century customer service sucks just as much as their quality

[geomecc]

i recently had to upgrade to the new style hd clutch in my predator gasser because the original type is discontinued. which meant i had to buy the new clutch, fan, mainshaft bearing block, and clutchbell with bearing block. i got everything installed when i saw a huge amount of wobble in the clutchbell when i spun the maingear. so i ordered another clutchbell and the same thing i ordered another from a different place same thing. i contacted centurycustomer service they have me send in the clutch bells so they can check it out. i tell them the only way you can see the issue is if the top and bottom of the pinion is supported with a bearing on both sides and they tell me they are good. they also send me a video of them checking the runout but they are checking the top of the pinion not the bell

[geomecc]

here is the video. am i wrong or this person checking the wrong thing

[Billme]

Fellow, I was told the other side of this, They have sent you several of these with good tolerances.. You must be doing something wrong that is causing you problems...
What is the problem with the heli put together ready to start?... What do you see that has your concern ?

[geomecc]

with the clutch bell and attatched bearing block is installed in the upper part of the mechanics but the bolts are started but not tight like I'm getting ready to put the mechanics back on the engine to get the clutch and bell lined up( like when anyone replaces the clutch or liner) and I spin the main gear by hand I see the bell moving up and down in a wobbling manner. I wouldn't have kept buying it if I didn't think it would be a problem. my radical and all my xcell helis don't do this. all I'm asking is that someone check the clutch bell with the pinion supported top and bottom like its designed to be when it's in the Heli.

[geomecc]

besides I have asked whoever is handling this to call me a couple of times. maybe I'm not explaining this properly via emails

[Billme]

How well is your hub centered..Did you check the runout on the engine before putting the hub on, and when you put the hub on, did you rub some oil on the taper to allow the hub to fit into place easier? Since you have changed the bell out many times, its probably your hub that is out...I would take it back down, and check runout on engine shaft, so you will know whats going on for sure from the beginning...

[geomecc]

I have the fan hub to less than .002" runout measuring at the clutch bolted to the hub and I used your method of assembling the new fan to the engine as per your suggestion I found somewhere. by using some oil on the taper of the crank shaft. it is very noticeable even when the bell is installed in the mechanic but not mated over the engine. it is as if the hole that the pinion is threaded into isn't perfectly perpendicular in relation to the sides of the bell. to make sure it's not a bent pinion I tried different "known good" pinions and produced the same result.

[Lieutenant Dan]

I have to agree with Bill, if you have tried 3 or 4 different Bells then your problem is elsewhere,

have you tried a different Gear ??

or you could have a bad bearing


Bill, sorry for butting in here

[geomecc]

these are new bells from a possible bad batch is what I'm trying to figure out. I replaced everything that is associated with the clutch bell, pinion, upper pinion bearing block and starter shaft.I also had to upgrade the lower mainshaft bearing block because the ne HD clutch bell bearing block wouldnt fit properly. I have never had this problem before ever! if this was an xcell then I could totally agree that I was doing something wrong.due to their outstanding quality. century is famous for low quality control parts and helis. don't misunderstand I absolutely love my predator and would go to this trouble to get it flying again.and not bashing century. all I'm doing is assembling new parts. exactly how the manual instructs! I dont feel like im doing anything wrong I don't understand why it's so difficult to check the clutch bell with the pinion supported by two bearing blocks like how it's designed to be in the Heli is all!

[geomecc]

Originally Posted by Billme

Fellow, I was told the other side of this, They have sent you several of these with good tolerances.. You must be doing something wrong that is causing you problems...
What is the problem with the heli put together ready to start?... What do you see that has your concern ?

they didnt send me anything! i purchaced these parts and I sent the parts to century.

[Tyler]

Century in a nutshell:

The parts are not defective.
The customer is wrong.
Customer pays to return product for inspection.
The parts are not defective.
The customer is wrong.
Customer buys parts/upgrades.
Machining on production wrong cannot possibly be defective.
The customer is wrong.
Exchange video footage.
Pay to return product again.
Wait for inspection.
The customer is wrong.
Parts held hostage at Century.
Phone calls not returned.
...enter online field reps.
The customer is wrong.
Rep machines have no problems.
Parts are not defective.
Customer not "qualified professional heli mechanic".
The parts are not defective.
The beatings shall continue until moral improves.
The parts are not defective.

[geomecc]

first i sent them in once they still have it
no one called me after i asked them to call me several times.
what constitutes a "qualified professional heli mechanic"?
the customer is always right
if parts are indeed defective and someone gets hurt as a direct result of said parts who is responcible and liable?
im asking for help and instead im being made to feel like an idiot
I am a certified master diesel mechanic and definitely know when something doesnt look right!
send me my parts back and i will show everyone exactly what im talking about!
I DIDNT START BUILDING AND FLYING RC HELICOPTERS YESTERDAY AND CERTAINLY DONT APPRECIATE THE DISRESPECT BY THE PREVIOUS POST!!!

[geomecc]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Century in a nutshell:

The parts are not defective.
The customer is wrong.
Customer pays to return product for inspection.
The parts are not defective.
The customer is wrong.
Customer buys parts/upgrades.
Machining on production wrong cannot possibly be defective.
The customer is wrong.
Exchange video footage.
Pay to return product again.
Wait for inspection.
The customer is wrong.
Parts held hostage at Century.
Phone calls not returned.
...enter online field reps.
The customer is wrong.
Rep machines have no problems.
Parts are not defective.
Customer not "qualified professional heli mechanic".
The parts are not defective.
The beatings shall continue until moral improves.
The parts are not defective.

tyler who are you and what buissiness do you have with my customer service issue?
is this how century treats their customers?

[geomecc]

i just want my money back!

[geomecc]

or send me the parts back please.
i just dont want anyone to get hurt by an alleged bad part failing in flight or in the least loose the heli in a crash!

what could happen if the bell had excessive runout and i flew the heli? what other parts could be affected? can it damage my engine?

all i want is a definite good part and to return the other two. the parts are all new and never run on the heli with the exception of one. instead as a long time customer i feel im being treated poorly. if they treat all their customers this way how do they stay in business

[Lieutenant Dan]

Tyler, Century is trying to help him, that includes Bill, they simply have not found the problem yet, and now it's the weekend and no one is in the store,

trolling makes things worse than they are

[geomecc]

Originally Posted by Lieutenant Dan

Tyler, Century is trying to help him, that includes Bill, they simply have not found the problem yet, and now it's the weekend and no one is in the store,

trolling makes things worse than they are

thankyou leutenant dan!

[geomecc]

sorry for gettin bent out of shape guys

[Tyler]

Hay is for horses, trolling is for bass boats. I sympathized with the original poster by reporting my experience with Century.

[geomecc]

Originally Posted by geomecc

they didnt send me anything! i purchaced these parts and I sent the parts to century.

sorry Tyler I didn't pick up on that up till now including the emails before I brought this here I been made to feel like I'm the bad guy for spotting an obvious problem in my opinion and them insisting like I'm wrong at the same time not listening to what I'm describing especially when my entire fleet is either nitro or gasser and asking them to measure something and they send me a video of them measuring the opposite end. it feels like I'm being hustled and that's why I was getting upset.