preditor Max .90

[Dennis]

Hi guy's
Just looking for a little advice i just received my new in the box predator 90 this is my first .90 size bird, reading some of the post here about the max don't know what to upgrade or if it needs to be upgraded before i start building it if you guy's would be so kind as to share your experience with this heli i would greatly appreciate it as i don't want to lose it first time up.

Dennis

[Rodney]

I feel the first to change is the A Arm on the back of swash. Upgrade to metal upon build up. It will save you time and money. Fully assemble frame set with no loctite as per instructions, then remove one screw at a time. Also turn radio tray upside down when building, makes it easier to replace certain bolts after mishaps, this is a must. And reverse rear metal upright. Make it easier as well. And eeasier to remove glow plug. Gears will be noisy at first but will wear in nicely. Any questions feel free to ask for help. Not many Century pilots here on the freak. Im usally the only Pmax flyer here.

[mplourde]

Hi Dennis,

Congratulations for your new bird!!! :thumbs-up2:

I can't help you for the predator because I haven't one!!! Presently, I fly a Falcon 50 SE III. I love my Falcon. But, I'M only the one at my field club to have Century product. IT's not easy to have some help when you have a question. Rodney fly Predardor's machine. I'm sure this guy know really well the product.

Next, I hope to buy a Predator MAX in one or two year. Enjoy with your new "baby"!!!!

[Dennis]

Hey Guy's
Thanks for the reply's, this is the one that Will had for sale how can i tell what gearing it has from the box and instructions i can't see an indication of what type engine it should have as i see century offers different gear ratio's or does it even matter? as in the first few steps it ask to install and set up the engine in the mount i just got it today so i don't have any of the needed items to build it but it help's knowing i should change out the parts you mentioned Rodney thanks for your help.

Dennis

[WillJames]

I have been told by a reliable source it is the 8.18 version since it has the SP2 serial number. You are gonna like it, the P-Max flys nice, stay on top of maintenance!!! As Rodney said, the Century guys have their own forum rotorworks.net is where you will find them. THere are only a few that hang out here. Rodney is a close friend of a lot of people here on the FREAK and a great source of help to people who fly any brands especially Century.

Glad you got it OK. That was fast. Interesting how USPS Priority gets from NC to CA in 2 days, but express mail takes 3 to get from AK to NC. Hotta love that Charlotte distro center in NC, it is like a time warp slowdown once packages get there. :DOH

[Rodney]

Main gear is the best way to know what ratio you have. 90 is 8.18
92 is 8.27 and 93 is 8.45 At least as far as I can remember. I fly 8.45 with a ys 91.
I think most are doing the same with OS as well.

[Dennis]

Hi Rodney
thanks for the info you are more aware of what this heli needs to fly then century as i called and there reply was i don't know. Ok so i can fly this bird with a OS .91 will my Hitec heli radio work to fly the Predator? what servos would you recommend for it thanks for your help.

Dennis

[Rodney]

Does this heli have the split drive hub for the main gear and the tail drive gear?
I use futaba 9252's. They are very popular with most heli pilots. Very strong, good speed and fair on the price. OS has several models of the 91 engine, some put out more power and run better than others. All will fly it just some will do more than the others. Servo recomendation all depends on how you plan to fly it and how hard you push it with 3D. Do not go less than a 401, but 601 or 611 would be best. What Hitec transmitter do you have?

[Dennis]

I have the eclipse qpcm 7 with synthizer module hope this will work don't need another radio system as i have to many now can't remember half the time which fly's which i now label them it's really great your taking the time to help guy's out with your experince guy's like you make the hobby fun and worth doing my thanks.

Dennis

[Dennis]

Rodney
Yes there are 2 seperate gears on the main drive gearing is this a good thing or a bad thing.

dennis

[Rodney]

Your hitec will work fine as long as you know how to use it. I have set a Hawk up with one and it took me a while as I had never seen one before that.
The split gear system is what you want. Now just count the teeth on the pinion and the large main gear and you will know what your gear ratio is by div. the pinion into the main. I enjoy helping others. I am not that great of a pilot, my thumbs cant seem to understand what my eyes see have the time. I help as much as I can. I have built and repaired, repaired, repaired many of Pmax's over the last 1.5 years.

[Dennis]

Hey Rodney
The hitec works for me nice to hear i don't have to buy another radio system, well i am not the best pilot either but i do love to build mechanical thing's and i get by flying and having a lot of fun doing so but i never crash LOL what's the best way to go for an engine i have read that the OS has had problems with the .91 and carb os has discontinued one version and are coming out with another also how bad is the engine on fuel i had a YS 140L and it sucked fuel like no other a gallon after just 4or 5 flights gets a little expensive at 20 a gal can the heli be converted to gas engine is this a better way to go?
Thanks
Dennis

[Rodney]

Gas versus nitro. I have never done the gas thing. I have seen gas pmax's fly. They fly good. It cost a little more to convert to gas. I think conversion is about 300 plus engine. My YS gets about 13min. flights on a tank. That is 6 flights to a gallon.

[Dennis]

Hi Rodney
Will i went and ordered the gasser upgrade should be here by Wednesday your right it's not cheap about $465.00 +S&H i already have the g-23 for it i have been reading all kinds of post on the gasser and so far no negative response i have had nitro heli's and nitro planks just alot of stuff to have on hand where as with the gas just add gas pull and fly or flip in case of a planker no mess to deal with and no glow plug's or drivers so i thought what the hay give it a shot and see how it work's i have a really light weight electronic ignition for it it only weighs a few grams runs on a 4.8 V battery for about a month before it needs recharge. i will put up post when i have it flying, century was out of the metal linkage upgrades maybe i will make my own up.

Dennis

[Foxden]

Rodney,

My son Steven also flys a Pmax with a YS91, we both met you at Mulberry FF last year. I brought AGRAV8 to Florida and we are making arrangement to have him come back for this years event.

I also have a P-Max with a YS80, and of course our Pred Gasser SE with the Hansen 26.

Clyde

[Dennis]

Hi Clyde
How do you like the P-Max gasser, whats the difference between the standard gasser and the SE I plan on flying the gasser with the G-23 with electronic ignition.

Dennis

[Rodney]

Standard versus SE. I looked at the manual. The main thing I see is the thrust bearings on the main shaft. I know on the nitro modles the split drive on comes on the SE and Max. But from what I can see it is stanard on the all gassers, dont quote me as I may be wrong. Well hope to see you and Steven at Mulberry this year as well. As fas as stuff needed for nitro over gas, only diff is nicad for glow plug and starter which also works well on the gasser, for when your arm gets tired from pulling. :lol:

[Dennis]

Hey Rodney
I think i have been pulling it for along while as i am still fooling with R/C pun intended :lol:
I just received via ups all the gasser conversion parts, i was hoping to trade my nitro parts and pay the difference for the upgrade but century says no dice don't know how century compare's the pricing shown on the web site this is not an inexpensive bird I quit flying heli's because it's like oh you bought a kit heli now you want to make it fly then you need to buy all these other parts to make it due that man it takes a lot of hobby money hope it's all worth it, also i was surprised to see all the frames were made of steel no aluminum why not cost?

Dennis i feel like this guy :arggg:

[Rodney]

Well the metal frames work, I prefere the Carbon Frame set. When you have a misshap with the metal it tends to bend alot. You might think the frame is straight but you have to take it down to the last peice to make sure. With the Carbon set all you have to do is look. It is broke or it aint broke, easy check. Plus the carbon is much lighter.

[Dennis]

Hey Rodney
How about making the frames out of aluminum i sure am thinking about it certainly a lot lighter then the steel ones.

Dennis

[Tom Fiddler]

You sure there steel??
Never saw a set of steel ones

[Rodney]

The metal frames are aluminum. But they bend very easily on impact. Hard to tell if they are damaged until completed tear down. I will only run the carbon ones from now on.

[Tom Fiddler]

That's what I thought
And completely agree on the carbon frames

[Dennis]

Rodney
Maybe your right and they already are aluminum sure feel heavy though i will take a good look at them, as to the CF frames what about the fasteners any problem wit the screws holding are they bolt through and nuts on the back side?

Dennis

[Rodney]

No nuts with the carbon frames. It uses a new bottom plate that all the lower bolts thread into. Very nice when doing repairs or tearing down to transport heli. The only thing I found wrong with the carbon set is the upper canopy mount has a tendency to pull thru the frame when crahing. I have made the suggestion to mover it back one inch and put a block inside the frames and bolt thru it but no luck getting them to change. It would be easy change for myself but the canopy mounting hole is already in the canopy, so you have to fill it and move it before painting. Then you would never damage an upper carbon frame in a crash. I have a carbon airframe for sale. Whatever gear ratio you want. if anyone is looking.