Skids-RCU

My Feedback: (5)

Hello. I have been an aircraft modeler since I was a teenager back in the '70s. Unfortunately, I have not had much time to fly the planes I built over that last 10 years. (I haven't flown anything for about five years.) Now I am trying to rekindle my hobby and was wondering if it was safe to use some of my older radio gear.
I currently have three Futaba radios (4 chan. FM, 6 chan. FM and a Super 7 PCM) which are early '90s vintage (gold stickered). I have replaced the batteries at least once on all my radios, but wonder about the reliability. I always make sure the batteries are up to snuff and perform a range check prior to flying, but I'm afraid something is going to fail in mid air.
I could sent them in to Futaba and have them checked out, but that wouldn't insure they will continue to work over time. I would buy a new system, but it is tempting to use my old Super 7 (it's still a great radio).
Has anyone had any radio failures with older radios (not related to batteries)? What is the life expectancy of Futaba Radios?

Thanks,

Linn

cwrr5

My Feedback: (32)

Besides the batteries, there's not much that actually "wears out" in a radio. I would send them in to have them checked over just to be on the safe side, but I wouldn't worry about the age of the radios themselves. As long as you take good care of them(ie: don't throw them around, keep them clean and dry, etc) then they should last longer than any of us will.

abacro

Hey Linn,right now i'm using mt super 7 pcm on a scratch built Yak54,and i have had no problems with it. I dont thing age realy affects the radios that much,IE for the batteries. I'd send them in ,have them checked over and new batteries put in,and then just go fly them! I also fly a 1970's circa MRC markV on channel 50 AM and it still works flawlessly!

good luck,and have fun flying!

Art

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

I used an old super for 15 years. Its still being used by the guy I sold it to when I went to the 9C. As stated, as long as you keep them clean and dry, they will last. Cycle the batteries once a year and send them in to be tuned and tested every few years and you will be good.

Gringo Flyer

My Feedback: (18)

Because of the price of radio gear here in Argentina, alot of the guys here fly with older radios. Alot of these guys are flying with 20+ year old radios and we havent had any problems.

Tall Paul

As long as the transmitter is gold stickered, it should perform just fine today.
Several of mine date from 1988, and I have no qualms about using them.
I've also picked up a couple of the older "gold boxed" Futabas, and had these "gold stickered"... probably didn't need it.
Just watch the batteries.

McFlyboy

Almost all of my radios are Futaba Challengers of some shape or form, and I love 'em. I'm pretty sure the oldest one's is from the 1st year they were made.

bigchap

i would not use any tx over 10 years old,i don't know if it is because of the weather over here but they all seem to suffer from black wire corrosion after that amount of time.

Skids-RCU

My Feedback: (5)

Thanks Guys. I was keeping my RC equipment in the basement, but moved it upstairs a couple of years ago. The basement isn't visibly wet, but it can get pretty clammy. We also have a water softener in that area of the basement and it dumps the brine into the sump pump pit on a regular basis (corrosive environment). I haven't noticed any corrosion inside the radios, but it's hard to tell on some of the contacts (switches, connector contacts, wipers, etc.). So far, all of the switches and pots on the transmitters work fine. I think if I buy some new batteries and perform range checks on a regular basis, I should be OK. The old batteries still work, but they are 6 + years old and I don't trust them.
By the way, what is "black wire" corrosion? Is this visible or is it internal to the insulation?

-Linn

aeajr

My Feedback: (2)

If you kept them in the basement where it can get damp, I would send it in to be checked.

on the other hand, radios are pretty cheap these days.

Depending on what you need, A hitec Laser 4 is about $65 new with charger and battery. If you ship each radio for $12 and it costs $20 to get it reconditioned, plus $12 to get it back, that's $44. Get a new radio.

Or better yet, for $100 you can get a Futaba 6EXA with 6 model memories and throw all the radios away and fly all your planes with one radio that can do things none of your radios can do.

If you are not up to date on computer radios, the prices have really come down and the ease of use has gone way up.

Radio Systems Part 2 - Computer Radios - A Better Investment
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=65

bigchap

skids,unfortunately black wire corrosion is under the insulation so cannot be seen without taking a slice out of the insulation,if you find it then bin the tx becauase if it is one place it will surely be in others.