Easy, No Cost, DIY Upgrade for Syma S107 Helicopter Controller

I demonstrate how to remove and repurpose the throttle return spring for Syma's S107 controller. Removing the throttle return makes it much easier for me to fly, and others tend to agree more often than not. This brings it more in line with how larger aircraft radio controls are set up. The technique shown might work with other micro helicopter controllers.
At any rate, do this at your own risk regardless of controller. Springs can be easily lost, so be sure to have a good grip on the spring!
Also, I show how the charging cable can be safely extended by about half an inch while in the process of repurposing throttle return spring.
This task takes less than ten minutes. The original recording was 10 minutes, 40 seconds, including narration. The task would go quicker if I didn't explain what I was doing.

[@TheKisa]

Really good, simple instructions and just what I was looking for to make my brand new Syma s107 more fun to fly and less likely to drop out of the air like a brick! Thank you.

[@joedee113]

nice ! i did this mod on my own , but your idea with the spring is great! , just what it needed ( tension) ! thanks

[@crackedaces]

Lol 4:05 that little bugger got away from ya eh Jeff? Great mod I just ordered mine yesterday and this will be one of the 1st things I do! Good Job!

[@toddy2519]

I did this mod as soon as I received my S107G's (3+ years ago) and it's well worth the effort!

[@JeffDM]

@Codenamebravo Thanks for letting me know! If you want to add tension to the throttle, you can probably modify a spring from a dead ball point pen or get a small spring from a hardware store.

[@JeffDM]

I think it's just the smaller ones that do. Your explanation that indoor ones have them makes sense, and it could be because it's a beginner unit. Some people have said their S107 didn't have a spring, I wasn't sure if they quit installing them or not.

[@EnvYxBam]

good demonstration

[@JeffDM]

It's easier to control precisely, and it's a little less fatiguing without the constant pressure. It's also good practice if you want to step up to bigger R/C units, because they generally don't have a throttle return spring. I've never broken parts on my S107.

[@metalheadmike1000]

I don't know why people like to remove the spring? when it starts to crash you need to let go of the throttle fast or you'll snap either the fly bar or break something soon as it hits the ground. I like the spring on because it sets itself back to zero and then no damage.

[@ColinMill1]

Thanks for the view inside the transmitter. Since I have flown model helicopters using a Mode 2 transmitter since about 1990 I find the stick arrangements alien and I'm concerned that if I fly it much it will affect my normal heli flying reflexes. I was rather hoping to reconfigure the transmitter with the 2-axis stick on the left controlling throttle and yaw and have fore-aft control on the single axis stick on the right. Looking at the PCB this looks like a non-starter.

[@JeffDM]

I'm glad it's still helpful. It's been 12 years, it's possible the internals have changed. But I haven't bought a new one since.

[@HelloSnake]

I'm gonna try this technique, thanks.

[@420RittzBish]

Absolutely brilliant. I thank you very much.

[@JeffDM]

@Wowfcuk One easy thing you can do is rotate the tail fan 180 degrees so the motor points down instead of up. I think you can just (gently!) pull out the motor, turn the motor mount to point down and reinstall the motor.

[@zandermagic]

Thank you, going to try this!

[@JeffDM]

@PyR0Star Hi, the title does say it's an upgrade to the controller. I never said it was an upgrade to the heli. Thanks.

[@TheSpectre223]

I have the similar Syma X107 model, and that one doesn't have a spring, although it could so with one in my opinion. Saying that, without makes hovering easier

[@Jesusability]

Thanks! Great quality production.

[@JeffDM]

@Wowfcuk I'm not sure how to solve the problem. It seems to me the most likely way this would happen is if the wires to the tail motor were swapped. You would need a soldering iron and fine soldering skills to swap the wires.

[@dustybum]

Cool, thanks for the mod tip

[@metalheadmike1000]

I just bought another 107 new and its also got the spring, i couldnt live w/o the spring really, maybe im just use to have it installed though? I could take one out and see which is better. The DH-9053 is totally different, not just its size but its RC and not IR so tring to control it is so far a real pain, just a little bit of wind and off it goes, i just had to install new motors and a few other parts, i paid $50 for the 9053 but since ive bought all the spare parts i could of bought 2 new.

[@Bregor7]

@Bregor7 continue: get use to be very sensitive with the throttle, it can be very hand to have a left hand free and you can perform much more with the right hand without everlasting tension to your left thumb, while trying to keep it in the same spot in order to keep same altitude. So anyway, thx for tutorial, I guess theres no going back for me as I tightened the 2 hooks of the spring quite tightly to each other. And what about you? Did you get use to it or not? :-)

[@metalheadmike1000]

maybe its just these IR heli's that have the spring? I have several with the spring, the C7 6030, S107 and today will have the Avatar Z008 or F103 which doesnt have a spring cause of the 4 channel motor system. my DH-9053 doesnt have a spring but its a large RC chopper. not for indoor use. it seems to have a lag time though when i turn off the throttle which drives me crazy. I think the springs are needed for these IR's since they shut the main blades off while its on the way down to the floor.

[@davidrivero7943]

Be gone, annoying spring. My 1st heli, the Syma S111 Coast Guard didnt have it. The 2nd, a Chinook S023 has it . Well.... it did. 😉 Thank You, Sir.

[@nutty5836]

lol i boutght my an it cam wit out a spring

[@Bregor7]

Hi JeffDM! Thanks for the tutorial! I did it as you showed. My only question is I dont know how the loop spring will do a lit a bit tension while around the tensioning arm?? I did it as you ve showed in the video. But I didnt tried to pull the throttle without it, so I dont know if theres some difference. Also you just put it around the whole arm without binding one hook to it?? Anyway, I tested the fly and first I hated it because it was quite sensitive and unstable, but If you get use to be

[@eb_reviews]

Thank you

[@fucheduck]

Syma S107/S107G R/C Helicopter mind didn't have a spring yet some of the reviewers said theirs did. Depends on the seller I guess. I find mine extremely difficult to keep stabilized it veers to the right or does not maintain altitude at a given set speed.

[@nickrolfe69]

My S107G arrived without the spring attached. To save battery power is it possible to stop the 2 led's from flashing or will this affect the whole electric wiring ?

[@JtA994]

tengo un syma s107 y los motores hcen como si se deslizaran los piñones osea no engrana bien sabes como puedo pegar el piñon chiquito el que va en el motor gracias

[@JeffDM]

@Wowfcuk Does left & right work properly? Did it work this way out of the box, or did you open it?

[@hmeoscar]

No, mine arrived today and it has not spring...I think it might be safer to have one.

[@stefanosperanza285]

Hi Jeff. My Syma S107G has no throttle return spring. Does it mean it is a counterfait model?...

[@JeffDM]

No, I think that's just a newer version.

[@stefanosperanza285]

Ok thank you for the info :)

[@richie3341]

Mine never had one of them I am having signal problems tho

[@Duhandeepak61]

How can I use this in quadcopter

[@jimbobq8487]

is that charger automaticly there

[@AdrianGonzalezBlogs]

I just got the Syma S107 and it came without the spring! Am I the only one?

[@Bregor7]

Anyway, I really dont know why Syma did this to such an awesome helicopters.. If you look at the controllers of Double horse its quite a difference..

[@jakesweet1000]

no

[@pewdiepieisawesome69]

Nickrolfe69 itadoes save battery