Power to hover?
 

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?

RE: Power to hover?
 

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...

RE: Power to hover?
 

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?

RE: Power to hover?
 

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..

RE: Power to hover?
 

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.

RE: Power to hover?
 

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.

RE: Power to hover?
 

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) :)

RE: Power to hover?
 

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)?

RE: Power to hover?
 

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.

RE: Power to hover?
 

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

RE: Power to hover?
 

OK, fine...I'll buy a pitch gauge!:D ...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. :eek: Kidding...

Thanks again guys!