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English U-Joint

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rlaird

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 373
Location: Houston

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject: English U-Joint

If anyone out there has installed the "English" u-joint used to adjust

washout, could you please send me a photo of the installed joint.  I got

mine in, but it'd be nice to see what it looks like on a successful

installation.



Thanks!



  -- Robert

do not archive

_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Laird
formerly: MkIIIc w/ 912ULS & Gyrobee
current: Autogyro Cavalon w/ 914ULS
Houston, TX area
http://www.Texas-Flyer.com

HShack(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject: English U-Joint

In a message dated 2/11/2006 8:06:45 PM Eastern Standard Time, 

rlaird(at)cavediver.com writes:

If anyone out there has installed the "English" u-joint used to adjust

washout, could you please send me a photo of the installed joint.  I got

mine in, but it'd be nice to see what it looks like on a successful

installation.

It is not "washout" but is "incidence".  I installed one on my FS II but have 

no photo;  if I did it wouldn't show much more than the original bracket.  

Will allow you up to approx. 1/4" adjustment up or down on the rear of your wing.



Don't forget to put the cotter key back in.



Howard Shackleford

FS II

SC

rlaird

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 373
Location: Houston

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:56 pm Post subject: English U-Joint

So, in your case, what problem did it solve (e.g. left banking tendency),

and did you "raise" the wing or lower it?



  -- R



On 2/11/06, HShack(at)aol.com <HShack(at)aol.com> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 



 In a message dated 2/11/2006 8:06:45 PM Eastern Standard Time,

 rlaird(at)cavediver.com writes:

 If anyone out there has installed the "English" u-joint used to adjust

 washout, could you please send me a photo of the installed joint.  I got

 mine in, but it'd be nice to see what it looks like on a successful

 installation.

 It is not "washout" but is "incidence".  I installed one on my FS II but

 have

 no photo;  if I did it wouldn't show much more than the original bracket.

 Will allow you up to approx. 1/4" adjustment up or down on the rear of

 your wing.



 Don't forget to put the cotter key back in.



 Howard Shackleford

 FS II

 SC

_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Laird
formerly: MkIIIc w/ 912ULS & Gyrobee
current: Autogyro Cavalon w/ 914ULS
Houston, TX area
http://www.Texas-Flyer.com

grageda(at)innw.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:01 pm Post subject: English U-Joint

Hi Robert,



I have installed the English u joint to correct a minor incidence change in 

my Firestar II.  I bought my Firestar used and eventually recovered the 

fuselage cage due to some fabric damage at the bottom of the fuselage.



When I did the recover I decided to powder coat the tubular cage. After the 

work was completed, I found out that the heat of the powder coating process 

must have relaxed the fuselage cage stresses built into the cage during its 

construction. During the first test flight I found I had a wing heavy 

condition of the right side that I didnt have before.



The English U joints allowed me to reset the incidence of the light side to 

match the wings together again.



I blocked up the Firestar into a level flight attitude. By moving the 

supplied washers from top to bottom,one at a time,  I was able to match the 

two wings again using a long level across the bottom of each wing until the 

bubble matched side to side.



I bought a pair of the U Joints just in case I needed alot of adjustment but 

I ended up only using one on the left wing.



I hope this helps answer your questions about the English U Joints. The 

joints allow me to zero out my wing trim and avoid speed eating drag due to 

aileron trim deflection.



Best Regards

Carlos Grageda

Walla Walla, WA



---

rlaird

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 373
Location: Houston

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:10 pm Post subject: English U-Joint

Carlos --



Thanks for the description.  I have a couple of questions, though:



What flight characteristic occured due to the "wing heavy condition of the

right side"?  Would it have a tendency to bank right?



Did the position of the left wing end up higher or lower than with the

standard u-joint?



And, last, do you have a photo of the joint in place?



Thanks!



  -- Robert

On 2/11/06, Carlos <grageda(at)innw.net> wrote:

[quote]

 



 Hi Robert,



 I have installed the English u joint to correct a minor incidence change

 in

 my Firestar II.  I bought my Firestar used and eventually recovered the

 fuselage cage due to some fabric damage at the bottom of the fuselage.



 When I did the recover I decided to powder coat the tubular cage. After

 the

 work was completed, I found out that the heat of the powder coating

 process

 must have relaxed the fuselage cage stresses built into the cage during

 its

 construction. During the first test flight I found I had a wing heavy

 condition of the right side that I didnt have before.



 The English U joints allowed me to reset the incidence of the light side

 to

 match the wings together again.



 I blocked up the Firestar into a level flight attitude. By moving the

 supplied washers from top to bottom,one at a time,  I was able to match

 the

 two wings again using a long level across the bottom of each wing until

 the

 bubble matched side to side.



 I bought a pair of the U Joints just in case I needed alot of adjustment

 but

 I ended up only using one on the left wing.



 I hope this helps answer your questions about the English U Joints. The

 joints allow me to zero out my wing trim and avoid speed eating drag due

 to

 aileron trim deflection.



 Best Regards

 Carlos Grageda

 Walla Walla, WA



 ---

_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Laird
formerly: MkIIIc w/ 912ULS & Gyrobee
current: Autogyro Cavalon w/ 914ULS
Houston, TX area
http://www.Texas-Flyer.com

grageda(at)innw.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 12:16 am Post subject: English U-Joint

Hi Bob,



My Firestar would bank to the right side and I had to hold left aileron 

inputs constantly to keep the wings level in flight.  I had to raise the 

trailing edge of the left wing to correct the problem. By raising the left 

wing trailing edge, I effectively lowered the left wing leading edge to 

match the right side. It ended up that the left wing trailing edge which is 

very near the U-Joint being slightly higher than the right side wing 

trailing edge as viewed from behind the plane.



Because I raised the left wing slightly, I also had to readjust the the 

push-pull tubes between the aileron lever and the bellcrank under the tail 

boom. This was to keep the joystick in the neutral position along with 

ailerons in the level positon. With everything properly centered and 

neutralized, I have tried reduced the drag to as little as possible.



Now, I can hold the stick in the neutral position and the wings will stay 

level without any inputs from me.



If you have a minor wing trim problem,  the English U-Joints are an 

effective and practical solution. If you are not sure about how to install 

them, you should contact Kolb for further help.



I will try and get a photo as soon as I can pry my digital camera away from 

my daughter (She thinks it belongs to her!)



Best Regards,

Carlos Grageda

---

grageda(at)innw.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:41 am Post subject: English U-Joint

Hi Robert,



I finally got some pictures of the English U-Joints installed on my Kolb.



I hope they help answer your questions.



Carlos Grageda

Firestar Driver



---

rlaird

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 373
Location: Houston

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 11:56 am Post subject: English U-Joint

Thanks, Carlos...  You can send them directly to me, or post them on the

Kolb forum.



  -- Robert



On 2/18/06, Carlos <grageda(at)innw.net> wrote:

[quote]

 



 Hi Robert,



 I finally got some pictures of the English U-Joints installed on my Kolb.



 I hope they help answer your questions.



 Carlos Grageda

 Firestar Driver



 ---

_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Laird
formerly: MkIIIc w/ 912ULS & Gyrobee
current: Autogyro Cavalon w/ 914ULS
Houston, TX area
http://www.Texas-Flyer.com

rlaird

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 373
Location: Houston

Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:10 pm Post subject: English U-Joint

Carlos --



Just wanted to let you know that I installed the English u-joint today, and

it made a considerable difference!  Hoo-ray!  Based on your photos, I

started with 3 washers on the bottom, 2 on the top, and that nearly was

perfect.  The plane still needs a bit of trim, so I'm thinking about making

it 4-and-1, just to see what it does.  I'll be flying left-seat solo about

99% of the time, so I might as well make it neutral for that 99%.



Thanks for your help and encouragement!



  -- Robert



On 2/18/06, Carlos <grageda(at)innw.net> wrote:

[quote]

 



 Hi Robert,



 I finally got some pictures of the English U-Joints installed on my Kolb.



 I hope they help answer your questions.



 Carlos Grageda

 Firestar Driver



 ---

_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Laird
formerly: MkIIIc w/ 912ULS & Gyrobee
current: Autogyro Cavalon w/ 914ULS
Houston, TX area
http://www.Texas-Flyer.com

grageda(at)innw.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject: English U-Joint

Hi Robert,



I'm glad I could help. Thats what this mail list is about.



Good Luck

Carlos Grageda



---

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