sparky4lawndart

My Feedback: (10)

Gents... I'm giving up on electric retracts as I blew my wad on a pair of Eflite 60 120 size electric retracts that aren't working for me... I'm sending them in to be checked but I still need to fly so I put in the Robart air retracts that came with the kit...

They are installed... I tried pumping it up with my kids bicycle pump and it took a minute to get to 40 lbs... (weak pump)...

the guys at the field have cordless ones... I much prefer the "press button" instead of throwing out my shoulder... what are you using... where can i get it... The one at Sears (19.2 v lithium ion deal is $50 plus $30 for the battery plus $30 for the charger) too much!

I do have a harbor freight 15 minutes away but wanted details first...

thanks

Taurus Flyer

Wrong.......... , you use the wrong part of your body!
Shoulder, arms, hands and thumbs are important to control your airplane, so what is left?

See the photograph.

TF

Taurus Flyer

Indeed, your feet.
Two a three strokes on that pump is enough for my pneumatic retracts.
TF

sparky4lawndart

My Feedback: (10)

Taurus.. buddy.. pal... where'd you get that foot pump???

Taurus Flyer

Sparky , I did pay about one or two Euro on a swap meet in the Netherlands, but also in a shop these aren't expensive.
You can find these with one or two cilinders, one is enough.
I use a standard bike/care "valve", (checkvalve?) near the wingbolts of my Orion to connect the pump.



TF

Live Wire

I picked up a Fuel 250 psi/12volt at wallie world tire department works great.
and it only cost around 12 bucks

91zulu

My Feedback: (2)

http://www.harborfreight.com/foot-pump-37544.html

Taurus Flyer

AFTER SALES SERVICE!


I was warned by the reviews of the example of Zulu and measured the metal parts of the frame of my blue pump, these are all 4 mm thick, 5/32 " (4.09 mm with the blue paint!)
It is a German brand and has a German Tüv qualification.
So have attention there is difference in quality!

For us the pump hasn't much work to do, a few pushes to start and after a flight I check the pressure by pushing some more air in the air capacitor, often less than one cycle.
My checkvalve does have a small ball inside so there is no 'threshold' pressure whille pressurizing the capacitor. so the Indicator pressure of the pump is capacitor pressure of the plane.

TF

Leroy Gardner

I have the same problem as you, I got a good quality bike pump with a gauge but it is a bugger to put 120 lb's in that cylinder. I should have thought of the foot pump, duh, I'm glad you asked, thanks.

DavidAgar

My Feedback: (108)

I got a 12 volt pump from Harbor Freight. It was on sale for $5.00 and it works great. Nice and compact and fills up my air tanks in no time. Good Luck, Dave

Taurus Flyer

Redundancy

Hydraulic and pneumatic systems are used because of the rigidity and simplicity of these systems. Sometimes also forced by environmental circumstances, think about use of pneumatic systems in explosion hazard areas for example!

When you quit with electrical retracts don't let Mr Murphy enter through the back door!!!!.

So let your choice be a sandwich feeded power system of comparative solid principle and ............ have attention for redundancy.
So, thank the Lord he has equiped us with two legs you simple cannot forget to take with you because they take you with!.
Have fun!!

Taurus Flyer

sparky4lawndart

My Feedback: (10)

$7 dollars at Harbor Freight (10 minutes away - next door to a Walmart where I was going to buy the foot pump)... It works awesome... takes about 10 seconds to get the Robart system to 110psi..

thanks everyone...

badger5964

My Feedback: (6)

I got a $5-10 pump, that plugs into cig lighter, from Harbor freight. Pumps about 100 psi. I wired it to me field battery and soldered a peice to it that would allow me to use the small Robart pneumatic hose and fill adaptor. Mounted the whole contraption and a pressure guage to my field box. Works good, although I have my doubts about longevity of the pump. But then again it only comes on about 10 seconds each flight.

Scott

Taurus Flyer

and a long way back home!

TF

sparky4lawndart

My Feedback: (10)

LOL, Taurus!!!

Is that you?

Taurus Flyer

No, that's Scott not knowing about Murphy, because, even the pump isn't directly wired to the car battery .................!!
He'll remember!

TF

Square Nozzle

My Feedback: (1)

I messed around with cheap "portable" air compressors and had them give up on me. I got a compressor from the local auto parts store and it has served me well. Rechargable, truely portable (no cord to your car battery or field box) and it fills my air systems in less than a minute. It's rated for 230 PSI so at 100 PSI I am not taxing the pump. Cost not cheap at about $65.

Taurus Flyer

Cost not cheap at about $65. nearly 6 $/lbs.

badger5964

My Feedback: (6)

Here is a couple pics of the Harbor Freight air compressor. Been flying with it few months and likely five or six flights plus topping off a couple of my van tires to test the apparatus. That was likely equal to a couple seasons of flying. I had to butcher up the plastic housing some so it would fit snugly under the control panel. It is very convenient because I do not bring anything extra to the field, the black hose is about 6' long, has a Robart quick disconnect to attach to pump and a Robart fill connection to attach to plane. It is all over in about 10 seconds. No worries about explosions or pushing my car home.

badger5964

My Feedback: (6)

I started with the same compressor as sparky4lawndart. Never under the illusion it would do 250 psi. After use it seems to top out at 100 psi which is more than plenty to operate the Robart retracts. If it went to 250 psi I'd have to cut it off or risk it overpressurizing the can. It works fine, I just let it run until the I unscrew the hose from the plane.