radical pics

[cbarnettone]

Just finished mine today. The picures were taken after idling through my first tank of fuel. This bird sounds mean, compared to my 50 nitro!

[helimanny]

that looks like a great job on the build...did you fly it yet?

[cbarnettone]

Originally Posted by helimanny

that looks like a great job on the build...did you fly it yet?

Thanks!! I could not believe how long it took me to get the wiring the way I wanted.

Nope... I have not flown it yet. Just fired it up today, and let it idle out a full tank. I'll hover it for the first time tomorrow. Trying to follow the engine break in recommendations from Sparx (http://allthingsthatfly.com/Reviews.php). Hope that is the right way to go.

Questions... do you have the centruy torpedo muffler? If so, how do you have it configured? Washer, smaller outlet, both?

[strat1960s]

CB,

Very nice looking heli. When I installed my torpedo muffler, I left the the washer and everything in place. I've flown just under a gallon and love it. I was still working out some of the bugs when my clutch went out.
Be carefull when starting to avoid hot starts. Also, if you haven't yet, get the pull start. Even though the Radikal is equiped with the electric start coupling, the pull start is the way to go.
I haven't seen Sparx's method, but everything that I have read says to heat cycle you motor for about 1 gallon of fuel. Heat cycling is hovering for a few minutes and then letting the heli idle on the ground for a few minutes. Whether you idle or casually fly around, the object is to allow the motor to heat up and cool down to seat the piston rings and condition the piston and cylinder.

PS. I grew up in Indy.

Ted

[cbarnettone]

Thanks for the information Ted! It is nice to hear from someone else with ties to Indy! Yep... Sparx's menthod also mentions heat cycling, so that is what I will be doing today. You mention that the pull start is the way to go... does that mean there is an issue with the electric start mechanics? Not sure what you meant by avoiding hot starts... can you expand on that?

[MotorRotor]

I have only used the top electric start on mine, It is not an issue with the heli. The issue is insuring that your starter is up to the task. Be sure to use a HD starter with a GOOD battery, like a 3S/2500 or bigger battery pack.

[strat1960s]

CB,

There may be another term for it, but, when your throttle is set too high when you start the heli. That motor screaming, clutch burning smell and sound is what I call a hot start.

Nothing wrong with the electric start mechanics, but after the motor has been run for a good while (4 or 5 times) you will find it easier and easier to start your heli. The pull start will save you money in battery packs and the cost of the electric starter. But if you've already got the starter and battery pack nothing wrong with using them.
I had mis-aligned my clutch and was having all kinds of trouble starting my motor. I bought the align starter and proceded to crank on the motor with it. Since I got the clutch properly aligned, I've used nothing but the pull starter.

Ted

[helimanny]

yea +1 on the electric starter...i use the align electric starter and it works great and its very slimline

[cbarnettone]

Thanks for the replies! I have an electric starter that I had been using with my nitro, but it does seem to stuggle a little to turn this engine over. Once it gets past the first compression cycle, then it seems to turn over fine. Just needs a little momentum!

Anyway, I ran 3 tanks through today just hovering for 5 minutes at a time, and then landing to let the engine cool down. Did that over an over until the tank was empty. I am amazed at how long it took to run out 3 tanks!!

I did get very lucky on my last flight because as I was spooling it up, it lost radio connection for about 30 seconds. I had no control of the heli at all, and those blades were spinning about 1,700 RPM. Fortunately, it re-established connection, and I was able to kill the engine. The inspection afterwards revealed a bad solder joint in my CC BEC (about 2 years old pulled from my nitro heli). I am seriously thinking about taking that out of the mix, and running the server, Rx and Gyro straight off of my LiFe pack!!

[helimanny]

more pics

[mecha1000]

I am using A-123 on my G30 and it works great!!! I bought two from china for ~$17 each plus shipping.

[cbarnettone]

Just painted the windscreen black. I think it looks MUCH better!

[nismo200sx16]

does it fly with those 600mm blades. I never tried to use them on mine. always used the 620 wide chords. I was told it would not fly well with regular 600's.

[MotorRotor]

If you want to know how it will fly with 600 blades, take a 50 sized heli (600 blades) and strap 4 pound onto the skids and go fly.

Yes it will fly, but not as well as it was designed to fly.

[nismo200sx16]

kind of what I figured it would be like.

[helimanny]

yes the 620 wide core blades are best for the 20

[MotorRotor]

If you are into general sport flying, specially at rotor speeds below 1800, you may find the 640's to be a good choice as they even have a better disc loading. This also makes them more proficient in the autos.

[Eppler]

Hears mine.

[nismo200sx16]

wow very clean . good job.

[cbarnettone]

Yep... that is a seriously nice looking wiring job! I can only see one battery in the picture. Are you running another one? If so, where do you have it? Also, where is your RX... under the tailboom? I might have to rethink my wiring after seeing this! More pics please!!