Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

[Cudaguy]

Nice airplane and first flight went well but the retracts don't retract fully in flight. Work fine on the ground. Sequencer and light control worked fine but the light leads were too short to connect while attaching wing. I used the FMS extension/plug ins but found they will not make taking the wing on and off any easier. I ended up using about four extra servo extension leads and will be looking to get extensions for the light leads.. Still had the muddle thru rats nest of wires that I don't choose to do every time I take the plane out.
While setting up the control throws the tailwheel door servo ran away and started making this constant grinding noise that resulted in a frozen servo that will not move at all. I assume the geartrain is ruined. Have disconnected it until I can give MRC a call about a replacement.
In the battery compartment there was a strap that was designed for the sound battery but not useful for the flight pack and had to supply one that was long enough.
Anybody got a fix for the retracts sagging? They hang down about an inch at least and is very noticeable. Cut the flight short as I didn't know if they were a constant drain on the battery.

Thanks,
Rich

[Lon]

RE: Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

Nice airplane and first flight went well but the retracts don't retract fully in flight. Work fine on the ground. Sequencer and light control worked fine but the light leads were too short to connect while attaching wing. I used the FMS extension/plug ins but found they will not make taking the wing on and off any easier. I ended up using about four extra servo extension leads and will be looking to get extensions for the light leads.. Still had the muddle thru rats nest of wires that I don't choose to do every time I take the place out.
While setting up the control throws the tailwheel door retract ran away and started making this constant grinding noise that resulted in a frozen servo that will not move at all. I assume the geartrain is ruined. Have disconnected it until I can give MRC a call about a replacement.
In the battery compartment there was a strap that was designed for the sound battery but not useful for the flight pack and had to supply one that was long enough.
Anybody got a fix for the retracts sagging? They hang down about an inch at least and is very noticeable. Cut the flight short as I didn't know if they were a constant drain on the battery.

Thanks,
Rich

Hmmmm :huh: I have the Iron Ass version. Have around 70-75 flights on the retracts since last July. One time last week when I did a pass over head. I thought I had one hanging. I cycled the gear and did a slow fly by then. And all was ok.  It's just happened this once.  Wish I had a answer for you.

Lon

[Grossman56]

RE: Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

Boy, that's a tough one, you might want to talk with MotionRC Support.  You can either phone them or e mail them
http://www.motionrc.com/contact-us/
See what they say.

Grossman56

[Cudaguy]

RE: Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

Boy, that's a tough one, you might want to talk with MotionRC Support.  You can either phone them or e mail them
http://www.motionrc.com/contact-us/
See what they say.

Grossman56

Flew for second time today and it looks like the inner doors don't open if I let the airspeed get too high before retracting. At slower speed worked OK.
Third flight got too low on landing, as the flaps slow the plane markedly and stalled and dropped about 3 feet onto the belly.
Left gear snagged and popped out of the wing recess mount. It looks like this saved the wing so I won't be going crazy glueing it back in.
It did bend the pin that attaches the gear leg to the retract. Have to get a whole new leg to get that pin.  :(
Expect new part from MRC later this week.   :cool:

Thanks for the help yall,

Cuda

[OV10]

RE: Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

Hey Cuda,
Just for future reference, I have used landing gear wire or also known as piano wire as a replacement for those pesky pins. Your LHS should probably be carrying an appropriate assortment of diameters of this spring steel material then all that is needed is to cut to length and file some flats on them if so desired.
Best Regards,

[Lon]

RE: Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

Boy, that's a tough one, you might want to talk with MotionRC Support.  You can either phone them or e mail them
http://www.motionrc.com/contact-us/
See what they say.

Grossman56

Flew for second time today and it looks like the inner doors don't open if I let the airspeed get too high before retracting. At slower speed worked OK.
Third flight got too low on landing, as the flaps slow the plane markedly and stalled and dropped about 3 feet onto the belly.
Left gear snagged and popped out of the wing recess mount. It looks like this saved the wing so I won't be going crazy glueing it back in.
It did bend the pin that attaches the gear leg to the retract. Have to get a whole new leg to get that pin.  :(
Expect new part from MRC later this week.   :cool:

Thanks for the help yall,

Cuda

If I understand what pin your talking about. You can buy just the part and not a whole new leg to get the pin. Yes, I see they're out of stock right now.http://www.motionrc.com/freewing-141...onnecting-rod/

Lon

[Cudaguy]

RE: Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

Boy, that's a tough one, you might want to talk with MotionRC Support.  You can either phone them or e mail them
http://www.motionrc.com/contact-us/
See what they say.

Grossman56

Flew for second time today and it looks like the inner doors don't open if I let the airspeed get too high before retracting. At slower speed worked OK.
Third flight got too low on landing, as the flaps slow the plane markedly and stalled and dropped about 3 feet onto the belly.
Left gear snagged and popped out of the wing recess mount. It looks like this saved the wing so I won't be going crazy glueing it back in.
It did bend the pin that attaches the gear leg to the retract. Have to get a whole new leg to get that pin.  :(
Expect new part from MRC later this week.   :cool:

Thanks for the help yall,

Cuda

If I understand what pin your talking about. You can buy just the part and not a whole new leg to get the pin. Yes, I see they're out of stock right now.http://www.motionrc.com/freewing-141...onnecting-rod/

Lon

I had a grrrr moment today when the leg did arrive with NO pin! It had a bag with new setscrews for attaching the pin...no pin.
Did what I should have done in the first place. Hammered the bent pin flat. Also found the axle off center but the part the axle is mounted in is malleable and will bend back w/o breaking.

Lon, will be doing what you advised, buy rod from LHS and make my own replacement. :cool:

[Lon]

RE: Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

Boy, that's a tough one, you might want to talk with MotionRC Support.  You can either phone them or e mail them
http://www.motionrc.com/contact-us/
See what they say.

Grossman56

Flew for second time today and it looks like the inner doors don't open if I let the airspeed get too high before retracting. At slower speed worked OK.
Third flight got too low on landing, as the flaps slow the plane markedly and stalled and dropped about 3 feet onto the belly.
Left gear snagged and popped out of the wing recess mount. It looks like this saved the wing so I won't be going crazy glueing it back in.
It did bend the pin that attaches the gear leg to the retract. Have to get a whole new leg to get that pin.  :(
Expect new part from MRC later this week.   :cool:

Thanks for the help yall,

Cuda

If I understand what pin your talking about. You can buy just the part and not a whole new leg to get the pin. Yes, I see they're out of stock right now.http://www.motionrc.com/freewing-141...onnecting-rod/

Lon

I had a grrrr moment today when the leg did arrive with NO pin! It had a bag with new setscrews for attaching the pin...no pin.
Did what I should have done in the first place. Hammered the bent pin flat. Also found the axle off center but the part the axle is mounted in is malleable and will bend back w/o breaking.

Lon, will be doing what you advised, buy rod from LHS and make my own replacement.  :cool:

I had the same grrrr moment.  I was needing some new tires for the IronAss, and justified to myself "Hey, why not just buy the Landing gear strut and tire assembly" That way, not only new tires, but spare parts!  Yes, from the picture  http://www.motionrc.com/freewing-141...trut-and-tire/ I thought the connecting rod/pin was included too.....darn..
Lon

[Lon]

RE: Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

Question for Freewing P-51 Old Crow owners. Does your spinner fit tight or loose on the motor shaft???

I purchased the 2 blade prop and spinner set to try on my IronAss. And my first thought when putting the spinner on the shaft was "Wow...this is not tight at all" infact, can feel the play, enough to make me think the Old Crow shaft is different than the IronAss. But I see they both use the Type D motor shaft. Maybe I'm just used to the 4 blade spinner being very tight to put on......

[Grossman56]

RE: Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

My spinner fits tight, stock on the Iron Ass version.  Ended up replacing the retract and now everything is great.  The pesky thing never did work right, I sent an e mail off to Motion, but never heard anything back.  I swear that after the Old Crow incident, they aren't too fond of me.  Anyway, no biggie, got the retract fixed and all is well.

Grossman56

[Grossman56]

RE: Freewing OLD CROW retracts sag in flight and other issues.

I have been in touch with Martin Bedding on this whole issue and pretty well spelt it out from beginning to end, If you want to read, check out "All Us Newbies..." we'll see what happens, I'm posting all the exchanges as I get and respond to them.

Grossman56