Hitec HS-55

Application(s): After my last review, and problems I had with these servos, I decided to test the rest of the ones I had in other airplanes. After 3 out of 4 failed in the first plane I tested, I decided to remove them from all my airplanes. You just never know when they will fail. The HS65 is much better. I have Hitec servos in other airplanes, and they are fine. These are not one of the good ones.

Comments: These servos are just to unreliable to risk an airplane.

Application(s): I am not a Hitec fan, after losing a new plane to a 485 failure, but I inherited a bunch of these. Some were new, others used. Put them on a Hitec servo tester, and out of 22, 12 failed, just stopped working. Doesn’t give you a lot of confidence. Come on Hitec, what’s going on? Needless to say, I will not be using them. Just isn’t worth the chance.

Comments: Nothing in this world is perfect, but the failure rate of these is completely unacceptable.

Application(s): light 3d foamies

Comments: hay waxer maybe you should learn to keep your plane in the air. not many servoes enjoy a hard impact. These servo have always responded well used in the right way and i would recomend them to anyone.

Application(s): 3D

Comments: Sh****, and slow servos. Dont buy

Application(s): Many light foamies

Comments: Don't bother if you want to make sure your plane can withstand even the slightest of impacts--these are total junk. They will break even in a moderate crash even if the control surface survives.

They are simply whimpy---and you get no hamburger tomorrow.

Application(s): I have used these in several small foamie 3D planes, and on the FunCub for flaps.

Comments: Out of eight HS-55 servos I had, four would get stuck intermittently, usually at bad times, with several crashes occuring. Two were new with less than six flights. I have never had any of my dozen Futaba 3114's fail. I do not recommend these servos, for any use.

Application(s): Everything: Multiplex Easyglider rudder, elevator, ailerons; custom 100+MPH wing elevons; 3D foamy park fliers; ...

Comments: I thought these were reliable until I put them on a servo cycler--4 of 6 servos tested get stuck at unpredictable times (4.98V cycling from 900-2100ms once per 2 seconds). Three of the offending servos was marked "07.07" and another was marked "07.08". At least one of the sketchy servos was new in box until put on the cycler. I'm now wondering if some of my crashes weren't my fault? Also, the HS-55 servos are noisier and much slower than the Futaba S3110 and S3114 servos. I too have stripped the gears on a few HS-55s during crashes, but the Futabas stripped just as easily. HS-55s can be found for $9.99 each, which isn't too bad.

Application(s): Park flyers

Comments: These used to be the standard park flyer servo before so many other alternatives became available. They are still pretty good servos. They are fairly strong - although they will strip if abused of course - but perhaps the key thing is that they are very reliable, they never seem to fail for no reason. There are cheaper Chinese alternatives, but those sometimes fail for no reason, which could lead to the loss of a good plane. So Hitec HS-55s are well worth considering.

Application(s): Park jets and foamies

Comments: Good bang for the buck if you want to stay with Hitec. Very similar to the cheaper Tower Pro SG90, but much more expensive. I haven't broken one yet.