Caliber 3

[xircom]

Hi, so I plan to buy a 30 class engine heli in the future, now the caliber 30 seems to be pretty successful, and also in a comparable low price class. Now I have seen the caliber 3 as well, lot of plastic (does not need to be bad ...), different design (e.g. rigid flight-paddles) etc. Now for me the 30 looks more stable, but I am afraid they're phasing it down soon, including spares - but the 3 does not really convince me just by looking, any help ? Thanks !

[Laurens]

I think that if they released the 3 they wouldn't make it worse then the 30. The 30 is a really great flying heli. Maybe you can try to fly someone elses 3?

[xircom]

uhm, it's very new - don't know anyone nearby, but maybe read some new reports. Do you know if 3 will replace 30 or is 3 just strictly the beginner of the two ?

[shaun.kendall]

I don't know for sure, but I have heard somewhere that the 30 is maybe going away. Do not take it as gospel from me though. It would not be the first time i was wrong. :oops:

[kiwiflyer]

Caliber 3 is "challenged" if you get my drift. O.K for hover but has some serious issues with forward flight. DO NOT buy one with the GX36 motor. It is a pain in the a#*. OS 32 would be a better option, better still, buy without motor and fit O.S.37. Kyosho have seen fit to change the pitch of the main belt drive and tail belt drive so when you want to upgrade there are a host of parts that need to be changed.Interestingly, it uses lots of Caliber 5 and Caliber 30 parts so the upgrade path is pretty much Caliber 5 parts. Not a bad thing.

[kevinator9]

Unfortunately the Caliber 30 is now being discontinued. You better get in quick if you want one. I have the caliber 3 and I am a very new begginner. It is the perfect heli for me. Easy to build and setup (sort of but the 9c programming is hard!)

[xircom]

O I see, now it's official - actually I decided some time ago already bought EVO50. Caliber 5 would also have been very nice, but I felt there is better support of the EVO (spares, upgrades) than Caliber.

Yes, for beginner caliber 3 sounds very good, actually I made the mistake in the beginning to have bought a more expensive model (Lepton), and it kept me from learning (afraid from crash), Today I think nitro 30 is just the best, less stable than 50 but ways cheaper in equipment and fuel.

Then also (despite all the naysayers), I think it would be really also good to think about a gov, because it makes (when engine tuned ok) the life so much easier (no mixing or throttle function). I just waited too long with that ...

[Baja-King]

Hi guys, I am new round here so a big hello to everybody.
The site is really a goldmine of info - a real big thanks.

I have just bought and built a Caliber 3 that came with a GX36 engine.
I tried to start it today with no luck at all :arggg: I have had many i.c. cars but this is my first heli so just wondering if anybody has any ideas please :dontknow
I have checked the main and idle needles and they are set as per the manual:

Main is 2 turns open from fully closed
Idle is 1 1/4 turns from fully closed
Glow plug is definitely glowing!
Opening the throttle to approx 10-15%
Magnum fuels 20% nitro fuel

Any help would be most appreciated :D

[xircom]

Nice looking bird, this is the one I should have bought to start with :wink:

Difficult to say why yours is not starting up, I'd check if all fuel lines are ok, the small o-ring is used with the plug, glow battery is ok (even glowing got enough power), the exhaust mounted correctly (and not closed), starter turns right direction, throttle is bit open and the right direction ! (idle position, you might take off main blades to avoid disaster), then make sure the engine inside is not full of gas (I usually remove the plug, use starter to flush out gas and re-connect) ... :idea:

[kevinator9]

My o-ring on the carberatour was too small so maybe you could check that out...

[Baja-King]

My o-ring on the carberatour was too small so maybe you could check that out...

Thanks for the replies :D

Do you mean the o-ring that sits on the main needle?

Many thanks

[kevinator9]

I'm not sure but I think it is.

[kiwiflyer]

Hi guys, I am new round here so a big hello to everybody.
The site is really a goldmine of info - a real big thanks.

I have just bought and built a Caliber 3 that came with a GX36 engine.
I tried to start it today with no luck at all :arggg: I have had many i.c. cars but this is my first heli so just wondering if anybody has any ideas please :dontknow
I have checked the main and idle needles and they are set as per the manual:

Main is 2 turns open from fully closed
Idle is 1 1/4 turns from fully closed
Glow plug is definitely glowing!
Opening the throttle to approx 10-15%
Magnum fuels 20% nitro fuel

Any help would be most appreciated :D

A better starting point for the needle settings would be 1 1/2 turns out on the main and 1 turn out on the idle. A hotter plug helps. I used an OS A3, gets it idling more reliably. If you dont get on top of the tuning quickly you can overheat the clutch and break the shoe.

[jarmund]

Huge bump, but i guess that's OK..

I bought the Caliber 3 a few months back, and it flyes really well, and i am in general pleased with the purchase..

_however_

it has the GX36H engine, which has proven to be a troublemaker from time to time. The current problem (appeared recently) i can't seem to figure out is the fact that once it starts the RPM gets really high, after which the RPM starts to vary alot. I have quintupple-checked that i don't have any "exotic" throttle curves set up, and i have cleaned the carb.

Any suggestions on what can cause this problem? I am looking into the option of buying a new engine, since the GX36H is known to have a few issues. However, i'm not giving up on the GX36H just yet. Someone mentioned a carb leaking air.. what would the symptom(s) of this be?

And in the event of me giving up on the GX36H, what would be a good replacement engine?

[kevinator9]

Ok now that I know what happens with the engines a bit better than what I did back then here goes another shot.

Check the carburetor sealing washer and rubber gasket. On my engine this is what was bad. Also the 2.6mm bolt that holds the carburetor in was too small or the hole was stripped or something and so it leaked air into the carb. We forced a 3mm bolt in and it sealed it. The engine runs great now.

If you really want to replace it your best bet is the os32 engine.

[jarmund]

Also the 2.6mm bolt that holds the carburetor in was too small or the hole was stripped or something and so it leaked air into the carb. We forced a 3mm bolt in and it sealed it. The engine runs great now.

Do you recon proper thread locking and some sealing paste (the kind plumbers use) would do the trick?

If you really want to replace it your best bet is the os32 engine.

Will i be able to use the same manifoild that i use on my GX36H? Also, what is the major diff between os32 and os37? The shops relatively close to me only carry OS 37 engine..

Thanks for the tips