Eflite 2M Carbon Z T-28 From Horizon Hobby | Landing Gear Modifications x 2

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Thanks for watching guys!! Here’s the link to the XWAVE retract from Motion RC www.motionrc.com/products/xwave-rm400-90-electronic-retract-multi-pack-2-retracts-xwa6015-004 which are awesome in now 2 of my planes, please like and share. I hope this will help anyone having issues with their Carbon Z T28 retracts 👊🏼👊🏼

[@daykin17]

Jeff I'm assuming there was a noticeable difference in performance power after you installed the upgraded ESC ??....I know that the stock ESC doesn't exactly provide a ton of grunt that flyers are lookin for, at least in my Carbon Z T-28...Cheers

[@RSchwara1]

@@daykin17 The esc upgrade would not effect performance. Only motor changes and prop size would do that.

[@RSchwara1]

I'm finally getting around to it Jeff, ordered the remainder of the parts I need to complete the upgrade. The Robart wheels on the mains worked nice, now just waiting on the retracts. For the front I'm going to see if the entire Freewing A10 80mm trailing link nose gear, retract, and steering linkage will fit it. I just completed the FMS 1400mm T28 upgrades and it turned out NICE! Went with Robart wheels on the mains, then the T-33 nose gear, steering linkage and retract on the front. I did have to shim about 1/6" inch get the T33 nose retract to fit, I used an eflite retract plate cut the sides where the holes were and used longer screws. It turned out perfect! Plane lands so nice and taxi's back in the grass with the trailing link doing it's job. Did the same to my 1.2m T28! :)

[@JeffsCustomRC]

AWESOME 👊🏼👊🏼

[@RSchwara1]

Accept an aileron control horn just crumbled whole moving the ailerons... i was like really!? Of cours back ordered and you have to buy the entire hardware set 44 bucks ship and tax grrrrr. Really does not make me confident this thing will last. And i keep thinking i should sell it.

[@JeffsCustomRC]

@@RSchwara1 hey…I sold mine, hopefully a v3 will come soon👊🏼

[@Synthetic11]

Jeff, thank you for this mod for the T-28 gear fix. I did this mod but I didn't remove the printed board. I was able to just cut the wires leading to it and away from it and pull the two wire cords out from under the black tape covering them. I did not have to take the retract apart or even loosen the screws just left the printed board in place but cut the wiring....it works great. Again, thanks Jeff for your information of this fix.

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Absolutely!! Always glad to help👊🏼

[@jerrygleicher656]

Nice video. I picked up a used plane from a friend and the nose gear seemed to have a mind of it's own, so I hoping this mod will help. It is not necessary to cut the servo plug to eliminate the signal wire. Slip an exact knife to lift metal keeper on the servo plug and pull the white wire out. You now have a two wire red/black power servo plug to go into the controller

[@RSchwara1]

So I started messing with the Carbon Z T28 retract upgrades again... had to order servo lead extensions... I had ordered the x-wave aluminum x-wave retracts to upgrade them. While I got to looking at the x wave the internals looked almost the same. I took apart the stock carbon z nose retract and x-wave retract and sure enough the motor, worm drive and circuit board FIT right into the stock T-28 retract housing! The circuit board was too thick but there is enough wire to mount it on the bottom or the side easily. Re-assembled it and it's working perfect and has such a positive sound and operation! I will do the exact same thing to the mains, this prevents me from having drill, cut, grind, file and modify the x-wave retract housing and the gear struts. So now it's honestly pretty much a drop in upgrade! I cannot believe it! I think upgrading the gear motor/circuit board along with upgrading the esc/bec to the new avian 100 amp from e-flite should solve the known issues people have had with the retracts not working or burning up! I took photo's and video of it as well if your interested.

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Awesome!! We all like seeing others ideas and ingenuity in this great hobby👊🏼👊🏼

[@-cmafia-7745]

Great video Jeff very thorough and clean install. Only thing I can see wrong is you need to put some darn shoes on in the shop….😃👍👊

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Too funny lol, thanks for watching buddy👊🏼👊🏼

[@RSchwara1]

So I started messing with the Carbon Z T28 retract upgrades again... had to order servo lead extensions... I had ordered the x-wave aluminum retracts to upgrade them. I got to looking at the x wave the internals looked almost the same. I took apart the stock carbon z nose retract and x-wave retract and sure enough the motor, worm drive and circuit board FIT right into the stock T-28 retract housing! The circuit board was too thick but there is enough wire to mount it on the bottom or the side easily. Re-assembled it and it's working perfect and has such a positive sound and operation! I will do the exact same thing to the mains, this prevents me from having drill, cut, grind, file and modify the x-wave retract housing and the gear struts. So now it's honestly pretty much a drop in upgrade! I cannot believe it! I think upgrading the gear motor/circuit board along with upgrading the esc/bec to the new avian 100 amp from e-flite should solve the known issues people have had with the retracts not working or burning up! I posted photos and a video up on the FB E-flite page.

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Excellent!! Great work, I install the avian smart 100amp esc in mine as well👊🏼👊🏼

[@RSchwara1]

@@JeffsCustomRC The nose gear worked out ok but the mains I'm using the xwave housings, the circuit board had two switches on that the trunon and worm drive contact on either end of the travel by depressing them. The circuit board is cut out different and the trunon from the stock retract will not clear it and there's no way to cut the circuit board without damaging it. It stops and move fine on the nose gear but the stop points using the switches on the circuit board are much more precise. I cycled the nose gear alot and no heat or issues but I don't want to do this to the mains. So look like I'll be using the xwave. I'm wondering if the JP retract gear full set and controller would be the better option but dang 400 bucks is rough... Working on it now wish me luck.

[@fmxmofo]

You have to cut part of the lock nub on the track out on the stock gear and after that it works perfectly. It hits that lock nub and tells the control that it's extended...

[@davidsnyder238]

I watched you walk through the process that Jerry, Michael and I all walked through in some way or another. Very nice video and walk through Jeff. The gear on that plane can be downright frustrating which is a shame considering how beautiful the model is. Good luck with your test flights! Looks like you have it all right!

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Thanks David for all of your help!! Yes it is a shame that with such a great airplane, ya gotta go through all of this, and with today’s tech, retracts should be the least of the problems with our planes, thanks for everything buddy👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼

[@trent_c_77]

Nice job, just purchased one of these t-28's. Now I know what I need to do! Thanks👍🏻

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Their awesome plane once all the kinks are worked out

[@nathanielpulling]

i like how the nose gear is delaid looks relly cool

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Thanks man, so happy everything is working now

[@gregpopp4847]

Hopefully if they release this plane again they will use higher quality aluminum shock gear with electronics which actually work.

[@RCPlaneReviewer]

Good stuff jeff!!

[@JohnVHRC]

In the description you say servos, you mean the retracts? Sometimes I have a finicky rectract on mine, maybe I should replace them and be done with it.... Hopefully HH will fix this plane once and for all someday...

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Hey John...yes sir, I meant the retract servos, really impressed by these, thanks for watching buddy👊🏼

[@reckemroysrc3764]

A re release of this plane with the removable wing tips the suspension gear and smart tech how cool would that be. Then it would be worth the 500 bucks the get for it

[@JohnVHRC]

@@reckemroysrc3764 That would be sweet, and LIGHTS!!! but it wouldnt be for only 500, I bet it would be over 6?

[@gus3247365]

Nice and precise modification.

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Thanks Gus, appreciate the support 👊🏼👊🏼🇺🇸

[@marcotobar9759]

Well done.

[@DonsRCAirplanes]

Awesome , thumbs up for sure

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Thanks Don, this is a great flying plane, gotta have the retracts working right as well, thanks for watching 👊🏼👊🏼

[@michaelrajca6043]

great job jeff. did you do anything else to the nose. i couldnt find a nose gear steerable retract from xwave

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Hey buddy...no, I actually left that one as the Eflite , working on for now, thanks for watching 👊🏼👊🏼

[@jcb6713]

nice info; looks good !

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Thank you 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼

[@rickmatteson3962]

On your first mod of standard retracts, powered the retract with servo tester open and pulled power to tester. You then installed back in plane. How do you set up the up and down limits when JP controler was hooked up?

[@JeffsCustomRC]

No need to…controller just gets it right 👊🏼

[@dalerbsr.5061]

Thanks, awesome...

[@RSchwara1]

I really appreciate this video, I have a mint/new one and haven't flown it due to 3 members at the field having retract issues and messing their planes up somewhat belly landing them... in the first half of the video you just added the control box, did that work fine and you just decided to install the motion rc retracts as added assurance they would continue to work? Thanks.

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Hi…the factory Eflite gear never worked properly, that’s why I decided to do the MotionRC servo replacement for gear, they plug in the JP control box, the the nose gear is the factory gear plugged in as per factory, hope this helps👊🏼

[@RSchwara1]

@@JeffsCustomRC Thanks Jeff, good to know. I'm debating selling it vs doing all the work to it and using the funds toward a flex innovations rv8 in the same size... Won't look at good but flies nice and less landing gear hassle for sure.

[@nirlachman007]

Hey Jeff! Do I need another battery which will be used as an input to the JP controller? Or it can be a standalone?

[@JeffsCustomRC]

It’s stand alone, however you could power with another battery if you want👊🏼

[@nirlachman007]

@@JeffsCustomRC Thanks man

[@joepellissier2091]

Well done. I am a bit confused. Did you do the electronic mod first and then had to do the mechanical? Looks like the mechanical mod had 3 wires. Why did you do both?

[@JeffsCustomRC]

The Eflite factory gear were just junk done either way, I replaced them with the XWAVE from Motion and they worked great with some slight modifications to the factory struts for all to work properly

[@RSchwara1]

Jeff I looked for the follow up test video for the retracts but didn't find it, how did they work out in flight? I picked up a V2 from a friend at the field, the gear is working fine for now but I'm skeptical as to how long it will last before I have problems and this seems like a very good solution. I read on RC Groups where the re-release V2 planes had been updated with better re-tracts and that some were not having the problems. The gentleman I purchased the plane from said the only trick he found was to take off easy and fly very slow before before putting the retracts up and doing this he had no issues. He also said if you try to put them up with any speed they will sometimes not go all the way up. I believe I would rather just replace them like you have done vs taking any chances. Let me know if you did do a in flight test video or what your results were as I'm looking for a good solution. Thank you.

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Hi and thanks for watching, I didn’t do another flight video, due to I have a weekly live show and discussed how happy I was with the results of the Motion RC X-Wave all aluminum retract servos, I kept the factory nose gear servo, however I’ve had to replace steering servo on two T28’s due to failure, and by the way, the steering servo is a reverse gear servo, I also had to replace a ESC before ever flying a brand new version 2, so after I sold the first V2 , I got another one, and did all the upgrades after finding some of the same problems I had with the first one, gear, esc, lights, and a few other things, now it flys amazingly. Rumor has it the Horizon will come out with a V3 SMART with all the new technology upgrades in the future, we’ll see, but I hope so. It’s such a great looking and flying airframe, not to have the right electronics just to save money. Thanks for your support, and for your questions 👊🏼👊🏼

[@brucebeamer2298]

Up so hitting the like button, see y'all

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Thank ya sir👊🏼👊🏼

[@RSchwara1]

Jeff when you installed the X wave retracts did you still need the JP Controller? I have the Xwave retracts for the mains and have the A10 retract for the nose. So all will use three wire... I'm not seeing how the JP controll V1 would work with this setup?

[@JeffsCustomRC]

You will have to eliminate the signal wire by cutting the connector so that only the hot and ground are used

[@RSchwara1]

Jeff one last question, I have the xwave retracts for the mains and the A10 front retract and trailing line nose gear for the front. I'm assuming I no longer need to use the JP Retract Controller as I don't see a way to hook it up as they all use 3 pin connectors. Will they be fine just connecting them to the 3 way gear connector on the receiver channel?

[@JeffsCustomRC]

You can use JP controller, but you will only need the hot and ground on servo wires for gear

[@RSchwara1]

@@JeffsCustomRC Yeah, since I've replaced all three retracts and got rid of the original e-flite ones and am upgrading the esc to a 100 Avain esc I think the bec should be fine and the retracts fine, so I don't think I really need the jp controller.

[@bryannemeth9734]

I see you have a three bladed prop on this carbon ZT 28 is it by chance the 14 x 9 from master air screw

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Yes…that’s exactly what it is, painted tips to look scale👊🏼

[@JeffinLowerAlabama]

Hope these mods fix the landing gear Jeff, Jeff in LA USA

[@JeffsCustomRC]

Me too buddy, report and flight soon to come 👊🏼

[@nestorgomez3718]

The nose retract did not change it for another? Or is it the factory

[@JeffsCustomRC]

It’s still the factory due to no issues, did however change the steering servo, thanks for watching 👊🏼👊🏼

[@nestorgomez3718]

Thanks man!!

[@Denny_H]

Does anyone know if you can use the JP Retract Controller with a Y servo cable and connect one to a 6v LiFe battery and the other to Ch5 of the receiver (with the red wire disconnected)? This way, you would have the signal from Ch5 for up and down and a dedicated 6v battery. The ESC/BEC would then power the receiver as normal. I'm having issues with my gear being intermittent, but as soon as I connect a 6v LiFe battery to the receiver,all 3 gear work perfectly and strong!!

[@JeffsCustomRC]

I have the the JP controller in mine, however, not on a separate pack, but yes, it can be done, I believe personally that the real problem with the factory gear in this plane is lack of power from the receiver anyway, hence the JP controller, I will say mine does better, but I think more power to controller would make all the difference, thanks for watching, and best luck👊🏼👊🏼

[@Denny_H]

@@JeffsCustomRC I have the JP Controller on order with 1450 mAh 6.5v LiFe batteries and will let everyone know how it works!

[@jimmyhaley727]

now what i am gonna do,,, over and over again,,, LOL

[@JamesWhite-yj7sd]

i got sea sick trying to watch this PLEASE BUY A TRI POD WTF