Boss

I have recently purchased a Hangar 9 T-6 Texan ARF
I am having trouble getting the retracts adjusted. Can anyone
recommend a Web-Site that may give me some guidance on
retracts. Been flying for years, but first ever retract experience.
Thanks for any assitance.....Doug

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Are you using Mechanical, or Pnumatics?

Bumstead

My Feedback: (2)

Look at the threads in the ARF section. There is a bunch about the retracts for the AT-6

Boss

The retracts that came on this plane are Mechanical. Problem
I am having is on the servo arm as to how to hook the rods.
Anyway I go I seem to either get the arm travel to far and go
all the way in and back out. Any other way the rods hit and jam...
Thanks for asking....

Boss

Thanks for leading me to that area. Appears I am not the only
one with problems with this plane. Flys great but wobbles like
my sister Kate on the runway...Have been just about ready to
pull my hair out trying to get the proper setup on the retract
servo arms and still with no luck...Thanks a million for your help.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

How long has your sister been wobbling around on runways???

In any case, get one of those large round servo wheels that have no predrilled holes. Pick a starting point, and drill two holes, then decide if you need more or less throw and drill 2 new holes. Trial and error will get the placement right eventually.

As far as the connection to the servo goes, set the push rods up like this:

Steve Collins

My Feedback: (8)

Doug,

The problem you are describing is exactly why I choose to use pneumatic retracts. Easy to set up without all the fiddling.

Boss

Thanks a bunch for the pictures..Will try this tonight.

Richard L.

My Feedback: (24)

There should be no trial and error when it comes to setting up mechanical retracts. There is one scientific and fool proof way to set them up. First, measure the travel of the retracts by pulling the actuator rod all the way out and mark a spot (point A). Then push the rod all the way in and mark another spot (point B). Measure the distance between the two spots. Since most mechanical retract servos swing from one side to the other, or from point A to point B, the two holes on the servo arm must be separated by the same distance. If the two holes are too close, then you will not achieve full lock up or full lock down. If the two holes are too far apart, then the servo will bind while trying to push the pushrods beyond the maximum travel limit.

Here are pics of the servo in my Kyosho Corsair:





Here is a picture of the retract servo in my WM Spit:



No retract problems after hundreds of flights on these two planes.

K.O.

My Feedback: (16)

In reading about the problems with retects I have a hanger 9 P-51 and the landing gear and leaves a lot to be desired. After a few landings on our grass field the gear easly bent and wouldn't retract into the wheel well. I read an article in the RC Modeler May 2003 by Jim Pearson where he replaced the 5/32 gear with 3/16 titanium struts, purchase from Central Hobby. They cost about $19. He said it wasn't the total answer but met with improved results. I am in the process of doing that retrofit right now. When we get some decent weather predicted next week I'll give mine a whirl. If i don't like the results I'll probably replace them with Robarts.
K.O.

Richard L.

My Feedback: (24)

The problem with titanium struts is that if they get bent, then it's harder to bend them back without snapping them, and they usually snap at the coil. Century Jet makes a nice set of pneumatic retracts with shock absorbing oleo struts just for the H9 P-51.

Richard L.

My Feedback: (24)

Basic math:



You can't go wrong with mathematics. No second guessing. No collapsed gears. No belly landing.

Boss

Thanks for the help...I will go now and give this a try. Had some
luck last evening getting them better, but now I have the "Scientific"
Method. My wife being a retired Math Teacher she really got a kick
out of your answer...Doug

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I always found that the holes in the wheels never added up to the right dimentions. If that happens to you, use the wheel I suggested and drill your own.

GaSeminole

Doug..did you have any luck yet with the retracts? I had similar problems at first but once I got a blank servo whell I got it right. Let us know...

Jeffpro

My Feedback: (1)

Did you put pneumatics in the Hangar 9 Texan? If so, which ones?