How to Slow Down Retracts?
 

Hello,

I recently purchased a set of 100 Series Spring Air Retracts for my GSP Spitfire and am wondering if anyone has any tips for slowing down the movement of the retracts. Without any line retriction, they move pretty hard. I tried using a collar with set screw for restricting the air flow from the supply to the valve, as suggested in the instructions, but this has slowed the movement only in the retract phase (gear going up) and not the extension phase (gear going down). Is there a spring that causes the gear to go down? With only one line connection I would think there has to be. Is there a way to slow down both the gear retraction and extension?

Thanks,

Travis

RE: How to Slow Down Retracts?
 

That's correct, Travis. The Spring Air retracts only use air to retract; extension is controlled by the "spring" ( hence, the name - "Spring" Air). As long as there is sufficient air in the holding tank, the wheels remain in the gear-up position.

If an air supply were required for BOTH retraction AND extension, and all the air was used up or leaked out before landing, you'd be committed to a wheels-up landing.

The advantage to the Spring Air system, of course, is that no matter what happens, the gear will always (supposedly) extend - even if all air pressure is lost during flight. This is assuming there are no other problems that could affect the extension of the gear, ie: a bent strut from a previous hard landing or operating from a rough field. Sometimes this can result in non-extension of the gear because of mis-alignment and sticking of the strut or wheel within the wheelwell.

RE: How to Slow Down Retracts?
 

You can not slow down the deployment / extension of the gear with that type retract. Regards G.

RE: How to Slow Down Retracts?
 

Try to put the collar on the line between the valve and the retract unit. I have a set of this retract system and work smooth. Reason: the air inside the pistons must leave trough the collar at lower pressure than retraction phase.

Hope this help you,
Rick.

RE: How to Slow Down Retracts?
 

You are correct in that Spring Air retracts will come down if air pressure is lost. You can slow down the speed of gear using two different ways. Robart make's inline restrictors that would slow down the air flow or you can install a 1/8 inch wheel collar on the tubing and adjust the flow by screwing in the set screw. You would install these devices on the output side of the valve and befor any inline T's. I prefer the wheel collar methed as it is 2 less joints in the tubing. I have used Spring Air for years and have never had any problems with them and since switching to them I have never had a wheels up landing. The only issue with Spring Air is the 5/32 inch wire gears seem to want to bend. I switched to the 3/16 inch wires and I have not had any trobles at all. Good Luck, Dave

RE: How to Slow Down Retracts?
 

I placed the collar between the valve and the retracts and it works better on both retract and extend. Not perfectly scale-like, but at least the gear don't slam up and down.

How do you guys connect and disconnect your lines from the wing to the fuselage when you install and remove the wing? Do you use some type of quick connect? I can't imagine having to pull one of those lines off a connection.

Thanks,

Travis

RE: How to Slow Down Retracts?
 

Travis.

Here is a link to couplers for disconnecting lines.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXET39&P=0

George

RE: How to Slow Down Retracts?
 

When the gear goes up you want the air restricted as to make a nice scale takeoff for the on lookers to go, "Oohhh" "Aahhh". When it's time to land, you want the gear to "L.O.C.K." into position. A gear collapse on landing could be a bad ending to a great flight.
Don't slow the gear too much on the landing mode.
"Keep 'Em Flying!"
Flak

RE: How to Slow Down Retracts?
 

Travis Take a look at arts-hobby.com he sells Ultra Precision U P 5 Valves they are made for
spring airs to slow them down in both directions. I have one in one of my jets they work great. Randy

RE: How to Slow Down Retracts?
 

Thanks to everyone for the help.