“have not had an opportunity to use it yet. I will be glad to complete these reviews because they can benefit both the vendor and the buyer but you always submit them too soon after purchase for me to be able to comment.”
“I've gotten this request for review before I've had a chance to use this retract. With that, I've noticed that the trunnion material has been changed from a “pot metal†to another type of metal. Cast or machined AL? Also the main bearing has a bushings to support the pinion shaft like they had a year or so ago. This is a more robust retract and it should last longer. I've broken 4 retracts because I tend to bounce during landing. When the retract breaks, it's usually the pot metal trunnion or the housing which fails. Also the main shaft bends. The only reason that I haven't retired my Sabre Jet is because the retracts are affordable. I may build up a wood box to surround the housing to help the housing from breaking. Thanks Freewing for upgrading this retract. I think this will keep me from breaking the trunnion. Note: if the trunnion fails, I will post the results. SJ”
“I agree with everyones comments. If the trunnion was machined AL instead of pot metal that would be great. For me, I think the problem is too much weight on the nose gear and the strut has too much spring rate. Meaning that if you hit the nose of the plane down too hard, the spring rebounds and bounces the nose up. Then you stall and the nose hits even harder. I fly a little tail heavy and it really helps!If the retracts were $30-60 like other brands, I'd be really upset. But for $12 I have a few extra on hand!”
“I switched from Horizon, because I got tired of them milking me dry with unreliable parts. Same thing with Freewing now.Nose gear fell apart after 20-30 good landings.”
“As you all have done, I too, took the nose gear out on a BEAUTIFUL landing... hit a dibbit on the run way and off flies the nose gear. I ordered a new retract(quick and efficient service as always Motion :) ) only to find out the new shafts on the retract is no where near as long as the original. Somehow managed to install it though. Don't know how long it will will last or even make it through the new retracts maiden. Will do a follow up review. Hope it works.”
“Extremely weak, does not take much to break this nose gear. After 3 flights with normal landings, the nose gear would not lower. Took it apart to see if it can be fixed, but threaded shaft was bent very little and this caused the failure.My suggestion is to make the shaft stronger and with different material.”
