Retracts

Hello all.
So I picked up a hobby king b-17. Had an adventurous first flight when I found someone had put a wrong rotation prop on one side. After some glue we are all set. Had a great 2nd flight. So to the retracts. When I bought it looking at the front of the plane the right retract didn't work. Took it apart couldn't find anything wrong. So I ordered a new one from altitude hobbies. While waiting and setting up the plane the retract would work every now and then. But whatever right. So I get the new one doesn't work. They send me another works fine. I go to the field today doesn't work. I pull on it, slap it around a bit and it comes out. Cycle it and it stops working. Smack it around a bit and it works again. So I fly it and leave the gear down. These are the only 2 flights I'm aware of on this air frame. I'm assuming that because it didn't fly long with the one wrong prop installation. Now the other retract I have not had one issue. Works every time. Ideas what to look for. Are these that crappy? Oh yeah how does the shaft come out? I don't see anything holding the shaft/axel in. I have just been u assembling them and swapping the trunion assembly. Maybe that's my issue?

I found that if I did not let the wheel settle all the way in the nacelle, the retract would work reliably. I glued kitchen sponges to the top of the wheel wells. The wheel comes up and senses the resistance, and stops while a bit more exposed than normal. But whatever causes it to stop working when fully retracted, does not happen when the wheel is out a bit. Have no problems since.

Elmo Te

When I bought mine several years ago I ordered an extra set of retracts just in case. Happy to say so far I've never needed them. Mine doesn't have a ton of flights on it however and all my landings have been super smooth (rare for me lol) on our grass runway.

NOOOOOOO! I closed my garage door and it reopened due to resistance. My B17 fuse had blown from where it stands into the path of the door rollers and got crushed!

Oh well, time to build my green one..., or the silver NIB back up air-frame.

Elmo Te

Ouch. Sorry about your bad luck.
Did it flatten it out,or simply split it in half,on the glue joint?

Nooooooooooo! Sorry to hear that. BTW, I joined the Mount Rainier Radio Control Society, and flew my Zero last week. It is a very nice field, on 85 acres completely surrounded by forest with a view of Mt. Rainier, and the land is owned by the club. There is a nearby lake, where they fly floatplanes. Beautiful field, 300 x 40 feet asphalt runway, and power outlets to all the benches. Good people. I'm happy!

Yeah, but I will still miss flying with all you guys!

Marty

I will have to look that spot up. Retirement looms (end of the month).

It crushed the side in aft of the wing saddle. Could be repaired, but this frame is getting pretty long in the tooth.
I have a NIB air frame from Richard (bought 2 years ago) and a green air frame with a broken missing elevator. I may scarf together with the
old silver frame. Need the electrics out of it anyway.

Elmo te

I'm going to have to dispute the thought that Richard (GH)only carries V1-V1.5.
This is my Memphis Belle from GH,and,evidently it has the V2 metal trunnions