GWS Retracts wire breaks when bending

[sgschwartz]

When trying to bend GWS retracts for my Mountain Models P51, the wire breaks. I am using a Dubro wire bender. I think it is because the radius of the bender is essentialy 0 degrees. I bought the bender because i thought it would help me make more accurate bends.

Any suggestions, anyone?

Thanks

[gyrocptr]

As you discovered, when bending hardened-wire of more than ~3/32-inch in diameter, you need to bend around a radius.

http://www.micromark.com/vise-mounte...nder,7044.html

The KS bender will bend coils for extra shock absorption:

http://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Wire-Be.../dp/B000BQPYYU

[Bill G]

On suggestion is that if you buy the retracts from them with their P51 kit, maybe you could ask them to include some cut off pieces of wire to make new struts. If they've worked with the units and speced them, which they obviously have, then they know about the strut wire quirks.

I just made a new strut for the GWS retracts, using softer music wire. I keep various sizes from .015" - .094" on hand, along with various others. I'd make a trip to the LHS and invest in a small stock, if you haven't. The GWS wire seems to be a high carbon wire that does not like bending. I ran into the same problem. If you make a new one, then you can add a half-loop to the strut wire to absorb shock also. Bending tools are nice, but if you get creative they are not always needed. The results just don't look quite as clean. I'm putting the GWS unit below to fairly hard use, and added the shock absorbing feature to the strut. For the steerable unit, it was easy to grind a groove in the new wire, for the retaining e-clip. For the non-steerable units, you could rough up the wire with a file, as well as grinding the locking screw flat onto the wire. When all is finally set, add a drop of thin CA to the point where the gear strut wire inserts into the plastic, as they are notorious for blowing out the lousy set screw. That set screw is just not quite up to the fixing the strut in place, IMO. I've heard that they have been using better plastic over the years though. I had to CF horsehair wrap with CA, reinforcing where the steering arm lock set screw inserts in mine. The plastic is not up the the task, and it's an older unit.

[foodstick]

I have been bending piano wire before when it snaps and it is scary ! especially when it leaves that razor sharp point of steel hanging there ..and you go flying when it snaps..

Can you drop a piece of tubing down over the bending tool shaft to increase the radius of the bend?

I have the coil bender now, and its sort of strange to use compared to my old MIGHTY WIRE BENDER, however I can't seem to find the MIGHTY one in the garage