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rudder cable attachments

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wb2ssj(at)frontiernet.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:54 am Post subject: rudder cable attachments

I have followed the directions in the manual and I  find that cable can not rotate freely in all directions as the rudder goes side  to side. The bracket also will bind and touch the fin depending how it rotates.  The cable end being solid for the first few inches , it can rub on side of  the bulkhead wall .  Tex

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selwyn

Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 102
Location: Australia

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:40 am Post subject: Re: rudder cable attachments

Hi Tex,

Can all this happen with the cables properly tensioned?

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_________________
Cheers, Selwyn
Kit 66 VH-ELZ

sales(at)billandruth.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:06 am Post subject: rudder cable attachments

Hi All,

 

 I also was concerned about this due to bending and potential fatigue failure at the cable end associated with the attachment to the rudder.  I did a lot of tweaking to ensure that the cables did not contact the aft bulkhead or any other structure.  Since these holes where not installed at the factory I had to locate them myself and then cut them.  At the time, I did not comprehend the nature of the rudder stops as well.  I assumed that they would be like the ailerons and elevator, metal to metal stops that were built into the flight controls.  

 

 I finally resolved my concern over these "issues" by reviewing how much actual rudder movement would be encountered when taxiing and flying the aircraft.  Since there is no direct nose wheel connection to the rudders and steering is done primarily by braking via free swivel of the nose wheel and rudder movement will rarely if ever be much greater than a few degrees in flight I decided that my concern was "much to do over nothing."  It would be nice to clean this area up some but, I could not justify the effort involved to do so.

 

 I hope this helps...............Bill with kit #49 in Tucson.

 

 selwyn wrote:

 [quote]    	  Quote: 	
		  --> Lightning-List message posted by: "selwyn" <selwyn(at)ellisworks.com.au> (selwyn(at)ellisworks.com.au)



Hi Tex,

Can all this happen with the cables properly tensioned?



--------

Cheers,  Selwyn

Kit 66





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=199900#199900



  	
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Clive J

Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 340
Location: UK

Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:16 am Post subject: rudder cable attachments

There are a few things about the rudder set up that I think are

'opportunities for improvement' in the Esqual.



I had a 'reasonable' rudder travel based on what was available after

generally dressing up the rudder and the fin/tail and fitting the thing.

After I'd been taxiing a few times and thinking about recovering from

extremes I maximised the travel within the bounds of the structure and

got quite a lot more travel. My main concern was to be able to steer the

plane more effectively using the rudder. The brakes are all well and

good when they work but how about the day one has failed?, or landing on

wet grass?. Crosswind landing with engine out when you can give a burst

of power (I do good nightmares too).



As Bill says unlikely to need much when flying and on a 'normal day' but

why not have what's available?



What the extra travel did do was create more bending stress on the

rudder cable ends as has been mentioned and I've resolved to disconnect

them and loosen of the cable ends in the fixings so they can swing more

effectively and not stress the cable where it goes into the thimble.

That is to slim down the centring rubbers so they don't hold the cable

ends so tight. I don't know if the Lightning is similar but the cable

fixing on the rudder looks alike in the recent picture.



The other thing is the lack of travel stops, the paint will damage in

time where they bump together. I haven't figured that one out yet.



I'd be interested in what 'those that know' think about the travel

issue.



Regards, Clive



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landonp(at)bigpond.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:55 pm Post subject: rudder cable attachments

Hi Selwyn

I first  built based on original system, but was not happy as what ever 

position I set the bracket I could not prevent kink at end fitting.

Your statement has merit.



Regards



Bruce    #31

---

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N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 5:09 am Post subject: rudder cable attachments

Here are a few more thoughts on the rudder cable discussion:

  

 -Modifying the cable to rudder attach points so that there is no "kinking"  is a good idea, but the real important thing is to be sure the  glass "pass through" holes are placed and shaped so that there is no chance  for interference with the cable.  I have seen some situations where the  cable was able to catch on the edges of the glass and bind the rudder  travel.  Not good.  

  

 -It is important to be sure you can get complete rudder travel as designed,  but I see no need to modify so that you can get even more.  So far I have  not run out of rudder travel when landing in all kinds of cross wind in  Lightnings and Esquals - well over 500 hours.  Both airplanes have enough  rudder effectiveness to perform good slips as they are designed.  

  

 -From a maintenance perspective, you will probably need to re-tighten your  rudder cables after about 6 months to a year of use.  They cables seem to  stretch a little and loosen up enough that you will have too much  slack.   I have noticed this on most of the Lightnings that I have  flown.  You will notice this need to re-tighten the cables if you are  flying and can move the rudder pedals slightly without feeling any actual rudder  input.  On one airplane you could mode the rudder pedals more than an  inch in either direction without feeling any real rudder travel.    And don't forget to re-safety the turn buckles after adjusting the cable  tension.

  

 Blue Skies,

 Buz



It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.

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Clive J

Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 340
Location: UK

Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:02 am Post subject: rudder cable attachments

Thanks Buz, the problem was with a lot of the Esqual instructions there

was no 'design' figure. No travel at the rearmost point or anything like

that and the tail flanged bits clashed with the bulge in the rudder.

Anyhow I'm sure I have plenty of travel now and I can fit some stops and

take some away without worrying.

Regards, Clive



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