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Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

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japhillipsga(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:09 am Post subject: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

Dear 601XL Builders and Flyers, my eyes have been opened to an issue. All this talk about flutter and cables, etc., led me to buy a tensionmeter and check the cables in my XL. Wow was I surprised! The aileron cables were at 17 pounds and the elevator at below 10 pounds. By ZAC they should have been 30 & 40 pds. I reset them and flew. I was pleased at the difference in control and response. Now before you think "that just can't happen to me" I set my cables with my hands plucking them, seemed good and tight.I have tightened mine twice since I built her. No body has "calibrated" fingers. I alert you all and hope everybody will check their cables. I had flutter a couple years ago that scared the poop out of me. Don't want it again or that anybody should be lost because of it. The cable tester cost about $190. How much does having a wing come off cost? Best wishes, Bill of Georgia

 N505WP

 601XL-3300 140 hours 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  [quote][b]

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leinad

Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 283
Location: Central Virginia

Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject: Re: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

I think it was Larry McFarland that had plans to make a cable tension guage on his website.  I took his lead and made my own, modifying his design somewhat.  I made it smaller and amplified the motion.  I put pictures on my website on the tools page.  When I checked my cables, also done by feel I found the same thing that you did.  I had around 18 lbs on the rudder and 15 pounds on the elevator (my ailerons are not cabled yet).   The 40 pounds specified for the elevator seams like a lot of load to put on those flimsy horns.  I haven't readjusted them yet, but I have some time (a lot) before first flight.

Dan

http://daniel.dempseyfamily.us



[quote] ="japhillipsga(at)aol.com"]Dear 601XL Builders and Flyers, my eyes have been opened to an issue. All this talk about flutter and cables, etc., led me to buy a tensionmeter and check the cables in my XL. Wow was I surprised! The aileron cables were at 17 pounds and the elevator at below 10 pounds. By ZAC they should have been 30 & 40 pds. I reset them and flew. I was pleased at the difference in control and response. Now before you think "that just can't happen to me" I set my cables with my hands plucking them, seemed good and tight.I have tightened mine twice since I built her. No body has "calibrated" fingers. I alert you all and hope everybody will check their cables. I had flutter a couple years ago that scared the poop out of me. Don't want it again or that anybody should be lost because of it. The cable tester cost about $190. How much does having a wing come off cost? Best wishes, Bill of Georgia

 N505WP

 601XL-3300 140 hours 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   	  Quote: 	
		  [b]

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_________________
Scratch building XL with Corvair Engine

hills(at)sunflower.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 3:47 pm Post subject: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

Hey Billl  

   

Are you going to rent that test out to us?  I would sure like to use it on my 601 HDS.  

   

Roger  

   

   

   

   

         

  

From: owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of japhillipsga(at)aol.com

 Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 9:08 AM

 To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension  

  

   



 

 Dear 601XL Builders and Flyers, my eyes have been opened to an issue. All this talk about flutter and cables, etc., led me to buy a tensionmeter and check the cables in my XL. Wow was I surprised! The aileron cables were at 17 pounds and the elevator at below 10 pounds. By ZAC they should have been 30 & 40 pds. I reset them and flew. I was pleased at the difference in control and response. Now before you think "that just can't happen to me" I set my cables with my hands plucking them, seemed good and tight.I have tightened mine twice since I built her. No body has "calibrated" fingers. I alert you all and hope everybody will check their cables. I had flutter a couple years ago that scared the poop out of me. Don't want it again or that anybody should be lost because of it. The cable tester cost about $190. How much does having a wing come off cost? Best wishes, Bill of Georgia

 N505WP

 601XL-3300 140 hours 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:31 am Post subject: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

Rogar, I'll be happy to loan it to you, but if your going to  do periodic checks as I am having one to own is a must,  Bill



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  [quote][b]

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annken100

Joined: 15 Nov 2007
Posts: 62

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

Why rent when you can buy one for under $200.00 at Aircraft Spruce or Ebay?  Considering the importance of proper cable tension I would think you'd want a tensionometer of your own to check cable tension every 50 hours or at least every annual condition inspection.  In the grand scheme of things, an investment of less than $200.00 for the sake of safety is a no-brainer.



Ken Pavlou

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_________________
601 XL / Corvair

David X

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 154
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:46 am Post subject: Re: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

It takes a man of integrity to admit a mistake. Thank you for sharing this with the forum.



 	  japhillipsga(at)aol.com wrote: 	
		  Dear 601XL Builders and Flyers, my eyes have been opened to an issue. All this talk about flutter and cables, etc., led me to buy a tensionmeter and check the cables in my XL. Wow was I surprised! The aileron cables were at 17 pounds and the elevator at below 10 pounds. By ZAC they should have been 30 & 40 pds. I reset them and flew. I was pleased at the difference in control and response. Now before you think "that just can't happen to me" I set my cables with my hands plucking them, seemed good and tight.I have tightened mine twice since I built her. No body has "calibrated" fingers. I alert you all and hope everybody will check their cables. I had flutter a couple years ago that scared the poop out of me. Don't want it again or that anybody should be lost because of it. The cable tester cost about $190. How much does having a wing come off cost? Best wishes, Bill of Georgia

 N505WP

 601XL-3300 140 hours

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_________________
Zodiac 601 XL - CZAW Built - Rotax 912S
DO NOT ARCHIVE

pramodkotwal(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 11:33 am Post subject: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

If checking the tension is not very time consuming I would check it very  often, just to be safe.

Considering the importance of the tension, the instrument should be included in the on board set of tools, I think.



Pramod



--- On Tue, 11/18/08, annken100 <annken100(at)aol.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   From: annken100 <annken100(at)aol.com>

 Subject: Re: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

 To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com

 Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 10:43 AM

 

 <annken100(at)aol.com>

 

 Why rent when you can buy one for under $200.00 at Aircraft

 Spruce or Ebay?  Considering the importance of proper cable

 tension I would think you'd want a tensionometer of your

 own to check cable tension every 50 hours or at least every

 annual condition inspection.  In the grand scheme of things,

 an investment of less than $200.00 for the sake of safety is

 a no-brainer.

 

 Ken Pavlou

 

 --------

 601 XL / Corvair

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p 14965#214965

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PatrickW

Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 380
Location: Fort Worth, Texas

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

 	  annken100 wrote: 	
		  In the grand scheme of things, an investment of less than $200.00 for the sake of safety is a no-brainer. 	




I didn't give it a second though when I spent 25 times that amount on my BRS.  I started building my XL before all this stuff started happening, so it was a bit of an expense that I hadn't planned for.  But it'll be worth it if I ever need it...



For what it's worth, I'm also going to make "Check Cable Tension" part of my pre-flight and I'm going to track it, keeping an eye out for a trend over the passage of time.  



- Pat

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hills(at)sunflower.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension

Bill  

   

It turns out a mechanic buddy of mine has one, but thanks for the offer !!!!  

   

Roger  

   

   

   

         

  

From: owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com

 Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:27 AM

 To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Re: Zenith- Alert To Aileron Cable Tension  

  

     

Rogar, I'll be happy to loan it to you, but if your going to do periodic checks as I am having one to own is a must, Bill  

  



 

         

  

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