Graeme Poke Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 Has anyone had any experience of "Aircraft Mechanics" (brand name I think) electric retracts please? Cheers Graeme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Walby Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 Not used them, but they look well made (couple of nice machining touches) and IHMO better than a all plastic body anytime. Not sure about the price point and if you do get some please let all known what you think, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Poke Posted March 14, 2017 Author Share Posted March 14, 2017 Yes Chris, they do look good on the Web. I haven't seen them in the flesh. I have been quoted $150 Aus, without freight for 90 -120 warbirds. . E flight around $240 and HK range roughly $80 to $100. They have been recommended, so I will order a set for my Focke Wulf. Thanks Graeme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 Graeme, are these the ones you are looking at http://airtekhobbies.com/60120main.html ? (To add a clickable link, try using the button that looks like a globe with a chain link at the bottom) Edited By Chris Bott - Moderator on 14/03/2017 12:26:36 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 Those in the Airtek photo look remarkably like the ones distributed by J Perkins Perkins retracts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 Probably because they are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 I just bought a set from SWM last weekend, a set of mains and nose leg. They seem quite good, and have a good range, in use, not sure yet until after a few landings... Edited By Paul Marsh on 14/03/2017 19:40:58 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 The weak point on some of these electric retracts seems to be the microswitches at each end of the travel, just checked a club members metal retract that wasn't working (not this make), nicely machined etc, but on disassembly one of the microswitches was in bits, it was a poor design with the actual bar that drove the leg also activating the microswitch, so any landing shocks also knocked the microswitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 A set of the 25-46 sized Aircraft Mechanic (Perkins) retracts arrived today. They seem pretty sturdy and quite powerful up and down. There seems to be no electronic stall protection as far as I can detect - they seem to try to keep going if deliberately stall them. End motion is controlled by microswitches mounted as can be seen in the photo. I assume that the structure takes the load, and that there's still some movement left within the switch at this point? Edited By Chris Bott - Moderator on 15/03/2017 14:53:09 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Poke Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Yes Frank, they are the ones. Good point Chris. I haven't been able to determine if they have stall protection. It's needed I believe. I will have another talk with my supplier. I'll be interested in your findings Chris. Cheers Graeme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 One thing I didn't try Graeme, and I will if I dare, is to stall them for a length of time. I would hope that there is at least a timer built in, that stops them moving after say 10 seconds irrespective of whether they reached the end stop pr not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Poke Posted April 7, 2017 Author Share Posted April 7, 2017 Hi Chris, Did you determine if they have stall protection please? Thanks Graeme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bott - Moderator Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Hi Graeme yes I've put my hand under them a few times. They continue to push for about 5 seconds and then they switch off. Stall current measures at about 2A during that period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Poke Posted April 7, 2017 Author Share Posted April 7, 2017 Thanks for that Chris. They should be ok. I am supposedly receiving a set of 60-120 tomorrow. Cheers Graeme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Poke Posted April 8, 2017 Author Share Posted April 8, 2017 Hello Chris, I picked up my retracts today. No instructions but specifications on the side of the box, one of which states "Built-in overload/current protection". Hope all good. Thanks for your help, Regards Graeme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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