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After Market Accessories > Heli-max floats sagging
 
 
tisrich
Senior Heliman
Location: western NY

I have a standard Nexus 30 attached to a set of 30 size floats from heli-max. I have to re-bend the aluminum cross supports after a couple flights because the weight of the Nexus causes them to sag in the middle. I land normally. I called H-max re this and they have no record of this kind of problem before and want me to send them in for a looksee. I am thinking of maybe JB welding another aluminum piece under each cross piece for extra support. Anyone have this problem before or have an idea how to correct it?
07-06-2001 Over year old.
 
 
Alan Szabo Sr
Key Veteran
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

I have a pair of them but havnt tried them yet. I think instead of another piece of alum. I would go down to your local kite store and put a piece of carbon rod jb welded to it. It would be a lot lighter and keep the sagging down to a min.
10-04-2001 Over year old.
 
 
tisrich
Senior Heliman
Location: western NY

I should have posted this before. I bought a piece of aluminum from a hardware store for a couple bucks that was the exact same dimension of the ones in the kit. I cut 2 pieces slighly smaller and JB Welded them together. Drilled thru the existing holes and mounted them. They are now super strong and have no sag at all now.
10-04-2001 Over year old.
 
 
Alan Szabo Sr
Key Veteran
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

well im going to put mine together this weekend hopefully without having to brace it. Ill let you know how it comes out.
10-05-2001 Over year old.
 
 
Raptorite
Senior Heliman
Location: Wiltshire, UK

Hi all,

Tell me, this may be a dumb question, but what do you use these floats for? do you land on water, or do you use them to soften the blow of a hard landing?

The reason for this question is that I have been flying heli's for about six months, although not as often as I would like!

I just thought that it sounded like a good idea when taking the training undercarriage off for the first time, to install a set of floats as a transitional measure, this would enable the pilot to get used to the smaller foot print of the heli during take off and landings, this sounds like it could boost confidence before finally using only the heli skids.

What do you guys think?

Peter.
10-15-2001 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
tisrich
Senior Heliman
Location: western NY

 I have one heli with them on permanently which I use for winter flying. I live in a snow belt area of New York and using floats allows me to land/take off in the snow. Quite a sight to see and amazingly the heli stays completely dry! Others use them for water landing but I'm too chicken to try it.
10-15-2001 Over year old.
 
 
DuceCoop
Heliman
Location: Cape May, NJ

Have the same float. Quick fix was to buy aluminium of same grade as Helimax struts and 4 longer bolts on float side. Take the new flat aluminuim and span below the struts from Helimax. The four bolts account for going through the doubled aluminium and acts as a stiffner for the entire set. No need to worry about stiffness, floats take the cushion. No JB weld or gluing. When fastened together, it forms a rather stiff structure. Little added weight. Cost $5.00
12-06-2001 Over year old.
 
 
Alan Szabo Sr
Key Veteran
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Heli on Floats

Here is a picture of our Baron 30 that we bring to lake Havasu ever year. There noodle floats, the picture was taken just before landing. What you have to do is hit throttle hold when you touch down while adding a little positive collective. This keep it from having any neg pitch pushing it down into the water.

12-06-2001 Over year old.
 
 
Mark Ryder
Administrator
Location: Encino, CA

Looks like fun at Lake Mead. Some day I will fly my heli off sandy point.

James provided this picture of heli floats. They are not mine.

12-06-2001 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Raydee
Veteran
Location: Western New York

My friend has floats on his Raptor and they are great! He learned how to auto using the floats to soften a hard landing. I was told that when you use them on water it is hard to control the tail on takeoff and you should really hit the throttle to get out of the water
[break]
12-06-2001 Over year old.
 
 
DuceCoop
Heliman
Location: Cape May, NJ

Heli Max floats spreading

Finally got the pics of my solution to the spreading float struts. Tell me what you think. Haven't had a problem since with spreading. Floats just have a tendency to roll on the wood flat stock.



01-11-2002 Over year old.
 
 
kevlar11
Senior Heliman
Location: Edmonton

sagging

Did you try silicone?
KD
01-26-2002 Over year old.
 
 
b1833
Heliman
Location: Northern Utah

Helimax floats

I put Helimax 60 floats on my raptor 46 this summer and flew it off of water. I bent the bars down, slightly beyonde the width of the frame of the helicopter. When I land, I see some flexing but not deformation. The alunimum stock that came with mine was pretty hefty. .Maybe they changed something????

The tail does not respond well untill you have your head speed up. Simple, throttle up very slowly and it is controllable. Push the stick fast, and it will want to spin in the water.. The water adds to the whole helicopter experience... Sure hope I don't swamp it..

Gota love this hobby!!!

Duane
09-17-2002 Over year old.
 
 
metalman
Senior Heliman
Location: ada, okla.

floats

DuceCoop ---- Funny how great minds think alike. I have had Heli-Max floats on one of my Raptor 30's for about a year. I used the same solution for the spreaders as you did as well as yellow paint on the wood parts!!
Jim
09-27-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Mopzilla
Veteran
Location: Cupertino, CA USA

hello! I just put on my helimax floats about 10 minutes ago, and have already noticed sagging on my 30 size! Reminded me of this thread!

The sagging really isn't that much, but so far, it's a lot for the first 15 minutes on the helicopter!

I noticed that the floats roll inwards slightly, possibly causing strain on the screws that hold the struts to the floats. I think i will do the flat aluminum mod with just a big flat piece (length of struts x 1.5") to hold the floats level and keep them from spreading.

-----------------
Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
10-19-2002 Over year old.
 
 
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After Market Accessories > Heli-max floats sagging
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