rrTV-PHOTO   New HD TV
HOME   rrTV-PHOTO   GALLERIES   MY GALLERY   HELP-FAQ
myHOME PM pmRR MEMBERS 637 ONLINE 20 EVENTS SEARCH REGISTER  START HERE
 
8 pages [ <<    <     1      2     ( 3 )     4      5     NEXT    >> ]6339 viewsTOPIC CLOSED
ZoomsHobbies . HeliHobby . Ron’s HeliProz South

.
.
Off Topics > **Century Heli Quality Issue: Potential Hawk Buyers Read This
 
 
corn_tortilla
Heliman
Location: Round Rock

***UPDATE***

*Swashplate was sent up to Century, and they quickly identified that a 2mm ball-link was in place of a 3mm ball-link.
*Century also stated that it is impossible for a 2mm ball-link to be put on the swashplate at the factory.
*The kit I received had the swashplate fully assembled (incorrectly), and everything else was broken down in its bags.

I can't recall the exact words, but the official response was along the lines of Century is not responsible for this incident, and will NOT be held liable for any parts damaged. (AKA..... SUCKER!!!!)

Some of the questions I received from Century were:
Q: Why didn't you check this part before flight
A: I did, it was tight and appeared to hold fine.

Q: Did you notice that the ball links were different colors.
A: I thought it was to indicate which portion was for the For/Aft cyclic

Q: Did you notice a black-ball on the instruction manual.
A: No, I didn't.
Q: Why didn't you check up on that.
A: I didn't dis-assemble it because the instructions didn't tell me to & (Some Assemblies May Come Pre-Assembled was on the cover page/2nd page of the manual) I assumed the swashplate was one of those assemblies

So the heli-crashed due to a swashplate that came pre-assembled (Century claims is impossible) and now I'm out $180 in parts($140 if you go with Woodies). Although Century did say that they would give me that extra 3mm ball that I was missing for free. Gee thanks! How considerate!

Boys and Girls, please think twice about this story and others that have had issues with Century before you give them your $cash$. If you want to go scale and still want a funkey fuselage, try to find other distributors, or at least stuff NON-CENTURY heli mechanics in them..
02-04-2004 12:12 AM
 
 
corn_tortilla
Heliman
Location: Round Rock

.
02-07-2004 08:40 PM
 
 
AgustaOO7
Heliman
Location: Shreveport, LA

I just learned something

Am glad i read this section. I just came to learn something new. From now on, am going to do a complet inspection on anything that is ready to fly. Corn, if it would have been me, i probably would have never seen that, for i am a newbie at this. Nevertheless, i feel that Century should replace the parts to your heli. Afterall, they admited to the fact that a 2mm ball was installed when a 3mm ball should have been there. I think that would almost be impossible to notice even after doing a good pre-flight inspection. I am really disappointed in hearing this news. I feel that the least they should do is send you the replacement parts at no cost. It was an ARF wasnt it. I will say no more then. I could understand if you did the mistake of putting in a 2mm ball link over a 3mm ball link that is required. I think you should call them again and try to reason with them. Afterall, it was their mistake from the manufacture. Lets asume this was a real helicopter and someone jumped in for a flight. I wonder what the company would say to something like that, to be honest with you, i dont think it would happen if QC looked at it. Now that brings up another question. I feel that Quality Control is not doing their job the way they should. That should have been noticed by a Quality Control inspector. I would think they would be properly trained in that area, for i can rest assure that the guys building the thing have never flown, or seen a model helicopter. I would bring them up that question, if they have a QC department, and if they know what their builders are looking at. I myself am an Quality Control Inspector of maintenance for the airlines, and i tell you something, when it comes to inspecting ball links, i myself measure them even after opening the package, just incase the package label i correct, but the part is not the same dimension. Good QC is a must in any area of aviation, model or full scale. Sorry to hear about your loss, but i am thinking of buying a Pred Gasser. This post you put up gives me second doubts now...................................i sure would hate to buy something else because of this second doubt i have...................Good luck with you.................Orlando
02-07-2004 11:25 PM
 
 
Kaos2
Senior Heliman
Location: Tennessee

Interesting points Rstacy. Sounds like Peter Chao, and his company don't care much about their customer base. Also, sounds like Peter has a bunch of rep.'s who think/hope the company stands for something it doesn't. Something I discovered for myself this past year.
02-08-2004 01:04 AM
 
 
rp56
Senior Heliman
Location: Woodland, WA

stop pissing already. all i hear is that century does not care about customers. its alway the same people. for every time you guys feel that you have been had there is 10x more happy people to offset what you say. i have a few century things around, for the money i will never change, and talked with lots of people that are more than happy. your point was taken, now its over, stop rehashing it, take your money and go some where else. maybe they will be better for you.

good luck with your next heli.

Paul
02-08-2004 01:44 AM
 
 
Lift
Elite Veteran
Location: Houston, TX

No not everyone but there is a reason that this forum is one of the most active ones here at RR. There's alot to be thrilled about w/Century.

I'm sorry that things didn't go Corntortilla's way. But, I have heard both sides of the story and to be honest I don't blame Century one bit. At the same time I sure wish Corn was not dealing with this. I'm but one person and if I had my way I'd have given the guy a new kit simply because laying blame does no good and MY customers would be stoked over my service and support!

You guys are all going off of ONE SIDE of the story...... Good thing our judicial system doesn't work like that. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions guys. Unless you were there when the swash was pulled from the kit then there is no way to KNOW who should eat the loss.

Oh.....BTW I agree with this:
Quote 
Why can't the average Joe customer call and get acceptable service?

I don't mind helping you guys out where I can. But to be honest I shouldn't have to call and go to bat for you.
02-08-2004 02:33 AM
 
 
rp56
Senior Heliman
Location: Woodland, WA

look at it like this, you are the owner of a company. do you take all the parts back that people say that failed them? NO WAY you would be out of business, point blank. not that the problem is factory or not, you do not know and the same for me. how many people fly the Hawk and have had the same problem? umm 1. i cant say for the person that started this form, but the odds are not in his favor. Rstacy, do you own a business? one that is large scale? you do not get a large business by ripping off people, or any business that last long. take a poll on how many hawks are out there and see how many have had this problem.

i do not want to start a fight with any one or piss off people but there just might be a little more than what meets the eye.
BTW most every time there is something said bad about century, it almost always the same people, why?? there is something else, is the pilot not responsible for the machine overview, i work for Farm and Forest Helicopters, i would never take anyones sayso before i fly, the same for RC, i bout the hawk and looked it over top to bottom, put lock tite on the parts that needed it, checked all the bolts ect....


just a point of view from another angle.

Paul
02-08-2004 02:39 AM
 
 
rp56
Senior Heliman
Location: Woodland, WA

one other thing, did he set the EPA? did it bind and pull something apart?

Paul
02-08-2004 02:42 AM
 
 
corn_tortilla
Heliman
Location: Round Rock

Ok,

I bought the Century Bell 222 kit knowing that Century had some problems in the past with their customer base. But a vast majority of people had said that they fixed those problems. A lot of the Century field reps displayed the R/C attitude ("Help those out, when they need and ask for it") so I had assumed that they were a thing of the past.


****** NOTE: Go to any message board (Globally if you want), and you'll find them bitching about Century quality, etc; BUT not on any other manufacturers sites Why is that.....? I'm thinking it's because those guys are established in QC, and those issues that do arise, they take care of to keep the customer happy.

The heli I bought the heli from Heli-World came with a 2mm ball-link installed. Century says its impossible, and it came with it. Perhaps Century should go on a Ball-Link Fairy Hunt at UPS to prevent other switcheroos while product is in transit? I tried to make contact through the phone & email and got no response. Only upon complaining here, was I given an alternate path of contact.

Got in touch with Century, very patient, trying to be friendly (/ME Rembers Tech Support Days). I was always having to initiate contact w/ Century to follow-up on things over the 3 week period (It only took a couple days for the swashplate to travel by mail too). And then they don't lift a finger to help me out when their product failed. I was soo furious that I had to get off the phone to prevent blowing up on the guy.

Now comes the funny part. My shell is painted and ready for the mechs & It actually would cost more to switch to another set of mechs than the repair parts. But after all this ****(upgrades in parts too), I'm only looking at $400 difference between this and going the Vario path from (Start to finish).

So if Century is a 'Changed' Company that supports their customer base when they have QC problems a the factory/design. Then for all you century fans/supporters, why wasn't I taken care of.....? My point is proven. Think of that before you support Century

~corn


PS. I check all my heli's for binding in the linkages at all cyclics & pitches.
02-08-2004 03:00 AM
 
 
jb_turner
Elite Veteran
Location: USA

It is up to the pilot to make sure all is well.
02-08-2004 03:20 AM
 
 
SteveH
rrProfessor
Location: Texas

Corn,

I'm sorry you didn't get any help with the crash damages. If it had been my say, as Payton has said, it may have been different. About all the field reps can do in this kind of situation is advise you how and who to get in touch with. From there on, it's in Century's hands.

SteveH
Magnum Fuel
AMA76186
02-08-2004 03:31 AM
 
 
DarkForce
Heliman
Location: Kentucky

As far as corn's deal goes I don't know what happened and can not prove anything one way or the other but making such harse comments about a company, Brand, Model, and downing everything and everybody right out the shooting match raises a red flag with me.

Also everyone take a look at some other forums here on run ryder
Hirobo, Thunder Tiger, Kyosho ETC.... You will find NEW parts failing
many of which have been known problems for a long time!!!!! Are these other company sending out new kits to everyone who has a part go bad midflight ??? NOPE

But they are charging 150.00 more for there kits that still need to be upgraded still have problems in version 2 that existed in version 1
etc...etc...etc.... does that make them scum of the earth NO!!!!

Would corn have felt better if he had paid 329.00 for the Hawk ???

Probably NOT

Could this have happened with any other Brand of Heli ??

Probably YES

My point is all brands have had and still have some problems including Century ,,,Thunder Tiger and every friggin brand you can think of regardless of price tag, so lets address issues and try not to trample down a company no matter which one it is. Especially one who is trying
to bring you a little fun at an affordable price.

Hawk SportOS .32sxhJR 550TJR X-378HummingBird1200mah LiPo's Free Classifieds at www.rcnut.com
02-08-2004 03:32 AM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
the Wasp
rrProfessor
Location: Vt

for ALL of you,,,

Rstacy said /wrote ""WASP, Lift, & Fart, All of you have spent time sending me PMs trying to convince""

that is fat-BS !! I never PM him until he wrote to me first, and then I never tried to convince him of any thing !!

notice how he wrote Wasp in larger letters, you some hot shot guy, I will never shake your hand now !!



Jim

Jim
Buzz Buzz Buzz
02-08-2004 04:52 AM
 
 
the Wasp
rrProfessor
Location: Vt

guys,,, why do I fly Century ?,,,

because I had a Raptor, and it threw a main blade on it's 3rd flight and the heli blew apart in a thousand pieces, when I called TT I was told (exact quote)---> ""to bad, that's the hobby"" (I'll NEVER forget that), TT could not have cared less about me as a customer !!,,,

as a newbbie and amateur machinist I followed the instructions to the letter, but when I posted here on RR asking about it I got a lot of flaming, but ONLY from other Raptor owners,,,

I got my Raptor replaced because I was talking with someone one day that sells Raptors, and he called TT for me and got TT to replace it,,, they would have never replaced my Raptor if this dealer did not lean on them !!,,,

sorry Corn !! I know this didn't help you, but for the other few that are just out to get Century, Century is not alone !!



Jim

Jim
Buzz Buzz Buzz
02-08-2004 05:45 AM
 
 
Ray Fernandez
Elite Veteran
Location: Guam (U.S.A.)

Now, now guys........let's play nice. No need to badger each other. Corn is just trying to get what he feels as an unfair situation, out for others to consider.

We've basically known each other here on the boards and I'm pretty sure that what ever we say here is to be taken with a grain of salt.

I know that if I were in the same shoes I would be looking for solutions and suggestions to rectify the dilemma.

Ray Fernandez - GUAM
02-08-2004 06:28 AM
 
 
the Wasp
rrProfessor
Location: Vt

"" only thing that you could dispute"",,,, NOT


what did TT do for,,,

the Raptor's flutter

the Raptor's woolf

the Raptor's woolf and pooff

the Raptor's out of line clutch

the Raptor's canopy rubbing on it's linkage

did TT replace all of these, I don't think so !!

Jim

Jim
Buzz Buzz Buzz
02-08-2004 06:41 AM
 
 
the Wasp
rrProfessor
Location: Vt

"I have owned a handful of Raptors and have never had any of the problems that you mentioned. I have always wondered why that is."



I wondered why too !!


Jim

Jim
Buzz Buzz Buzz
02-08-2004 07:13 AM
 
 
SteveH
rrProfessor
Location: Texas

Before this thread got to the name calling, finger pointing situation it is in now, Corn was basically saying that a Century product failed and he has not gotten satisfaction or damages replaced.

It is interesting to me that everyone believes Corn without any input from the person at Century who saw the swash plate in question and made the decision that they were not responsible. Yet a situation about another manufacturer was told, and that manufacturer never even offered to view the damaged parts in question, but to the "Century Bashers" that seems appropiate.

I would like to point out that Century was at least willing to view the part to determine in their own minds who was liable for the failure and the resulting crash. I would also submit that Century, as the manufacturer of the kit, would be much more qualified to make the judgement call than any user.

We all know that almost every helicopter kit that leaves a manufacturers shipping dock will crash, at least some day. Should that manufacturer be held liable for investigating and determining cause and laiblilty of the crash after the kit was, shipped, assembled, radio installed, engine installed, set up, adjusted, ballanced, and test flown? Any reasonable person, I believe, would think not.

Even though Corn is still dissatisfied, I believe Century went beyond what most of the heli kit manufacturers would have done in a simular circumstance.

SteveH
Magnum Fuel
AMA76186
02-08-2004 03:09 PM
 
 
SteveH
rrProfessor
Location: Texas

Ray,

And again, you have only heard Corn's side of the story. I'm not saying Corn is not telling the truth, but I am saying you have only heard Corn's side. From what I have heard from Corn about the situation, I would tend to take his side also, however, I didn't see the swash, I don't know how the swash are manufactured, I don't know what Quality control is used to prevent such a thing from happening, and I submit to you, you don't know any of these things either, nor does anyone else that has posted on this thread.

SteveH
Magnum Fuel
AMA76186
02-08-2004 03:36 PM
 
 
corn_tortilla
Heliman
Location: Round Rock

Gents, let's keep this from becoming a "newsgroup flame war" of the 90's.

SteveH has made valid points. I know that I like to hear both sides to a situation (Remember their 3 sides to a story). However some points are irrelevant:

*Not knowing how the swash are manufactured, or knowing the Quality control.
It doesn't matter, a faulty part made it to the customer. These types of errors occur in ALL manufacturing. How often it happens is the Variable and how the company deals with these issues when they do arise.

*So what is Century's (Main Office) take on this? Let's make it public record.....?

Think of any other product you buy at the store. What happen when it breaks, or doesn't work right in less than 3% of the MTBF for the part. You take it back to the store/manufacturer and exchange it for something that works (If it was a surge protector and destroyed your computer, you'd hold that company liable for faulty product) . The only difference is my scenario is that I had put some pieces of a kit together (& IMO. Century is using that as a scapegoat).

~corn
PS. You better believe that if this happened to me with any other brand, I'd complain & take the same actions. (I did w/ my Ofna Monster Pirate)
02-08-2004 05:41 PM
 
 
8 pages [ <<    <     1      2     ( 3 )     4      5     NEXT    >> ]6339 viewsTOPIC CLOSED
Century Helicopter . MTA Hobbies . Model Rectifier Corp

.
.
Off Topics > **Century Heli Quality Issue: Potential Hawk Buyers Read This
 PRINT TOPIC Advertisers 

Subscribe to This Topic

Saturday, November 22 - 6:02 pm - Copyright © 2000 - 2008 runryder.com | email | link to rr | runryder needs cookie