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HeliHobby . Ron’s HeliProz South . Century Helicopter

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Gasser Model RC Helicopters > Predator Gasser build
 
 
jschenck
Elite Veteran
Location: La Vista, NE.

Another note - fuel tank fittings. I just used a drill smaller than the thread and used the fittings to cut the threads. I also used a small dab of clear RTV. put them in and they hold pressure and vacuum, more than the tank should ever see in normal operation (near none). They are a royal pain to install. I found that this trick worked: put a wire through the fixtures and leading it back out the tank opening. use that wire to feed the backside nut on. Also trial fit the nuts before going into the tank, there are different sizes and I had at least one that didn't fit, bad casting/plating/whatever.

I put my fittings in exactly per instructions. Measured it down to the mm. It's WRONG!! Now when I fuel through the return line it sprays the fuel RIGHT across the dang vent line fitting. This causes fuel to spray out my vent line while I'm fueling Now I'm fueling holding the heli at an angle with the tail way down and not pumping too fast.

...yep...
05-05-2008 03:45 AM
 
 
pgkevet
Heliman
Location: surrey UK

<<If you have access to medical staff at a hospital there is a host of grabber devices that work superbe.>>

..figured it would take me longer to drive there and set up the video-endoscopy suite...did once use an athroscope to recover a lost nut in my 600e motor that jammed it! The whole thing could be avoided by sellotaping the fittings to the outside!!


<< Measured it down to the mm. It's WRONG!! >>...

Frustrating! - But what would be right??

Your frame pics are very helpful. I note you have the plug lead snaking through the frame as per manual. Any wear issues?

I figure the only way to get these tank fittings in is to pre-thread the internal nut, pull it up and then compress in place from the outside. If looks iffy then I suppose some slow epoxy under the outside nut should squash into any gaps. Epoxy should be fuel proof?
A soft fuel-proof washer should do the same?

Has anyone told Century about these silly little issues? Any Century reps round?

pgk
05-05-2008 07:46 AM
 
 
Professorwiz
Veteran
Location: Livonia, Michigan - USA

Quote 
Has anyone told Century about these silly little issues? Any Century reps round?

I've been emailing Paul P for abit, he seems very helpful. I've held off lately until I finish. I'm trying to compile an accurate list of build issues that I've had. I don't know what good it will do but you never know. The Thunder Tiger guys were responsive only after a number of people wrote about issues. Seems like alot of the issues could be solved by better manufacturing specifications and better manuals. The dial indicating the clutch could be solved by making the fan hub in an almost one setup operation. Seems like they are flipping the hub to get the opposite side on the lathe. Seems to me if they did the front, where the clutch goes, and use a parting tool, that would give a decent finish on the backside so that the back was concentric with the front bore it would relieve alot of issues.

Russ

Go that way really fast.. If something gets in your way.. TURN
05-05-2008 01:15 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
jschenck
Elite Veteran
Location: La Vista, NE.

Tank - I'd offset the return line fitting from the vent line. I'd leave the vent line fitting where they recommend though I know some guys like putting the vent line on the side of the tank.

HT plug lead. I sanded the edge off the CF frame radius but turns out that was not really needed as the metal X frame super-imposes over that area anyway. I also wrapped the HT lead with some stiff plastic spiral wrap. Time will tell if this works in my favor.

...yep...
05-05-2008 01:54 PM
 
 
jschenck
Elite Veteran
Location: La Vista, NE.

Quote 
I figure the only way to get these tank fittings in is to pre-thread the internal nut, pull it up and then compress in place from the outside. If looks iffy then I suppose some slow epoxy under the outside nut should squash into any gaps. Epoxy should be fuel proof?

Sorry, I didn't think my last post all the way through. First step is to drive the fitting in from the outside just to cut the threads, But you are right, thread the back side nut on *then* feed the fitting through the inside of the tank. This is where I used the wire trick to get the fitting into the fuel tank. I then grabbed it with some pliers and turned it until the fitting caught the threads. Once it was in place I put a small dab of RTV around the outside and cinched it up with the nut on the outside. Been a few months since I did this.

...yep...
05-05-2008 02:22 PM
 
 
Billme
Key Veteran
Location: MS

Yes they have been told.......BTW, they use to make the hubs perfect...I can't explain why there are problems now...
I'm down right now because of that very reason...
Bill
05-05-2008 02:46 PM
 
 
pgkevet
Heliman
Location: surrey UK

The tank business turned out scary easy for his build: I sized up the drill with progressive bits.. think it ended up 4.8mm (but I didn't check before putting them away).. as stated cut the threads fom the outside.. pre-fit the internal nut.. then I found a pair of 6" curved haemostats easily hold the fitting through the tank top and reach it out the drill-hole..unscrew it until tight and then outside nut. I haven't used any glue... just in case I need to remove them.. if it does leak then can be done after.

Pathetically that's been my easiest part of the build so far.

And, yes the best run-out I got was about 2.5 thou..short of taking metal off the clutch hub to offset it and then depend on screws to hold it central I cannot improve on it. If it does turn out a problem then that will have to be revisited also - but that would either mean a new clutch wth a luckier fitting or someone with experience and ability to turn mine down one thou. had little choice but give up on that now..but what i don't ednerstand is that the whole shaft has about 10 thou play anyway anwhile when spinning it will centre I equally assume it can 'adjust' itself better or worse too.

Anther reality is that I'm still a newcomer to this hobby.. and just strated trying flips with my 450.. so the odds are that this bird is going to hit the deck hard in the first 3 mths anyway

-- that should seat things nicely!

pgk
05-05-2008 03:36 PM
 
 
jschenck
Elite Veteran
Location: La Vista, NE.

Quote 
And, yes the best run-out I got was about 2.5 thou..short of taking metal off the clutch hub to offset it and then depend on screws to hold it central I cannot improve on it.

I got lucky and mine ws about .001 but I wonder if you could shim the clutch with a bit of aluminum foil ?

...yep...
05-05-2008 04:27 PM
 
 
pgkevet
Heliman
Location: surrey UK

<<I got lucky and mine ws about .001 but I wonder if you could shim the clutch with a bit of aluminum foil ?>>

...can only move it over with shims if have the space to push it into..as in taking metal off first..

pgk
05-05-2008 05:11 PM
 
 
pgkevet
Heliman
Location: surrey UK

Profwiz,

Howsya doin'? I need your lead. Tank's in, both bottom sections mated to the lower frame.. Naturally the knobble at the front of the fan shroud was proud enough that it needed easing on the aluminum frame to get everything aligned. And natural the slots for the side engine bolt weren't low enough cut and needed grinding a tad. And naturally I hunted through the myriad packets and finally found one M4 caphead for attaching the carbon to the engine casting ... But I'd fooled them and bought some of my own on the last trip to hardware ..

<exits with maniacal laughter and wild gleam in eyes>

<returns composed>

Upper frame cross-bearings in after filing out those holes too- tight enough not to need glue.. so when i understand where all the bearing blocks go and can find their fixings, I suppose that's next..

pgk
05-05-2008 07:04 PM
 
 
Professorwiz
Veteran
Location: Livonia, Michigan - USA

Your way ahead of me, I'm still working on the fuel tank. Why not post some of your pics!!
Russ

Go that way really fast.. If something gets in your way.. TURN
05-05-2008 07:11 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
pgkevet
Heliman
Location: surrey UK

Your wish is my command...(and now someone burst my bubble and tell me what i done wrong)



pgk
05-05-2008 07:36 PM
 
 
xcellgasman101
Key Veteran
Location: WOODWARD, OKLA....

Wow,,, I think I'll stay away from the Century Gasser,, I have only built Xcell gassers X3, and Vario Benzin Trainers X2.., and Now I have a Bergen EB setting on my table from toejab, that he sent to me to put back together for him,, I got the fan to less than a thousand in about 30 minutes, and I must say I'm impressed by the way Bergen is put together,,, I know that all manufactures have there troubles,, but did I read that AceDird had the same problem a year and half ago?? on the coil hitting the mounting plate, and they haven't fixed that yet?? Professorwiz,, I'm one that's glad you started this post,, Thank you very, very much,, cause I'll never own a Century product,, But I'm thinking I might own a Bergen down the road,,,, Well good luck,, I'm sure it will fly better than it went together,,, Lets hope so..

Please don't take this wrong,, I'm not a heli basher by any means,, just going off what you guy's are having trouble with, and are posting,,, And years down the road, they still don't have the bugs worked out XGM/VGM

John Crotts
www.soonerhelicamproductions.com
05-05-2008 07:40 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
pgkevet
Heliman
Location: surrey UK

John,

You can't just blame the heli.. you have to allow for the fact that I'm stupid

It took me a couple of days to realise the tank was at the front!

Mind you compared to the clean easyness of my only other build experience with an align manual - just a few pages of exploded diagrams... but then again there's those super finless vids to just follow on that build. No need to think for oneself or have a headache..

You really would think that any manufacturer wanting to sell kits in bulk would commission something similar.. just to save themselves a heap of customer support time or folk like yourself being put off.

pgk
05-05-2008 08:00 PM
 
 
xcellgasman101
Key Veteran
Location: WOODWARD, OKLA....

pgk,, I hear ya!!! I have been reading this topic from day one, and to be truthful, I'm surprised by all the problems you both are having, I know that there are allot of Preds out there flying, and I'm sure that they fly great, I have never seen one up close, but from the pics, it really looks like a nice heli,, but man,, post after post, problems,, Now I could see this on the first batch of gasser that they came out with, but a Year and half later or more,, still some of the same problems, are there,, and if you ask me,, they shouldn't be having the same troubles that far down the road, Like I said, I'm not here to bash the Century line, MA is not perfect either, none of them are, but to me, this seems a little over board to be having the same troubles after this amount of time on the market,, I'm surprised that there aren't more bad post about the Century gas. Heck,, AceDird even built his own set of frames,, cause he didn't like the original's,

Well again,, Good luck,, and keep us informed on how things are going, as I know you both will .... Thanks,, XGM/VGM

John Crotts
www.soonerhelicamproductions.com
05-05-2008 08:21 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
pgkevet
Heliman
Location: surrey UK

Cheer yourselves up with this post - meant totally tongue-in-cheek

"Gasser building - character building"

If Century just chucked all the parts in a bucket instead of poorly labelled bags... at least i'd own a bucket!

I have several small bowls I keep parts in. They're known as

'this is a bowl of screws - you might find the one you want in here - or you haven't found that packet yet!

And

'I haven't a clue what these bits are for.. perhaps it'll be clearer later'.

My favourite bowl is

'I found this on the floor - which of my helis did it fall off!'

I bet you've all been there!!

I put the upper frame bit roughly together to see how they go.. and the bucket suddenly got emptier - this tunnel does have light at the end!

pgk
05-06-2008 12:15 AM
 
 
xcellgasman101
Key Veteran
Location: WOODWARD, OKLA....

Quote 
My favourite bowl is

'I found this on the floor - which of my helis did it fall off!'

Wow,, you only have one of these bowls?? I have several... Haahahahhhaaa,, oh man after reading that,, my sides hurt,, good one,, pgk.. You made my day,,, XGM/VGM

John Crotts
www.soonerhelicamproductions.com
05-06-2008 12:59 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Professorwiz
Veteran
Location: Livonia, Michigan - USA

Mine too!! Thanks, that cheered me up, specially after sitting there looking at 8 tubs of parts on the table going where they heck is this piece....

Russ

Go that way really fast.. If something gets in your way.. TURN
05-06-2008 01:23 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
rbort
Elite Veteran
Location: Franklin, MA - U.S.A.

Usually

Each bag of parts should have all the screws and hardware needed to assemble that step. I had a guy who was building a Spectra who would open several bags and put all the hardware in a tin can and start to build. Wow, he was definately making it harder on himself! Not sure why he did that and if he could be sure he used the right length screw for the right part.

Seriously though, I think you should assemble each part or section without using bowls for parts, unless of course you're just kidding! This is how MA kits come, bag 1 has individual packets like 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, etc, and you assemble each step by step.

-=>Raja.

1005 Xcell Gas, BHH G26 3D Plus, Jewel Generator
Spectra-g, BHH G26 3D Plus, Jewel Generator
05-06-2008 02:02 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Professorwiz
Veteran
Location: Livonia, Michigan - USA

Well that's how both Raptor 30, 60's were as well as the Nexus I started with. The Predator though has some kinda weird system that has NO order to it except for the tail parts. They look like they are together. Perhaps it's that new math..
Russ

Go that way really fast.. If something gets in your way.. TURN
05-06-2008 02:20 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
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Gasser Model RC Helicopters > Predator Gasser build
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