dougefresh89

My Feedback: (2)

I am posting this as a service to anyone owning an Extreme Flight MXS-EXP ARF or any other Extreme Flight aircraft. You need to make sure you put Blue Loctite on all of the linkage bolts even though it is not mentioned in the manual. I lost a plane yesterday on the second fight because the elevator bolt just fell out. Don't call Extreme Flight to complain unless you wanted to be treated like crap. They will basically tell you that you are not a good enough builder and that is why if failed. Here is my story and the responce I got. I would love to hear your comments on who you think was right.

On a side note: Has anyone spoken to a Curtis Cozier at Extreme Flight, he was very rude and wanted to know if anyone else had a similar experience or if I just caught him on a bad day. Also I am tring to get ahold of the owner "Chris", does anyone have his email address? Curtis told me he forward my complaint on but I don't really believe it.

My Initial Email

DadsToysBG

My Feedback: (35)

I'm sorry for your loss. but I know to use locktite on everything whether or not it's called for in the manual. Knowing this came from the same experience you had with a failure.
I build for other people and have learned no matter how good the manual is there are always things I will change or add because I've learned the hard way.
If you liked the way the plane flew get another and assemble it your way. Dennis

vpresley

My Feedback: (162)

Hi

OK so you are not the original buyer? Usually a warranty is good for the original buyer only. Although I sympathize with your situation, and loss of the plane. I have found that buying used planes from anyone, is an iffy proposition. You dont know what they did to the plane at all. A very detailed check, to include the clevises is in order on anything that another person built. You can never be sure of the quality of the work. As for the person you dealt with, I am not sure. Customer service is a 2 way street, its all about perceptions I think. As for bad mouthing them here, you might be a little premature in doing so. Do a little bit more homework and update this thread.


Vince

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

I agree, their manuals aren't geared towards beginner builders but then again, their aircraft arent trainers.

Blue locktite on any metal threading into metal is a pretty common practice.

Given that its an electric plane (hence very little vibration), my experience would lead me to speculate that you either have a bent motor shaft, out of balance prop, or didn't tighten the bolt properly to begin with. Also since experience is something you tend to get right after you need it, I'd also add that I fully inspect any airframe after its maiden flight for loose hardware.

I've had nothing but spectacular customer service and have owned several airframes from Extreme Flight.

I'll also add that if Curtis said he was going to forward your concerns to Chris, that there is no doubt in my mind that he either will or has already.

Edit to add since I didnt read the entire original post at first:
Since this is a pre-owned plane I would also be double sure to carefully and fully inspect any work done by the previous builder.
Personally I'd be more agrivated with the first owner than the manufacturer.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I have to agree with the others, while it's unfortunate, this is in no way Extreme Flight's problem. If you bought the plane already assembled, it would be more the fault of the guy who built it

exeter_acres

My Feedback: (2)

Yes...Chris had read the email sent before I responded.....
He responded while in China visiting the factory

you also fail to mention when you called me a F...ing Douche... conversations rarely go well after that....



also.. a clarification

from your email..
from your post here:

so no...you did not purchase from "us"


I felt I was quite polite in my email and yes.. we assume that our users have a certain knowledge of assembling an ARF before using....
No I did not know Your level... that is up to you to decide if you have the knowledge to move forward.


I'm sorry you had a bad experience with Extreme Flight products.....
and Yes we DO stand behind our products 100%

freakingfast

My Feedback: (3)

Doug
I know it's distressing to lose a plane for any reason. A malfunction can somehow seem to shift the blame from pilot to the manufacture, but I'm afraid you need to blame the guy that pre-flighted the plane. Find a mirror[&o]
Even if the linkage had a "Z" bend on one end, and the metal clevis can't turn, they still need to be blue Loctite-ed, as un-tight threads will wear with vibration and fail.

This, and many other things, are part of the knowledge than is gained with time, experience and tips. The manuals can NOT cover everything.
It can never hurt to have other well aged builder/fliers have a look at the workings before you fly.

The only good thing that can come of this is, you have learned something.

Here's another tip: Don't use Loctite on plastic, it will crack in time. Lots of guys have found this out the hard way on servo arms, control horns, engine mounts, heli frames..........

BadAzzMaxx

Wow Curtis, I did not know you were of them.

To the OP, In no way is this the fault of Extreme flight.

One of the first things you do after the first flight of any RC plane is to go through and recheck the whole air frame and always use lock tite on anything that could vibrate lose, This is common knowledge that anyone putting a airframe together should now without being told.

But as others have said sorry for your lose.

Milton

mighty9

My Feedback: (10)

Sorry but im not even sorry for his loss.Another typical boo hoo blame someone else.I wonder how he knew how tight to tighten the wing bolts when i doubt there are no torque setting in the manual.We have all lost models from the smallest thing.Man up and quit blaming others.

liftfan1

Blue Loc-Tite on metal to metal and Formula 560 canopy glue on everything else.

ec121

My Feedback: (2)

The electric airplanes have brought a whole new group of people into the hobby. They learn to fly the plane and that is about it. Anything after that is the manufacturer's fault. A preflight inspection might have caught something like that. An unknown used airframe should have everything on it inspected. Build manuals are only a starting point. After that paranoia should kick in, and everything suspected.

alier

Too bad you had the crash. However, you are to blame. I have a lot of experience with Extreme Flight RC, have several of their planes which are outstanding and I have yet to have an in-flight failure with any of them.

It is your responsibility to make sure all the linkages and moving parts are secure and this regularly. The use of Loctite or other methods to secure nuts (such as nylon lock nuts or even cyano) is a common procedure in our hobby. Whether their manual states it or not, for someone who is supposed to be at least intermediate there is simply no excuse.

I had to deal with Extreme Flight for after sale issues a couple of times, and each time they were responsive, polite and gave me full satisfaction. The only time I was a little puzzled was when I sent them an email about an assembly dilemma I was having with the torque motor that came along with the 78" Extra and they told me theye were having problems with that power set anyway and offered me a refund or store credit. That's great, but I wish they had sort of reached out to all their customer who had bought that plane. They could have even pur a warning on their site if sending emails to all was that complicated. After all, I doubt they sold thousands of Extra 78" ARFs given it is a rather high end model.

Anyway, I still think these guys are one of the best out there, not only in terms of the quality of their planes but also their service.

wallace.tharp

Words of wisdom, EC. Did yo fly EC or RC-121s? We had a bunch in Korat Thailand. On subject, a caring instructor and a couple of fiend mentors really helps in the RC learning department. I guess a lot of new-bees do not fly on organized club fields any more. He may not be a new bee, I don't know. It's tough to have to learn everything the hard way. Wallace Tharp, AARCs and Aux-6, Buckeye, AZ.

5150flyer

You create an account make one post and slam Extreme Flight about something you bought on Craig's List? How are they responsible? I think you need to get your money back from the guy that sold it to you

Extreme Flight is a good, honest operation that makes fine products.

BR289

My Feedback: (106)

When I working there and read this I was amazed how this person thought EF was responsible.... It wasn't anyone's fault but the builder, period!

dougefresh89

My Feedback: (2)

I have not been on this is a long while and just saw a few post so I figured I would comment. First I was "bitter" when this happened, I lost a plane and was looking for reasons why it came down.   Here is the only important part of my story and it is the first line of my post "I am posting this as a service to anyone owning an Extreme Flight MXS-EXP ARF or any other Extreme Flight aircraft.  You need to make sure you put Blue Loctite on all of the linkage bolts even though it is not mentioned in the manual. "  The rest of my post was just because I was "bitter".  I am sure Extreme Flight is a fine company and Curtis just caught me on a bad day.  Moral of the story, put loctite on everything metal to metal even if they don't call for it. 

On a positive note, I had mentioned that the wings and tail survived.  About 6 months ago I built a profile body and used the wings, and tail section.   I few it all summer and it files great.   He is a photo
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/...1-12202748.jpg

Mpizpilot

My Feedback: (45)

There are times when these "warning" threads can be of some use, but I have to tell you, the only thing this warned me about is the fact you have zero idea about what your doing.

qpstore

It's too bad to hear that.   Does it have a warranty?

masterhacker1989

I always check all screws on any rc vehicle before I run it, especially if its a offbrand, I had a tmaxx crash fullspeed into a curb because a throttle linkage screw came out and the throttle got stuck wide open, was it traxxas's fault? no it was mine for not putting a nylock nut on it, I used a regular nut. I learned my lesson

jmcowart

Sounds as though you just want to lash out at someone. You need to take responsibility for your own mistakes and not blameothers. Extreme Flight and all the folks there have always been top notch, as have their products. You are at fault here, not Chris or anyone else. Extreme Flight ARFs are some of the best available and the experience of all my friends and myself is that their customer service matches the hight quality of their airplanes. John Cowart.

Depronicus

I just discovered this ridiculous post online. Better Business Bureau? This guy has got to be kidding...

Propworn

My Feedback: (3)

I have the next size up XPS and all those bolts have nyloc nuts so loctite is not needed. Be sure to loctite the servo arm screws if you use metal geared servos. My first plane was an Edge I put together from Extreme Flight and while double checking those control horn screws I did like I always do and give them a little tweak and low and behold the screw sheared off. Be careful you do not over tighten these screws with the nyloc nut it’s not needed it will not back off. A quick check at the end of the flying day or beginning will catch any slop that develops. Better yet I have ordered stainless socket head screws and nylocs and have replaced them. Not because it’s a problem but because I tend to over tighten these little guys. With the stainless I can snug them up without going Brutus on them. Perhaps the builder or you used just a little too much force and weakened the screw and it parted while in flight. There is nothing in the Extreme Flight models I have owned that are not sufficient to do the job. Very nice light weight construction. The support when I needed it was prompt and courteous. I showed up unannounced at their shop in Georgia looking to buy a plane and they scrambled to take care of me. Good shop good people in my book. You bought the thing second hand period doesn’t mater if it was never flown if you read their web site you would see as you are not the original owner/purchaser you are not entitled to a warrantee of any kind. I fact I know of no manufacturer in this hobby that extends a warrantee to anyone purchasing their products used.

Dennis

Red7fifty

My Feedback: (73)

I have an MXS 48", been flown for almost 2 years now......
My first landing gear broke, and I sent pictures showing the defect........(Carbon fiber was much thinner than the landing gear on other 48 EXPs).......they sent a replacement out right away.

freefall2907

simply amazes me:laughing my but of right now over this guys complaint"what a comic he must be, you bought on Craig's List? and then expect the supplier to make your screw up right,i know having been employed by a model manufacturer before what kind of fruitless complaints come in, take responsibility for your own screw up by trying to save a buck and taking the cheap route,,,you should be ashamed and beaten for lashing out at a supplier in this hobby that is,was,and no way responsible for your childish,cheap and lack of education in this hobby maybe you should have seeked help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jbeech

So you buy a used plane off Craig's List, you crash it (apparently because of a poor build since thread locker wasn't used on a bolt that subsequently failed because of the lack), and you have the gall to call out the company who sells the models new - in public no less? Moreover, you have the nerve to post this as a 'service' to others . . . seriously?!? Good grief - and no offense because I know this is RC Universe - but what planet are you from? I've been around RC for decades and never seen the likes of this vindictive bit of trash talking. You should be ashamed of yourself for trying to malign a small business owner for something in which he bears zero responsibility.