No lift, just clockwise rotation. [Now Solved]

Racing Quads, Self-builds & FPV
1

I have rebuilt my toothpick drone, replacing the AIO board to start to go ELRS.

Power cables soldered :heavy_check_mark:
Beeper installed :heavy_check_mark:
Latest Betaflight firmware and custom defaults loaded :heavy_check_mark:
ELRS Aux channels set up :heavy_check_mark:
ELRS binded :heavy_check_mark:
Gyro calibrated :heavy_check_mark:
Make sure in acro not air :heavy_check_mark:
Motor number correct :heavy_check_mark:
Rotation of motor correct in Betaflight (not reversed) :heavy_check_mark:
Propellers correctly orientated (clockwise - anti clockewise an each pair) :heavy_check_mark:
Each motor spun up individually ‘sounds’ good and spins well :heavy_check_mark:
On arm motors spin at low RPM :heavy_check_mark:
Attempted take-off just creates rotation

What I am doing wrong ?
Driving me nuts … I am off for a walk.

2

I’m far from a home-build expert.

I slowed the video down looking for a clue, but hard to see what individual props are and which direction they spin.

Surely this is a symptom of a motor spinning the wrong way? One or two spinning ACW when it (they) should be going CW (looking down)—because your drone’s REaction is to spin CW. Please double double check the motor spin direction.

If it’s not that, the motors that are supposed to spin CW are not pushing as strongly as the ACW ones.

You’ve not mixed two kinds of props have you?

3

as stated above, are the MOTORS spinning the right way (if not just swap 2 of the wires from the offending motor(s) to reverse their direction)

also check the PROPELLERS are on the right motors… to provide lift … you may need to swap the props between motors. check the shape of the prop as you want it to cut through the air in a direction to provide upward lift

each of the motors should be spinning the same way across from each other

CCW. ^ CW
I
CW. I CCW

with the ^ being the front of the drone.

doing the rotations this way keeps the camera cleaner than the other way that could flick muck onto the front of the drone

I am not sure about motor / ESC trim… there may be a setting … could also reverse motor direction in BLHeli32 firmware

4

You running Blujay? Or bl helis? Easy enuf to reverse on Blujay. You powered and checked everyone in betaflight with the props off?

No need to swap wires these days to reverse em

5

Other thing to check is correct orientation in all directions on first page of betaflight…Inc yaw

6

Long walk. Then problem with the camera (more swearing). Replaced and re-wired plug.

Took another look - took everyone great advice. Motor 1 was spinning the wrong directions.

It now flies correctly!

A mean it is the same drone… just with a new canopy, three new motors, new frame, two new props, new all in one board and new buzzer.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAh8HryVaeY](https://Trigger’s Broom ) or Ship of Theseus - Wikipedia

Thanks all - actually did a little jig after the flight. (not a good sight on a 49 white male).

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