I finally got a 10T pinion for MX400 Pro and it brought the headspeed down to around 2000 RPMs at 50% throttle. I tried to get a hover in the other day and the heli wouldn't lift off the ground. I checked my radio settings and it appears that I only let it go to 70% throttle at full stick. But, my question is...shouldn't this thing be able to hover at 70% throttle and full pitch? It only got light and not very light at that. I don't have a pitch gauge, but it appears that in idle up, I have more negative pitch than positive. I guess I should re-center the swash.

Where should I be in terms of throttle, RPMs, and pitch to get a hover at mid stick?

seems to me that 2000 rpm is kind of slow, from what I've read about 2400 rpm for sport flying and 2700-3000 for 3D/aerobatics..

you really need to get a pitch gage man... the difference between a half-assed built heli and a well built one is amazing.. believe me, I did the half-assed route, sunday Tex helped me out, when it was all done, the heli is amazing!!!! and flies better too...

I didn't build the Heli...bought it used. ...and no, I don't like half ass crap either. Which is why I'm going over this thing with a fine toothed comb. The only help I've got is right here on RCU and whatever else I can find on the net. So, unless Tex wants to fly up to Idaho and help me out I'm stuck with responses from here.

Anyway...the 2000 RPM's is at 50% throttle so getting to the 2400 shouldn't be any harder than throwing in more throttle. I've read that people use around 85% throttle in a hover. Is that about right?

I think that's just about right..

I'm sending you a PM dude, it'll have a couple of other places to go for knowledge..

If you're getting more negative pitch in idle up than positive, I'd say you need to adjust your linkages so that your swash is in more of a neutral place while at mid-stick, or - check your pitch curves. I set mine all linear in all modes. That way I don't have to change my thinking when flipping between flight modes. I run 0' pitch with 50% of stick movement. +10 / -10 pitch. As far as throttle goes - I alwasy ran mine as wide open as I could, but that's me.

My pitch curves are good. I just noticed that I need to make my zero pitch point further down on the main shaft so that positive throw and negative throw match. In other words, the swash is a little high up on the shaft at zero pitch/mid stick.

you should really invest in a pitch guage because i can eye-ball zero pitch and then put my tool on there and its at 6degrees!! its so hard to tell the pitch of the blades without one. when i didnt have one i would try and eyeball zero and spin up the blades and see if there is wind blowing up or down when i killed the throttle (with the blades still spinning)

I have a HeliMax pitch gauge, but it seems to be a bit big for the smaller chord blades - what is a good gauge for the smaller bladed helis (up to 450 class)?

The EFlite one works well for smaller helis (surprise, surprise).

jdoug, on variable throttle, I was using something like 0-40-80-90-100 for the normal throt curve.

I don't like the eflite, throwing it away as soon as I get home, the align is smaller and works better for me.

OK, fine...I'll buy a pitch gauge! ...after all, I did say I don't like half assin' things.

Osterizer - That's about what I was thinking it should look like.

What about the pitch gauge that comes with the instructions? ...you know, the one you have to cut out. Kidding...

Thanks again guys!