tsawyer148

My Feedback: (8)

I am looking at maybe replaceing the retracts on my Kyosho P-40 .50 size, the glow powered version. Any thoughts on which brands or manufacturers are a good fit? What about the new electric style from E-flite, (these: http://www.e-fliterc.com/Products/De...ProdID=EFLG320), does anyone know if they would work or is there another brand/manufacturer of electrics that might fit?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

chistech

What is your reason for replacing? The retracts that come with Kyosho war birds are pretty darn good and hold up well. I use the Kyosho rotators on both of my P40's and my Kyosho Corsair on grass fields with no issues. They MUST be set up correctly though. I usually switch out the supplied 2-56 push rod from the servo to the bell crank with a new 4-40 one which always helps with reliability. Changing the push rod is a MUST on the Corsair. I have done a thread on mechanical retract installs that you look at if you are having issues. The link is below. As for reliable replacements for rotating electric units I'm still looking myself. Might try the E-flites that Horizon has for the 50 size Corsair.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...install+basics

tsawyer148

My Feedback: (8)

I read the thread you posted and set them up like you suggested. The problem is that on one of them the little screw that holds the mechanism together where the pushrod attaches has stripped out. Long story short is that I doubt I am going to be able to easily find that little piece of plastic and replace it. The question is whether anyone has found any other retracts that are a decent replacement. Looking at the Kyosho America site it doesn't show the retract assemblies as an available replacement part.

chistech

Do you have a picture of the part you need? I probably have it. I have a bunch of parts because I have used the parts to fabricate other projects. H9 uses the same retract for their 60 warbirds. The struts are pre bent and not the best but you can remove the C-clip and replace them with your struts.

tsawyer148

My Feedback: (8)

I can get a picture. The reason I am asking is because I use this model for racing. I was in Tucson this last weekend, (9 hours away one way), and I had to fly the last heat with the wheels down. It was not a fun flight and it threw things off just enough to make it a bad flight. I would like to find some retracts that fit but are easier to find so I can have spare parts available if this happens again.

I'll see if I can get a decent pic and post it here.

Thanks for the help..

tsawyer148

My Feedback: (8)

Thought I would post a follow up. I was able to repair the retracts and make them workable and so far have held up quite well. I found the problem and was able to re-tap the hole and make a decent repair. I also changed the rods from the bell crank and soldered a clevis on the end to make them a little more stable and less slop. I am still not real sure about the adjustments on the gear, considering one of them is on the bottom side and requires removing them out of the wing to adjust, but they are working fine and so far I am having no worries as long as my landings are smooth and clean.

However, another issue came to light a few months back. I use this plane for racing, (which by the way is one of the best racing planes I have flown, flies on rails), and during a race the covering on the side of the fuse came loose and tore a section about 4" high and 10" inches long. I had to stop flying for the day and decided I would fix it when I got home. I got looking closer at it and it almost appears the covering is a little porous. I ended up recovering the entire plane and in doing so, used no heat whatsoever to remove the old covering and found that oil had soaked into the wood along the entire side of the fuse as well as some sizeable spots on the horizontal and vertical tail sections. It took some time to get the oil out but it ended up working out okay. The plane is a real blast to fly and I would recommend it to anyone, however I would definitely check the covering and make sure it is good if using a glow engine.