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How to Get the Zero Pitch at Midstick on an MX400

The Heli-Max MX400 remote-controlled helicopter allows you to adjust the pitch. Pitch is the amount of tilt of the rotor blades in any direction. At the center point on the controller when you are not pushing or pulling the control stick, the pitch should be zero degrees You can check for zero pitch at midstick and make adjustments if necessary. Troubleshoot your pitch problems systematically so that you can be sure your won't damage your MX400 by crashing it into the ground due to lack of pitch control.

Things You'll Need

Manual for Hel-Max MX400

Instructions

- 1
  Cut out the pitch template at the end of the MX400 manual. This manual is available free online at manuals.hobbico.com. The pitch template is the last page. Cut out the center shape carefully, because it is designed to fit over a blade.
- 2
  Slide the pitch template over a blade. It should fit snugly. You will see that the top and bottom edges of the template slant. The top one slants up, and the bottom one slants down. Push your control stick forward to the maximum position. This will turn the blade. Look at the blade from the side and line your sight up with the flybar. The flybar is the piece that runs perpendicular to the blades and has paddles on each end of it. As you look at your blade and compare it to the flybar, you should see that the template edge marked "8 Degrees Positive" lines up with the flybar. Pull the stick all the way back to the down position, and your blade will tilt in the other direction. The template edge marked "8 Degrees Negative" should line up with the flybar.
- 3
  Adjust the linkages that support the rotor assembly. These are called elevator swashplate linkages. You adjust them by screwing them either clockwise or counter clockwise with your fingers. As you adjust them, view your rotor assembly from the side to make an estimate of when it is level.
- 4
  Check your positive and negative pitch with the template once again. Make adjustments to the linkages until your template lines up with the flybar. Once you have your positive and negative pitches aligned, your position at midstick will be zero.

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