

Your welcome

[Criptografo]

good tip!

[NightFlyyer]

Thank you.

[tytig94]

To bad I don't fly too much just my airhog helis. The reason I subscribed and watch is because these videos are interesting and educational and the more you know the more you grow. 5/5 Thanks for the interesting educational videos. Good day to you sir.

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks very kindly.

[onmyway21]

Is that your heart beeting at 2.20 mins?

lol

[NightFlyyer]

Yes.. Holding my breath. LOL.

[azh01e]

when soldering do you use that goop-like stuff for containing your soldier? If so can you let me know what it is called? It could most certainly help with my horrible soldiering. Thanks.

[NightFlyyer]

Not usually. Electronics and Flux are not good. Thank you.

[ericdamexican]

this will be most helpful, and may I please ask for your heli tips!! please!

faithful watcher, Eric

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks kindly. Tips away in a pm.

[glmnet]

I thought it was enough with the pot reversing... good to know, 5 stars

[alteredstateskustom]

great video! you just saved me 15 bux on a reversing cable! lol

[Maticus2009]

" I find it easier to cut and spice the wires to the pot."

What is this "spice" you speak of? =P Just giving you a hard time Dave. As always, thanks for the great video.

[sheldonholy]

Hey,

I think he means 'Splice'.

Sheldon

[NightFlyyer]

I did. LOL.

[NightFlyyer]

Haha, I fixed that. Good eye, LOL Thanks.

[rhinomobile]

Another good one Dave! Thx for the info.

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks very much.

[bobebobebob]

good job!

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks.

[roboman79]

I'll try this when i need to for a project!

Thanks and great video!

5 Stars

[NightFlyyer]

Good. Thank you too.

[SoCalsandman780]

Thx for the info sir! The learning here never stops! =)

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks very kindly, travelin man.

[DevilmanTNT]

Awesome, very useful! Thanks Dave : )

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks much.

[gadgetexperts]

Thanks dave! This will help me help my friend, he has a 2 ch plane.. and the left and right which controls rudder, and probably the weakest servo i have ever seen, but they are inverted so i will help him. Thanks Dave. God Bless you!

Marco.

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks Marco and good luck.

[harshran]

good vid

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks kindly.

[hbk2flyer]

Good call Dave.  I have melted the case before trying to solder the pot wires. Better to splice them as you say, never thought of that! Gtreat tip.

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks very much. I appreciate your comments.

[horizonflyer9]

great idea! it helps you avoid needing to buy a "reversing Y harness" (when you are using 2 servos for 1 channel, but 1 servo needs to be reversed.)

[NightFlyyer]

So very true.  Thanks kindly.

[dingo7222]

Awesome that will come in handy I hate looking for new radios for stuff to reverse the servos!

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks very much.

[RCFLIGHTHELP]

Great keep them  coming !

[NightFlyyer]

Thank you

[jeflatt]

great job dave

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks man.