Some Build Tips

[efrazar]

Thanks for all the great info. I bought my new unflown X3 from a member here a year ago. Since then I have been acquiring the final pieces and I am planning to start the build this weekend.

[balsa model]

This may sound like a really stupid question, but I'm a building noob, so this is probably going to happen a few times.

I got X3L kit of 3-bladed variety (totally for the looks) and it comes with the main head, the swashplate, and the tail rotor hub all pre-assembled. All smooth, without any play that my fingers can tell.
Now, one side of me (the paranoid one) says that I should disassemble it all because that's the only way to be sure that no threadlock and lube is missing. The other side says "if it's not broke..." leave it until you crash it and then have to redo it.
Any old sage advice?
Please? It's a real dilemma.

[RoboHeli]

I would assume it does not have threadlock. Perhaps it does and it'll be okay, but are you willing to take the chance that it will come undone and explode in flight? If you're lucky, it'll only damage itself. If you're unlucky and someone gets hit by a flying part...

I would disassemble it, clean the bolts, and apply threadlock to them. That's the only way to be sure that it's done. In the couple of different kits that I've built, the head always comes pre-assembled but it requires you to disassemble and apply lube and threadlock to the parts.

[balsa model]

Thank you for the quick reply. That's unanimous then: it all comes apart. The drawings look fine but I wanted to touch the insides anyways.

[heychas]

I built a X5 this past winter and it had many components pre-assembled. I took one apart to inspect, and it was properly locktited. I didn't bother w/ the other components, and I never had a problem w/ any of them. I have the impression Gaui does a good job w/ those.