Are there any new or loyal eco 8 pilots left out there.

[xxcysxx]

Like the topic said. Are there any loyal eco 8 or new eco 8 fliers left out there. I've been flying mine a lot this summer and finally had the luck to crashed it for the very first time after owning it for 12 years.
I was shocked when i was shopping around for spare part prices. They are rediculous. The eco 8 replacement parts cost more than trex500 parts. It make me feel scare to crash this eco 8 again. Plus the places that sell the parts are also stop suplying parts for the eco. Places like cme hobbies, heli hobby, dream hobbies. Other places like hobby lobby and fxaeromodels still sells parts for it but they are very expensive.

i'm thinking of retire my eco 8 in a scale fuselage and hang it up on the ceiling or something. Because i dont think i will get much for it in the resale market.

[wetwolf]

I think most of us got tired of crashing our Ecos and bought swift 16s to fly.

[Dogwoodtheone]

yea the parts cost always made me afraid to fly mine, so I got a Swift :D
still have my ECO's might fly them again later

[Gary Morris]

I still have and fly my Eco 8 Royal and it's one of my favorites. Granted, parts costs are high but that doesn't stop me from flying it often. I believe the Royal has a much stiffer frame than the original Eco 8 but, the design of the head is different and requires a lot of work to get the tracking to stay put.

Gary

[Jimbo45cn]

I have mine and am still flying/crashing mine. What I did long ago was just buy another kit for spares. At 150 bucks, it was far cheaper than buying replacement parts one each. I just love the way it flies, and I continue to fly it. Jim

[Gadget01]

I have a pair of Eco 8's that haven't seen much action lately. Since I bought a Swift, my motivation to tinker with them has taken a sharp dive. It doesn't take much to cause serious damage, and with parts being as expensive as they are it's hard to justify. I recently crashed my non-bling Eco and broke the frame, so there it sits as a pile of parts. My super-bling Eco is still sitting there at about 85% waiting for me to finish putting it together.

Some parts cost comparison:

Swift 16-

main gear: $6.80
frame: $12.80
main shaft: $9.95
tailboom: $3.85
gear struts: $8.95

For the Eco, the same parts cost $16.85, $19, $17, $13, $24 respectively.


This is just a small sample. It goes on and on like that. The worst part is how easily breakable Eco parts are. I've lost count of how many sets of Eco landing gear struts I've broken.

The money you save in parts on the Swift easily makes up for increased battery costs. Regardless, I still like my Eco and look forward to flying it again.

[xxcysxx]

i love my eco soo much i cant see my self selling it. i have sold other helis i had at great loss, but i think i will miss my eco if i had to let it go. i don't know why, but there is some special bond between me and my eco. it doesn't fly like any other heli i own, in a better way.

[brett s]

I still have an Eco 8 - I haven't ever broken anything on it because it's never been crashed. So I'll just keep on flying it...

If I was starting today it obviously wouldn't be my choice of helicopters, I've owned it for several years.

[Cyclick]

xxcysxx

I know what you mean...but if you got yourself a Swift you might also find your Eco spending all its' time on the shelf. :)

[helifrek]

I miss my old eco, I had all the upgrade, well over $1300 invested in it. flew like a dream. never crashed or broke anything but had plenty of close calls. it was way ahead of it's time. I ended up having to sell it for $500 :( I miss it.

Brandon

[Gadget01]

I still have an Eco 8 - I haven't ever broken anything on it because it's never been crashed. Seriously.... you've NEVER crashed? :rolleyes: That's a mighty tall claim.

I try my best to keep crashes to a minimum, but it does inevitably happen when my luck runs out when I'm pushing my limits or I forget to loctite something that needed it.

[brett s]

Never crashed that particular helicopter, doesn't mean I haven't crashed others - but I really haven't crashed one in the last 15 years or so unless you count a couple tipovers in a fixed pitch Piccolo that didn't break anything :)

I started flying them in the mid 80's with a Kalt Baron 28, and I'm not into 3d stuff so it's not as outlandish as it sounds - nothing really hard about pretty sedate scale type flying. As far as maintenance related issues, I also spent many years fixing full-sized helicopters so I probably pay more attention to detail than many folks...

[laughingstill]

Where is Spidious?

[Greybird]

Before I went crazy blinging my Eco, It flew 25-30 minutes on a 3S3P 6000 Thunder Power pack with a Mega 22/20/3H.

[Gadget01]

Before I went crazy blinging my Eco, It flew 25-30 minutes on a 3S3P 6000 Thunder Power pack with a Mega 22/20/3H. Do you recall at what headspeed? The most I could massage from my 4S 3700's was 20 minutes.

[avoidingexpert]

I have the newer Royal and love it, I don't understand why its not more popular, It 's a tough fun machine!!

[Greybird]

Do you recall at what headspeed? The most I could massage from my 4S 3700's was 20 minutes.
No tach back then. It must have been pretty slow though with 3S.

[Spidious]

What do you mean "Where is Spidious" ?

I am busy working on the Agusta !

Yep I have so much tied up in the ECO8 Jet Ranger I could have two Swifts set up and flying ! ?
Or at least a lot of expensive lipo batteries ! I have had it for sale for quite a long time and not one single offer for it :(
If I sold it I think I would keep the gyro for my next Swift, and the rest would go with the copter for someone else to have fun with.

Maybe learning to fly the ECO8 has made me a somewhat better flier ? As I had to keep ahead of it when flying. But the Swift flies like a dream !

[Greybird]

For a reasonable offer, I would sell my fully blinged Eco....

[moparren]

Working on mine, still building up funds for a motor. For me that was the atraction of the Eco, I didn't have to buy everything at once.

[helifrek]

does the eco-8 still hold the flight duration record or has that been broken. was done years ago. was right at 2 hours if I remember correctly. IMHO the best heli ever made.

Brandon

[Chachin]

Hello guys, I still have my Eco-8 and Eco-16 too :D. I have to say I don't fly them much anymore. The Eco was my first helicopter, so I find it hard to get rid of... hehe.

I will be looking into getting them to fly better later on (too many projects going on). The problem I've been having with them lately is excessive tail rotor vibration. So I will be looking into installing another machines' tailrotor to see if it improves this. I will also be looking into ditching the slow S3102 servos and installing some of the new Hitec micro digitals on 6v.

Chachin..

[Cyclick]

Working on mine, still building up funds for a motor. For me that was the atraction of the Eco, I didn't have to buy everything at once.

My first Swift was initially purchased as only the kit. You can still get them that way, about $190.00.

Then add the motor, esc, radio, gyro etc. as you get the funds.

[dukeminka]

any one has ever used any other tail rotor system for eco 8.

Also, is there a better main gear ?
Thanks guys.

[Spidious]

Yep have done both

Tail Rotor >> http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=668036&page=34

Read the rest for the T-Rex 600 skids..

[iflyicrash]

Hello, i am thinking of buying a ECO Royal, could someone recommend what motor to use? and will hs-81 hitech servos work? Thanks!

[Jimbo45cn]

Hello, i am thinking of buying a ECO Royal, could someone recommend what motor to use? and will hs-81 hitech servos work? Thanks!
Motors? Many choices. A good decent cheap one that I use is the jeti phasor 30-3. Relatively inexpensive and good for long flight times. Unfortunately, I am not sure where you can find them now. Also, Hobby Lobby was selling the Ikarus brushless set ups at one heck of a discount, you can check there. I'm sure others can give you more brushless choices.
I have been using hs 81s all around and for me they have been just fine. They fit well too. Jim

[Jimbo45cn]

any one has ever used any other tail rotor system for eco 8.

Also, is there a better main gear ?
Thanks guys.
What's the matter with the main gear? Mine have been great and survived quite a few crashes,

[Gary Morris]

It just so happens I have a fairly new (as in not used much), Phasor 30-3 and a Jeti 40 amp speed controller that came off and Eco 8 that I might sell if someone is interested. Pm me if you are.

Gary Morris

[agran1021]

As you can see in another thread, I've just built an Eco 8 and am having problem setting it up. Clearly, it's a personal problem. But in several threads I've seen comments that a Swift 16 is a great alternative. So I went to the Century website and thought, "Yep, may be a good idea." So then I'm back in this forum and see MANY complaints about Swift 16 parts quality and bad customer service from Century. Some apparently believe the bad parts are a recent problem. What gives with the Swift 16?

[Gadget01]

As you can see in another thread, I've just built an Eco 8 and am having problem setting it up. Clearly, it's a personal problem. But in several threads I've seen comments that a Swift 16 is a great alternative. So I went to the Century website and thought, "Yep, may be a good idea." So then I'm back in this forum and see MANY complaints about Swift 16 parts quality and bad customer service from Century. Some apparently believe the bad parts are a recent problem. What gives with the Swift 16?You would be right in thinking the Swift would be a good idea. In fact, it's a great idea. The only complaints I had about Swift parts is with the tailbox fasteners and cnc grip bearings. The tailbox fasteners are self-tapping into plastic and they break easily. The fit of the cnc main grip bearings fitting too tight was the other drama. I managed to work around both issues without much hassle. No heli is perfect.

As far as customer service, Heli-World is 0-1 in my book having never responded to an email question about those grip bearings, so I do not reward them with my business. I do most of my Swift-related business with 3 vendors: RCSuperSales (Kyle is the MAN!), FXAeroModels, and Ron's HeliProz South- all provide very good service.

[Greybird]

To counter the above, I get E-mails back from Century in 1 day. And, I have E-mailed them MANY times. I have not really had any issues with parts quality either. Kind of sounds like a cheerleader, but I just have not had any real issues. I don't like Heli-World, because they are expensive to ship, and slow. But, they always have the parts.

[agran1021]

Thanks! That answers my question. Probably if I buy the Swift 16 kit Century assembles and sells, I won't go through any problems with parts or setup :confused: .

[Gadget01]

if I buy the Swift 16 kit Century assembles and sells, I won't go through any problems with parts or setup :confused: . ReadyToFly Swifts are available- It's the first of this size class. There are drawbacks to buying a heli this way, however. Assembling a kit forces you to learn how it all goes together and how each part functions- this will prove a valuable skill when you crash it and have to replace some parts- this is inevitable. The Swift is not a difficult build. There are several Swift build logs here detailing some of the steps and problems encountered. The manual is well illustrated and written.

http://www.centuryheli.com/support/manuals/webswift.pdf?currentid=331

[agran1021]

You are absolutely correct. Building the Eco 8 has been a great benefit for the reasons you mention. That's why I'm determined to slug it out and finally get it to fly. I've already learned an immense amount and also bought some tools I otherwise wouldn't have until too late after a helicopter crash.

[Greybird]

Also, Check Lipo prices so you are not too shocked. The Swift, although not too expensive to build, needs big batteries.

[rotoraddict]

As you can see in another thread, I've just built an Eco 8 and am having problem setting it up. Clearly, it's a personal problem. But in several threads I've seen comments that a Swift 16 is a great alternative. So I went to the Century website and thought, "Yep, may be a good idea." So then I'm back in this forum and see MANY complaints about Swift 16 parts quality and bad customer service from Century. Some apparently believe the bad parts are a recent problem. What gives with the Swift 16?

I am sure you are taking comments on the Swift, from when it first came out a number of years ago, and thinking they apply to those today.

From what I understand from my personal experiences, and after reading and following all the threads I could find on it over the years, is that only their first production run, had a few issues. But they were quick to address them (a lot faster then any other manufacturer I have ever dealt with in the past) such that subsequent production runs have been great.

I got one of the first Swift 16's which had the initial overly flimsy landing gear struts & older feathering spindle that combined to sometimes cause ground resonances on spool down when operating at certain rotor speeds. It also used the soft self tappers for the front gearbox that Greybird mentioned. But my LHS received the newer struts and spindle for the kits he had bought at N/C from Century, so he gave me replacements for mine. This heli has many great flights on it now (I had 200 or so when I sold it and the fellow who bought it has logged even more).

The second one I bought, from a later production run, had all the improved items and no longer used the soft self tappers for the front tail gearbox, but used good grade 3MM Hex bolts. So that tells me that Century is always listening to their customers and improving their product.

So you will find it to be a great kit today. I will recommend it highly to anyone, as it has proven to be one of the happy experiences for me in my journey into larger type of electric heli.

I have built more helis then I care to remember, and I found the Swift 16 to be one of the easiest.

It has also been instrummental in my decisions to purchase their 550SE version and their larger 620SE.

[Greybird]

Century monitors this forum also. My #2 Swift has the 3mm hexheads instead of self-tappers too.

[agran1021]

Thanks; I'm convinced. Need to wait a couple of weeks before purchasing but will do so.

[Gadget01]

Thanks; I'm convinced. Need to wait a couple of weeks before purchasing but will do so.I feel like we should be getting a commission from Century :)

I thought this thread was about remaining Eco 8 pilots? Both of mine are still not flying yet while my Swift is the recipient of my spare time. hmmm

[Spidious]

I already have gotten my commission check from Century.

Haven't you guys ?

[preston_brown]

I'm getting ready to part with my Eco 8. It is pretty blinged out and basically RTF. I have had persistent tail wag problems with it even though I've tried lots of different gyros and swapped tail booms, new tail box, aluminum pitch slider, etc. etc. Pissed me off that I couldn't get it perfect so I got a Gaui 550.

I have zillions of spare parts, carbon this and that, etc. etc. I'm thinking for like $275 someone could take it all. That would be, and I kid you not, robbery, but I don't care at this point. If anyone is interested I'll make a full inventory plus pictures tonight.

[Gadget01]

I'm getting ready to part with my Eco 8. It is pretty blinged out and basically RTF. I have had persistent tail wag problems with it even though I've tried lots of different gyros and swapped tail booms, new tail box, aluminum pitch slider, etc. etc. Pissed me off that I couldn't get it perfect so I got a Gaui 550.

I have zillions of spare parts, carbon this and that, etc. etc. I'm thinking for like $275 someone could take it all. That would be, and I kid you not, robbery, but I don't care at this point. If anyone is interested I'll make a full inventory plus pictures tonight. I'm interested, but I have no extra cash at the moment. All I have in trading power is a NIB hs6975 (high speed/torque) digital servo (if you ordered 2 more, you would have a sweet set for swashplate control) and a Blade 400 that I crashed and needs a few new parts (main blades, main shaft, flybar, canopy).

What little extra I had this month went to car audio hardware.

[Dogwoodtheone]

I, like gadget am/would be, interested, but like Gadget I'm tapped. Just blew this months hobby budget on some more A123s.

[Gadget01]

I also have a DX6 with a pair of AR6000 rx's.

[cmulder]

i must admit i am not flying it at the moment but that probbaly changes next summer

setup
motor icarus h8
kontronic jazz esc
futaba pcm receiver
icarus rate gyro
metal motor plate, one way gear, swashplate

[Dogwoodtheone]

no worries about slop in that tail! :D

Hows that little servo do?

[Spidious]

Well since we are talking about our ECO8's here is what is in mine. I might of forgotten a few things by now..

Custom Gaui woody blades
Red aluminum head
Red aluminum small arms on head
Red aluminum blade grip arms
Aluminum swash guide plate
Red aluminum swash plate
Blue aluminum frame support
Blue aluminum upper bearing support
Red aluminum frame
Carbon Fiber tail boom
Red aluminum tail pitch slider yellow large modified paddles
Swift flybar modification
Ikarus Jet Ranger Fuselage
Custom Spiderman paint job ?
T-Rex skids
"Z"20a 1500 motor
T-Rex flybar controller
Custom LED lights
Castle CC45 ESC
AR7000 receiver
Hitec 85BB servos x3
Red Polo digital tail servo
Futaba GY401 Gyro
Blue aluminum tail blade holders
Carbon fiber frames

Ignore the antenna wire, as it doesn't have it anymore. And it also has the blue tail blade holders not shown in this photo..

http://static.rcgroups.com/forums/attachments/1/2/6/5/1/3/a2018716-173-CIMG0449.JPG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIkLnk1MoH8

[preston_brown]

I did it. My Eco 8 is for sale, I should have offered it up 6 months ago.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=958104#post10997764

-- Preston