You guys are a bad influence

[Rodney Kirstine]

I ended up deciding I'm going to run straight LiFe packs.  I also ordered a Switchglo.  Now all I need to do is find an air frame, LOL.

[Chris Sexton]

Experience is showing stock, low mind you but they have at least 1!

http://www.experiencerc.com/store/synergy_contender_belt_drive_(flybarless)_n5-999-302-p-8890.html

[Rodney Kirstine]

Well, I think I now have everything purchased and on the way, except for fuel.  I'm going to run to my LHS today and see what they've got.  I don't have high hopes, though. They carry more RPG (funny shaped dice type not the terrorist shoulder-fired type) equipment than helicopter equipment.  They do have a lot of RC car stuff, though, so they probably have some fuel. 

[wbefield]

Well, I think I now have everything purchased and on the way, except for fuel.  I'm going to run to my LHS today and see what they've got.  I don't have high hopes, though. They carry more RPG (funny shaped dice type not the terrorist shoulder-fired type) equipment than helicopter equipment.  They do have a lot of RC car stuff, though, so they probably have some fuel.

excellent!

[Rodney Kirstine]

I got my air frame today and I've been working on assembly.  I need to look through some of the pictures on here and see what other people have done for electronics mounting and wire routing.  I won't have blades until Monday but hopefully I'll get to at least fire the motor up and check that out tomorrow.

[Chris Sexton]

I got my air frame today and I've been working on assembly.  I need to look through some of the pictures on here and see what other people have done for electronics mounting and wire routing.  I won't have blades until Monday but hopefully I'll get to at least fire the motor up and check that out tomorrow.

If you need any help let me know! This new N5c of mine came out great. Easy to wire up!

[Rodney Kirstine]

Thanks Chris!  Luckily there are a lot of great pictures here to look over for ideas and also lots of you guys to answer the questions that a picture won't help with...

I've got it mostly figured out now.  I just ran into one small stumbling block.  I have an Align governor sensor and it's got the wrong connector on it for what I need.  I don't have servo connector pins and  housings to just put a new one on but I have some odds and ends laying around so I might just go ahead and cut it and solder on a small extension with a servo connector.  I'm also going to have to hit my LHS tomorrow and pick up some misc. fuel line fittings and some fuel line.

The motor I bought didn't come with a gasket for the pipe so I'm also going to have to either use high temp RTV or high temp epoxy to seal it.

Other than that, it's coming along rather quickly.

[Chris Sexton]

Be aware the align gov sensor is wired different. Positive isn't red. Check out the forums. You have to switch two wires and which ones are escaping me at the moment.

[Rodney Kirstine]

Man, I'm glad I mentioned that sensor, then!  Thanks Chris.  I'll do some searching and see if I can find the info.

[Rodney Kirstine]

I had my maiden flight this morning, in 30 mph winds...  The flight was going really well until about 2 minutes in when one of the nuts holding the pipe on decided to work its way off of the screw.  I wanted to redo the seal, anyway, so I'm doing that right now.  Hopefully the wind calms down a bit so I can give it another go later.

[wbefield]

Wow Rodney, you are brave maidening with 30 mile per hour winds.
You may as well check all your nuts and bolts.  If you forgot to loctite anything, they work their way out quicker on a nitro.

[Rodney Kirstine]

Yesterday turned out to be a beautiful day, it was 60 degrees and calm.  I was able to try the maiden again.  It looks like I need to redo my throttle linkage because it's binding and WOT and sticking.  I couldn't get the Skookum setup software to run on my parent's PC so I only flew one tank and wasn't able to make any adjustments. 

The motor is definitely running rich, it's spitting out quite a bit of fuel but I am nervous about tuning.  I have already adjusted the high speed needle 14 clicks in from where the manual says to start and it's still really rich.  Since I'm new to this, I'm not sure what to expect as far as how many clicks I'll end up having to adjust it.

Rodney

[Chris Sexton]

Well for starters unless you are really in it, you aren't on the high speed needle as much as you think. I would put the high speed needle back rich a few clicks. 14 seems like A LOT.

I am still a noob as tuning nitro, I am hoping to get some advice to further tune my machines while in BHam this weekend.  Right now, my OS55 is completely stock rich and running great. I may just leave it!

Keep in mind too, fuel makes a huge difference. I put Cool power in a YS60SR tuned on Wild cat, bone dry forced auto at 4:10. Next tank put Wild Cat, room to spare at 5 minutes!

[Rodney Kirstine]

It was still spewing fuel and a big cloud of smoke at WOT during a full pitch climb.

[Chris Sexton]

Going to have oil all over everything, that's normal. Are you sure it's fuel and not just oil?

Some fuels smoke more than others.  What fuel are you running?