Syma X8 Mods - Weight, Cam and more?

[94Z28]

So I'm gonna be modifying this Syma X8 to try and get it to run longer, and require less power to get off the ground. Also, I plan to enhance the camera mount while using a SJ type camera. Please excuse the mess on my tool box/work bench right now, I haven't tidied up after this weeks projects yet.

*NOTE* I do not recommend you taking weight out of your quad, this is purely an educational adventure for me to learn how these things react to weight and with some weight taken out. Anything you see here should be done at your own risk.

Please bare with me as I am just getting started on the mods. The first mod I begin with is on the landing gear although I am not sure I'll be keeping stock gear once I receive the extended phantom vision stuff I ordered. Will have to snatch a scale from work at the ash testing station.

Here is the Cam, it is a "SJ8000" type cam with "4K/30FPS" or 1080p/60FPS.

The X8 Gimbal i am using, has the 4 rubber isolators.

Combined weight of the SJcam+Gimbal

Weight of Phantom Vision Gear I decided to try out with this combo

**Weight Reduction - I did not remove all of these parts except for testing, and weighing purposes. Do as you wish with yours and this is purely educational.

Beginning weight without Lipo - 448g

My goal is to get as close to this with the new SJCam and Mount, or at least eliminate the cams weight.

Drilled 5 holes in landing gear legs on the front flat surface to reduce weight without sacrificing the strength. I also weight matched the set of 4 To help with trims and hovering!

Here is the weight of the legs after the mod.

Motor Covers

Prop Shaft Covers

Battery Mod, also took 1gram of weight away.

*Lubrication* - This is something I can recommend doing to any Syma X8, the way the shaft is designed it will need lubricating or else will wear prematurely.

My Lube of choice for my Quads

Anywhere you see metal, is where I apply lube to regularly. This helps reduce noise, wear and motor stress.

 

[dragger201]

You might want to have your camera handy to test it after each weight reduction. These things can get squirrelly if they are to light. I don't know if it's the board or the motors or the transmitter, but I have an HG and an HC and both get really "quick" with out their cameras.

 

[94Z28]

You might want to have your camera handy to test it after each weight reduction. These things can get squirrelly if they are to light. I don't know if it's the board or the motors or the transmitter, but I have an HG and an HC and both get really "quick" with out their cameras.

Thanks for the tip. You mean it gets where it doesn't want to fly stable or just really fast? I know the X5 is ridiculous light after all the mods I've done to it and if wind comes while I'm flying it's over.. I like the longevity of flight but hate how easy it blows away.

 

[dragger201]

Yeah, I think you will run into the same thing with the X8. What model you got??? If it's a "G" then it gets weird/quick sooner .............the motors are more powerful............noticeably so............

 

[94Z28]

Yeah, I think you will run into the same thing with the X8. What model you got??? If it's a "G" then it gets weird/quick sooner .............the motors are more powerful............noticeably so............

I purchased the cheap X8C since I planned to mod it. Trying to decide if I'll get barometer hold X8HC board eventually and keep oriyinal as spare or get some Naze32 base off BG.. not so sure yet.

 

[dragger201]

If you do get another board, get the one for the X8hg...........then get the "G" motors when it's time to replace them.............
"

 

[94Z28]

If you do get another board, get the one for the X8hg...........then get the "G" motors when it's time to replace them.............
"

Thanks for the tip, I will surely do this. I have heard that the altitude hold boards have issues with fly-offs though so I am leaning more toward a Naze32 brushed board.

 

[dragger201]

Please excuse the mess on my tool box/work bench right now, I haven't tidied up after this weeks projects yet.

Hell, here's mine with what Army Vet has dubbed "Frankendrone".............

 

[94Z28]

View attachment 2636
Hell, here's mine with what Army Vet has dubbed "Frankendrone".............

Like that one.. looks like the kit I have been eyeballing on AliExpress..

I am working on the X8 today will try to get more pics up shortly.

 

[94Z28]

Sorry for double post.. I got the cam on it today and did a test flight with those legs.. not noticing to much of a difference yet. The goal is to lose the weight of the camera atleast maybe the gimbal to keep flight kind of like without video loadout.. Gonna brainstorm and cut later!

 

[Jeff Neese]

Yeah, I think you will run into the same thing with the X8. What model you got??? If it's a "G" then it gets weird/quick sooner .............the motors are more powerful............noticeably so............

The stock motors are all the same on all Syma X8 models, any variety. The only "upgraded" motors I'm aware of are the Night Lions (and again they are not specific to any version of the X8) and many of the reviews say those aren't really an upgrade.

Any difference you experience flying an X8C vs an X8HG would be in the flight board. The chassis and running gear are all the same but perhaps they tweaked the board for more responsiveness.

By the way, the "Syma Toy Store" is not connected to Syma the company. It's run by a guy and there's reason to believe he is only a drop-shipper. Nice work, scooping up the domain name like that but that's is not connected to Syma. He just specializes in Syma parts but he doesn't even stock anything. I stopped dealing with them.

 

[Jackson]

The stock motors are all the same on all Syma X8 models, any variety.

Not true if you go to the Syma Toys site you will see 2 versions, with the G variety costing more.

 

[ArmyVet]

So I'm gonna be modifying this Syma X8 to try and get it to run longer, and require less power to get off the ground. Also, I plan to enhance the camera mount while using a SJ type camera. Please excuse the mess on my tool box/work bench right now, I haven't tidied up after this weeks projects yet.

Please bare with me as I am just getting started on the mods. The first mod I begin with is on the landing gear although I am not sure I'll be keeping stock gear once I receive the extended phantom vision stuff I ordered.

**Weight Reduction - please check back to get actual weight readings from scale.
Beginning weight without Lipo - 448g
Our goal is to get as close to this with the new SJCam and Mount, or atleast eliminate the cams weight.

Drilled 5 holes in landing gear legs on the front flat surface to reduce weight without sacrificing the strength. I also weight matched the set of 4 To help with trims and hovering!

Will get more updates once I get the parts on the scale for the after-weight update. Don't think it's a ton but the screws and plastic removed should help.

Is that an old HeathKit Power Supply in the back of that first picture??
Has that "look".

 

[Jeff Neese]

Not true if you go to the Syma Toys site you will see 2 versions, with the G variety costing more.

On his site only. Check Banggood, Gearbest, Amazon, anywhere else. There is no reference anywhere to different motors for different models of the X8.

Hmm. Trying to get more money for the exact same motor by trying to convince you they're "different" and "better". Sounds like a scam to me. Even more reason to stay away from Syma Toy Store.

 

[Jackson]

Trying to get more money for the exact same motor

Nothing 'exact' about them. They have different part #s on the case and the case itself is different.

 

[Jeff Neese]

Nothing 'exact' about them. They have different part #s on the case and the case itself is different.

Maybe they're Night Lions motors, which fit all X8 models too. Those would have different part numbers - the Night Lions part number of course.

If you believe a particular set of motors is "better" (and again, a lot of people an Amazon say they can't tell the difference between Night Lions and stock motors) then go for it. (Replace all four at the same time). Just don't go thinking you have to search out any special motor for your X8HG, or any other variant. It's not a different motor - it's just not.

 

[94Z28]

Is that an old HeathKit Power Supply in the back of that first picture??
Has that "look".

That's my no name brand power supply, I also have a HP Agilent on my other bench which is for testing delicate or sensitive parts. I use this one for everything else.

On my research about the motors they don't seen to get great reviews. I wish there was a real upgraded motor but so far I haven't come up with much. I like the flight time I get from stock motors, and once I figure out how to get the weight off I want to it'll be better.

I am curious about the altitude hold board in the new versions and how it could improve flight as well as video quality.

 

[Dugdog47]

Don't drill holes in your landing gear! The symax8 is already very light for its size. Unless you can get into the control board settings, making it lighter will only screw with the flight program. Drones are a highly engineered piece of machinery. You have been warned!

 

[94Z28]

Don't drill holes in your landing gear! The symax8 is already very light for its size. Unless you can get into the control board settings, making it lighter will only screw with the flight program. Drones are a highly engineered piece of machinery. You have been warned!

A flight controller upgrade will be coming in the near future, will get something that I can modify with Cleanflight or the like. I appreciate the advice and I admit I am pretty new to this hobby; I kind of want to learn what happens and I do understand there is a lot of engineering that goes into making these quads fly... but I cannot help but to tinker a little. I generally like to make things faster, and in the car world power to weight ratio is a big key factor, whether that same principal works with quads/flying I am not sure.

Also, this isn't just me drilling holes in stuff; what I am trying to do is take out some weight to compensate for the aftermarket camera and gimbal that I will be running on the drone, nothing major. I am not a fan of drilling holes all throughout the shell or seriously modifying the external case. I did the landing gear as a test, and I am running some Vision tall gear to clear the SJ cam at the moment.

My experience with today's testing (took a few grams out of it, to see if the flight was improved at all; plus it was windy) was good overall, remember I did add a good bit of weight to the quad, and it was taking every bit of 75% to get it lifted. This is just a "cheap" Syma X8 that I am toying around with, my Phantom will not be getting any mods because the brushless motors will lift a camera and gimbal without hassle.

 

[94Z28]

Went to fly the X8 with SJCam today.. couldn't barely get it to lift. Swapped batteries and it lifted, Went up high enough to pass over a tree.. once I made it to the other side of the tree it just fell (definitely in range) and landed hard from quite a fall.

Now, the gimbal is broken.. and the quad will not lift off. It sounds like it's greatly lacking power as well. Even noticed the motors (all of them) We're getting warm with just power on.. guessing the mosfet or something else on board popped from the high loads and it fell.

This load is still to much weight I guess.