RCU Forums

RCU Forums (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/)
-   RC Jets (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-jets-120/)
-   -   Help with Down & Locked retracts. (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-jets-120/11715331-help-down-locked-retracts.html)

Boomerang1 07-16-2025 05:05 PM

Help with Down & Locked retracts.
 
Need a few clues here. I'm scratch building a scale model, not a jet this time, but as most jets use retracts I'm sure most of the knowledge about retracts will be here. Was given this set of Down & Locked retracts along with the box of smoke & mirrors to make it all work. No instructions at all.

All the screw jack units work fine in both directions when powered with a 4.8 volt receiver pack so that's a start. But how are they controlled at the travel limits up & down? I can understand that other electric retracts have some sort of feedback via the third wire like a servo but these have just two. These were seen as the latest & greatest at one stage but quickly disappeared.
Not much positive feed back on them after a Google search.

Options: 1/ get some instructions (where?) & try to get them working.
2/ if the screw jack units are not the problem, just the control system, I could control them by other means & chuck the control box.
3/ forget the whole idea & fit a set of Spring Air units which I also have although speed control is not so great with these & a slow retract cycle does look cool.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance!.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...96e4153d7a.jpg

mongo 07-16-2025 08:00 PM

the controller box uses amp load to determine when to stop the cycle.

xicoy, jp, electron, and others sell good retract control box units for 2 wire systems.

Mudgee 07-17-2025 01:53 AM

Chuck that controller in the garbo is the first thing to do
Get ya one of the latest Electron controllers and be done with it
Most people had issues with D&L controllers , service was bad , lack of communication = D&L went belly up & down the drain

Boomerang1 07-17-2025 11:53 AM

Were the screw jack units durable & properly engineered and all the issues were just with the control unit?

I don't want to build myself into a corner & carry out lots of chopping & modifying to try to fit something later on.
Mount them on carbon adapter plates so I can swap them out later on?

Zeeb 07-17-2025 02:27 PM


Originally Posted by Boomerang1 (Post 12822741)
Were the screw jack units durable & properly engineered and all the issues were just with the control unit?

I don't want to build myself into a corner & carry out lots of chopping & modifying to try to fit something later on.
Mount them on carbon adapter plates so I can swap them out later on?

D&L? Got a round file? Best way to address D&L problems to come.......

Boomerang1 07-17-2025 08:55 PM

Are the basic mechanisms & screw jacks ok or are they a disaster waiting to happen as well as the box of smoke & mirrors?
I can deal with basic mechanical problems & will have to do some mods anyway.

If it's a lost cause I will simply take them fishing & use the Spring Air's.

mongo 07-18-2025 10:23 AM

swap meet em, at a bargain basement price, after ya bin the control box.

using em as fishing weights might release things ya don't want released into the water...


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:09 PM.


Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.