rrTV-PHOTO   New HD TV
HOME   rrTV-PHOTO   GALLERIES   MY GALLERY   HELP-FAQ
myHOME PM pmRR MEMBERS 501 ONLINE 73 EVENTS SEARCH REGISTER  START HERE
 
1 page212 viewsPOST REPLY
CarbonXtreme . Midland Helicopters . HeliProz

.
.
Main Discussion > Stratus swash assembly fit
 
 
Stolla
New Heliman
Location: Port elizabeth South Africa

Just bought my second stratus, confused as frame was changed with no mention in either the assembly manual or the updated manual on ma's site. Tail servo now in different position and directly linked to strut.
Bigger problem was the swash would not fit the main shaft at all, upon measuring the two the swash was .1mm too small so I had to ream it out and polish it. could have sanded the main shaft but then would have difficulty getting it uniform.
My question is why do you have to pay usd 1500 for a kit and then have to do your own machining. I have sent a note to MA reporting this and would expect of them to replace both swashplate and main shaft with a unit that fits free of charge.
I hope there customer support is as good as there product?, when sorted.
So the jury is outon this one.
How many of you guys have had this problem?
05-08-2008 07:05 PM
 
 
kcordell
Senior Heliman
Location: O Fallon, MO

Contact MA directly, ask to speak to Bob. He will take care of it for you, probably send you a new swash and shaft. As a side note, I always polish any new shaft I get with 600 grit sandpaper (shaft chucked up in a drill). Then after cleaning, slide bearing and swash on shaft. Should fall freely with no drag or slop. As many shafts (and other machined parts) that MA gets (along with other manufacturers), there is always a chance of a burr, tolerance or something amiss with a few parts. Extremely expensive to QC every part.

Team Futaba, Miniature Aircraft Pilot, YS Engines, VelTye
05-08-2008 07:11 PM
 
 
Stolla
New Heliman
Location: Port elizabeth South Africa

Just wondering why it seems not to be a problem with the TT raptor range?
Also what should the tolerance between shaft and bushing be, seems if you have to sand the shaft yourself tolerances, which should be paramount in a premium product, will go for a walk?
I did email Bob and hope he can arrange through my local agent for replacement parts, suppose I would be happier if I lived in the states and could get parts in a jiffy, here you can't even get a new main shaft!
But I love my excels and it would take some more poundings to have me change my mind, only problem is my friends with raptors, hirobo's and jr's are now having a field day!
05-08-2008 07:45 PM
 
 
Carey
Senior Heliman
Location: Allentown, NJ

Sounds like you have a BW Stratus. My washout was tight, swash had to be perfectly aligned to go on the shaft but with some triflow oil and minor use the washout was perfect. Didn't polish anything.

To be honest I didn't really get too miffed about it. The quality of the kit made my TT and Align stuff look just like they were... sub-standard.

Now the Align swash... definitely no problem with 'looseness' there.

Thank goodness for QUK, they saved my rappy as well.
05-08-2008 08:28 PM
 
 
alfred
Senior Heliman
Location: Australia, New South Wales, Mid North Coast

Quote 
Just wondering why it seems not to be a problem with the TT raptor range?
Also what should the tolerance between shaft and bushing be, seems if you have to sand the shaft yourself tolerances, which should be paramount in a premium product, will go for a walk?
I did email Bob and hope he can arrange through my local agent for replacement parts, suppose I would be happier if I lived in the states and could get parts in a jiffy, here you can't even get a new main shaft!
But I love my excels and it would take some more poundings to have me change my mind, only problem is my friends with raptors, hirobo's and jr's are now having a field day!

I keep hearing this all the time: "Give xxxx a call and they will sort it out real quick for you"
Hello !!!!
We don't all live in the good old USA !!!
MA sells all around the world.
I have had MA's now for over 17 years and it seems to be just in the last 4~5 years that these issues with parts being faulty has become quite common.
They are either 100% or really off.
And yes, the same happened to me with a mainshaft having a too large OD on my Stratus. Mine is an earlier version.
The last 20 parts I have purchased as spares, 3 of them so far had serious issues and I haven't checked or used all the other parts yet. Luckily enough, our Australian agent has always given top 1st class service and replaced the parts quick smart.

And yes, I agree.
So far I have never had a crook part on my Raptors.
05-09-2008 07:15 AM
 
 
krashtagain
Senior Heliman
Location: ohio

If you are so impressed w/ the raptor send me your Stratus and i'll send you a Raptor 50 Titan

Learn to 3D or die trying !!!!
05-09-2008 07:27 AM
 
 
GatorUp
Senior Heliman
Location: Palm Beach,Fl.

Sorry to hear the troubles w/ MA. I live hear in Fl. I get what ever I need mailed the next day w/ no extra charge. I never had a problem w/ parts. Their costumer service is first class. Call them , they will keep it brief it if cost that much to call. Just let them know where your calling from.

I just wish I had Quick UK this close.

Living life on a razors edge,.. Go GATORS!!!
05-09-2008 04:17 PM
 
 
Stolla
New Heliman
Location: Port elizabeth South Africa

Yeah it's always a sad story if a good product is not backed up by good service locally, Hope Bob can apply some pressure and sort it out, so far I had no reply yet via email but have ordered a new swash and shaft and will pay for it if not replaced, thing is can't help but am looking at alternative brands JR?.
Same thing happened with Futaba, I moved to JR due to bad local supply amd backup.
I think it would be wise from MA to slide the swash over the shaft when packing, it'l cost nothing and go a long way towards customer satisfaction.
05-10-2008 07:15 AM
 
 
kcordell
Senior Heliman
Location: O Fallon, MO

QCing every swash and shaft? Come on now, no company does 100% inspection, not even NASA. The shafts come in that nylon sleeve and oiled. Remove the sleeve, clean the shaft and try a swash on it? Yes, it could be done but someone's got to pay for it. If you have gone to the MA website lately, you'll see their note about carbon booms no longer coming in kits. This was due to an incredable price increase in carbon booms. To keep the cost of the kit where it was, the decision to go back to aluminum was made. Yes, I agree that sometimes getting local support is difficult, especially overseas. My local hobby shop (in the center of the country) hasn't even heard of Miniature Aircraft. I know it is more difficult for you, but if you get no satisfaction locally, send off an email to MA. They are very good about making things right.

Team Futaba, Miniature Aircraft Pilot, YS Engines, VelTye
05-10-2008 02:31 PM
 
 
carcrasher
Key Veteran
Location: east coast

I just purchased a BW Stratus too. This is my first full build MA kit. I owned a used Fury which I converted to a Stratus. I too noticed some items that weren't right or missing. Small stuff, like the low profile lock-nut that is used in the tail assembly instead I had a regular lock nut, the thin washer that goes inside the tail hub assembly(I was given a regular washer instead). Really small stuff like this adds time to the build. It's very annoying when I'm trying to get it down by the weekend and I have to stop the build to go to my LHS to see if they have the part in stock.
05-10-2008 03:00 PM
 
 
NewHeli
Key Veteran
Location: State College, Pennsylvania, USA

The problem you are having is the Swash, not the main shaft. You will notice that the washout arm block slides freely on the shaft, so if you grind it down that will now be loose. The shaft also fits perfectly through the bearings. I just took a rolled up piece of 600 grit sand paper to the inside of the swash and it slid right on. It took a little while but it's worth it!

The standard stratus (Not BW) kits now have the tail servo mounted in the back just like the BW. The only real difference between them is that the BW has the new bell cranks and as a result has slightly different frames to position the servos correctly. It also comes with the side frame stiffeners.

If you have the typical, black plastic bellcranks, then you have a standard stratus.

To forwarn you, I had trouble with both of the dowel pins--the one through the main gear assembly wasn't bad at all, just a tiny bit of sanding to get it in, but the one through the headblock was a nightmare. I think the hole in the main shaft was slightly off center. I haven't heard of anyone else with the problem though...

Hope that helps,

Nathaniel

MA Stratus, OS91C-Spec MP5, GY611, 9252s, Radix
Hawk Sport, OS32, Gy401, SAB
GV-1
Futaba 9C
05-10-2008 03:23 PM
 
 
Stolla
New Heliman
Location: Port elizabeth South Africa

So far who is paying for MA';s bad quality control, i am, I have to buy a new swash and shaft,(no reply on email) for the record my first stratus shaft was oiled, greased? this one clean and dry.
My first kit, 1 year old was perfect this one stinks, 1 boom support split in 3 places for +_6cm, cooling fan shroud spacers wrong length, I'm sorry someone is packing the goods, they have to soup up qc it takes 5 seconds to see whether a swash fits over the shaft.
I've now spend more time fixing stuff on this kit than it takes to build a raptor 50.
Right now Im p.ss.d but would still wait and see how MA responds before taking my business elsewhere.
I share carcrashers view that you do not want to stop building and go look for parts missing in the kit.
Thing is I still believe it to be the best heli but its gonna be a very difficult decision to make when I buy my next heli if I can't be sure whether all the parts are there or whether it will fit.
Right now it feels as if my wife cheated on me, I want her back but can I trust her?!
05-11-2008 02:02 PM
 
 
alfred
Senior Heliman
Location: Australia, New South Wales, Mid North Coast

Agree Stolla

This is a quality kit with an attached prize to match.
It's not an acceptable QC.
This has just been happening in the last few years and they better sort it out.
Can you use Skype to give them a call?
05-11-2008 02:41 PM
 
 
1 page212 viewsPOST REPLY
ZoomsHobbies . HeliHobby . Ron’s HeliProz South

.
.
Main Discussion > Stratus swash assembly fit
  UPDATE SCREEN   PRINT TOPIC Advertisers 

Subscribe to This Topic

Tuesday, May 13 - 7:00 am - Copyright © 2000 - 2008 runryder.com | email | link to rr | runryder needs cookie