Please welcome me to the MinAir club.... and a question

[Funky]

Let me just say I am really excited to join the MinAir community. These are some really great looking birds and I can't wait to get mine flying. I picked up a beautiful Stratus yesterday afternoon. I bought a used bare frame (5 months old), and besides some ugly canopies it looks like it is in great shape. I always get excited with a new heli, but this is unlike anything I have. Its simply gorgeous.

Unfortunately I have already run into my first problem. The bearing block above the clutch assembly (part 121-11 in the manual) has a bad bearing. Its the bearing in the middle (of course it wouldn't be an easier one to remove/replace). Has anyone replaced this bearing before? What is involved? Are the bearing pressed into the blocks? I was considering just buying a new bearing block with bearings, but for 124.95 I think I'll just try to replace the bearing.

[MrMel]

Put in the oven for 30 minutes on 200F.

Then the bearings will slide out easy.

Replace the bearings and put a very small amount loctite (green is best if you have it) on the outside of the bearing before you insert them, specially important on the outer.

[angelob]

First off - welcome!!

Second, if you dont want to mess around with replacing the bearings you can just buy the block itself:

http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=114537

You dont need the whole clutch assembly. Heliproz has the block for about $30. If you add up the cost of the bearings you are probably close.

Angelo

[Funky]

Thank you Angelo and Mr Mel. I used the oven trick to replace the bearings in my Hyper motor so I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for the link Angelo, I am glad there is another option besides the 125.00 one from MA. For 30 bucks, if those bearings don't come right out, I'll be placing my order.

Any tips for a new MinAir owner?

BTW: You have to love Helifreak.... I don't think I have ever had a question go longer than a few hours (this one didn't even last an hour) before I had a solution... thanks again :cheers

[MrMel]

Any tips for a new MinAir owner?


Take your time when building and you will have a machine that last and flies like a dream.
A warning though, other machines might not see the skies for a while when you felt a MA

[Funky]

I wanted to add a few pics of my new heli. I am just so excited to finally have my own MinAir heli. The previous owner was running this as an E-Stratus which is why none of the nitro stuff is in the frame (although I have it all in a box... well... hopefully all of it :wink: )

Was everyone this excited when they got their first MA heli? I can't seem to get this smile off of my face??

[Peter]

just wait till you fly it .. Then you'll need a new hat cos your smile will be so huge it'll push your ears up higher!!!
My first MA was about 20 years ago, and it's still flying great...........

[allen]

when you start flying that 90, you wont want to fly the 50`s any more.. but that is a good thing..

[Rocket Man]

when you start flying that 90, you wont want to fly the 50`s any more.. but that is a good thing..

Ain't that the truth!! :YeaBaby:

For my new heli, I had a choice between the "Latest, Greatest" T-Rex 600 nitro or a Stratus. I won't knock a heli until I have tried it, so I won't say anything bad about the T-Rex, but I am in love with the 90 powered machines. It was a very easy decision.

Ron

[Funky]

I am getting more and more excited. I am still a good month or 2 away from flying it, but after seeing Bobby Watts kick his Stratus around at IRCHA I am more excited than ever. I bought my motor yesterday, a non pumped OS 91SZ. Which muffler should I get? The Hatorri (which one) or the MP5?

[Caleb Phillips]

Hatori SB 17. If I'm not mistaken, that's what I'm using on my non pumped SZ and its a power house! They're loads of fun, welcome to the club.

[Funky]

Well, its been almost 2 months and my Stratus still isn't in the air :bawl Where are my priorities??? Unfortunately money has been very tight. I am also getting ready to move which doesn't help my hobby funds. I finally got the last of my servos and dial indicated the fan last night. Less than .001(Thanks for the help Jared), so its time for final setup. Today was supposed to be the test flight but instead my Stratus decided to make me wait another few weeks :arggg:

After fixing the bearing (thanks for the advice, the oven worked great) I stripped one of the screws when I re-installed the bearing block into the heli. Looks like I'll need a new block now anyways :( I picked up a Hatori SB18 for the 91 SZ. While installing it I stripped one of screw holes in the header that holds the muffler on. Looks like I need a new header now too. I am so dissapointed. I really wanted to get my first flights today and start breaking in the motor but now I am down until after payday on the 30th. Makes me wish I still had credit cards so I could just get in the air now and worry about paying later.

Everyone please tell me how stupid it would be to break in my motor without these 2 screws. The muffler would still be sealed from the 2 large o-rings. Its tight, however, I can't get it all the way tightened to the header without that last screw. The bearing block still has 3 screws and feels very solid. The shaft is also supported at the bottom by another bearing block above the clutchbell. I am very tempted to just try it since I will only be hovering low to the ground for breaking in the motor, but I know I should just wait so please tell me how stupid it would be to try.

I have wanted an X-Cell ever since I started this hobby. Something about them just draws me in. Its so close now.... I have waited this long.... its just so tough with this heli staring me in the face everyday :roll:

Also, does anyone know where I can pick up the servo support shafts for JR servos? I only have the supports for Futaba and they don't fit my new servos :( I emailed MinAir 2 weeks ago but never got a response.

[DavidH]

Sorry about your problems. But it sounds like to me that your just trying to tighten everything to tight.
If you had a torque wrench, you would really be surprised how little torque it takes for 3mm screws. The torque for them is 11-12 inch ozs.
I use a torque wrench to put my motors back together. 11-12 inch ozs is not much more than finger tight, It is definitely not as tight as using an elbow allen wrench with a gorilla grip on it. Drop of blue loctite and snug the bolt is all that is needed. Your screwing steel bolts into threaded aluminum. So to much torque and the threads will strip out easily.

You can fly the model without the servo supports. It is not a problem. I flew an Extreme for over a year without the servo supports. It didn't have them installed when I sold it. But I sent them with the model still in the original bag. Both type servo support studs come with the model. What happened to the 3mm ones?

David

[bgjames111]

My advice, take your time, and listen to the advice you get here, especially from DavidH and Dr. Ben. They KNOW what they are talking about.

[Funky]

Yes, I figured I was over-tightening. I was worried about vibes with the 90 backing out screws so after installing the motor I was checking all of thew screws trying to make sure everything was locktited and tight. I should have just left it alone :arggg:

Thanks for the info David, I want to get the JR support shafts, but its good to know I can test fly without them. Unfortunately my Stratus is used and the guy that sold it to me said he didn't know where the JR servo supports are. He was running 9451s so he only gave me the brass supports for Futaba servos.

What do you guys think about breaking in the motor without those 2 screws? Am I just asking for problems? I hate seeing this bird just sitting around. Once I get payed again I will get the replacement header/bearing block but I was hoping to have the motor broken in by my next check so I can pick up a gov and start actually flying it before all the warm weather is gone.

Thanks for the responses David and James, I really appreciate the help :thumbup:

[fogger]

Just a tip that's worked for me getting bearings out, if you have a heat gun with a high setting it works well to just use it to heat AL parts to remove bearings. This way you don't have to heat your whole oven (and possibly tork-off the wife for putting hobby stuff in there :) ) and it's fast, usually less than a minute of heating needed...

-Fog

[Funky]

Spectrum module, bearing block and header pipe are on the way.... but....

I still can't find the servo supports for JR servos. I emailed MinAir weeks ago without a response. I have searched various sites and the only set I could find were in this package http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=115541. I hate to spend 40 bucks when all I want are those little brass supports. I assume these will work, however, I don't even see anywhere that says these are for MinAir but they look similar and it was the closest thing I could find.

Does anyone know if I can purchase just the supports by themselves from anywhere??

[DavidH]

http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=heli&Product_Code=MA115-74

4 studs in package $12.69 Ron can mail those in an envelope.

Read the fine print at bottom. You have to order 4 to get the set. One is $3.50, Four is $12.69

David

[Funky]

Thank you, Thank you, thank you!! David, I really appreciate the help. I have had the hardest time finding those.

Sorry about all of the questions with this new bird :oops:

Maiden flight should be Friday. I took the day off to spend all day breaking in the new motor so it would be ready to fly "normal" for a fly-in on Saturday. I can't wait!!!!

[bgjames111]

You can give us at heliproz a call any time. We stock a lot of Min Air parts. I know our website isn't the easiest to navigate, but we've got 4 guys who know heli's pretty well that will try to answer your questions

[Funky]

Thanks Brian!! I tried searching for the servo posts but I couldn't find them by themselves on your site. I ordered my bearing block on Saturday from Heliproz and its here today. I tried to call on Sat about the servo posts, but I couldn't get anyone on the phone. It just took me to a recording over and over and I couldn't leave a message for the additional parts :dontknow Now I am just waiting on my BEC from Castle and the Stratus will finally be ready to fly.

Break in flights should begin this Friday. I can't wait!!! I can hardly sleep!! I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning :roll:

[DavidH]

Funky.
Rick's has the best selection of MA parts. They carry some parts that no other shop has. Rick's has pretty much has the largest selection of MA parts in the USA. The other shop would be Graves RC in Orlando. www.gravesrc.com
Graves is less than 30 mins from MA, they just drive up to MA and pick up what they need.

David

[bgjames111]

we've (heliproz) have quite a bit as well, but I can't claim everything.

[Funky]

Thanks guys I have heard nothing but great things about Heliproz and Ricks so I'll be sure to check them out for any parts I need. I want to say thanks again to everyone that has helped me in this thread and my various PMs (Thanks Wayne and David). I am sure all of you guys are sick of hearing from me but as you can probably tell I think I am more excited now than I have ever been since starting this hobby. Just looking at it gives me butterflies :roll: This heli is a real piece of work and I am proud to own one of my own... now I just can't wait to fly it!!

The "to do" list of is almost complete and this heli should be ready to go Friday... I need to wrap the RX and gyro amp in foam, change the header, pick up some fuel line and come up with a throttle servo link which should all be taken care of tomorrow with a quick trip to the LHS. The last piece of the puzzle will be the CC BEC and this bird will be ready to go!!!

[Funky]

Three test flights done.... This heli flies like a dream!!! I can't wait to get the motor broken in and start really flying this thing. Winds are 15mph+ today but you would never know it flying this bird... I LOVE IT :banana