5 mm strut pin alternative (Full Version)

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Weasel Keeper -> 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/1/2012 7:37 PM)

I had a little trouble finding 5 mm stock from which to make strut pins that will fit some of the Chinese struts and retracts and found a simple alternative some may find useful. Turns out that electric motors used in .40 size airplanes use a 5 mm shaft that is replaceable. These shafts appear to be hardened steel and even have flats already filed into them. You can find them for as little as a couple dollars. Hope this is helpful to somebody.



frets24 -> RE: 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/2/2012 4:29 PM)

Link or pic?



Weasel Keeper -> RE: 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/3/2012 5:05 AM)

Electric Retract

Aluminum Struts

5mm motor shaft




frets24 -> RE: 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/3/2012 3:14 PM)

Thanks Weasle Kpr.

Here is a link to the same retract at a much, much lower price. $8. I'm using several of these on mains and they have a smaller size available that works great as a tailwheel retract with just some minor tweaks to get a steerable TW. There is also a steerable nose wheel version of the larger one that works as a TW on larger planes.

Great tip on the strut pin. I had tried using the smooth part of drill bits but they tend to shatter before too long.

I have also used a bunch of the RCSkylite struts and the pin that comes with them is short and soft. The struts themselves have been excellent and the price is great.


http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=14838



Weasel Keeper -> RE: 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/3/2012 3:59 PM)

It's amazing sometimes that the thing i need is in the hobby shop, just in need of a little re-purpose thinking. Another thing you may be interested in is that the c-clip groove can be used to retain the pin in a retract to make it steerable.



Weasel Keeper -> RE: 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/5/2012 5:41 PM)

Frets,

Do the HK version of the retract have a metal trunnion?



YAT-28E -> RE: 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/5/2012 11:15 PM)

weasel,

How long is that 5mm shaft??



Weasel Keeper -> RE: 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/5/2012 11:54 PM)

I don't know about that particular one, but they come in many lengths. That link was just a ready example. The shafts I used were another brand that I found at the LHS and they ranged in length from around 2 1/2 to 5 inches. Tower is usually pretty good about including dimensions, but not in this case. Don't feel limited to the RimFire brand. There are lots of motors out there and all seem to have replacement shafts available.



frets24 -> RE: 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/14/2012 9:01 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Weasel Keeper

Frets,

Do the HK version of the retract have a metal trunnion?



No, it's a composite trunion with a brass pivot block molded in. The set screws go through the brass. I have them on a couple of planes and they've worked well.



full rudder -> RE: 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/29/2012 2:27 AM)

Ask any of the electric 450 size heli guys for bent main rotor shafts, they are 5mm and cut em down to the size you need with a dremel cutoff wheel!



YAT-28E -> RE: 5 mm strut pin alternative (9/30/2012 11:59 PM)

e flite and Top Flite wire gears are 5mm if that helps tha way you can cut a couple pieces form 1



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