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Rudder Force

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dfmoeller

Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 60
Location: Austin, TX

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:59 pm Post subject: Rudder Force

OK, I've taken delivery on my used 601XL.  Great airplane, but one thing 

bothers me.  The rudder is so stiff.  The previous owner tells me that its 

due to the nosewheel strut collapsing onto the support and that sounds 

reasonble.  Its not bound, but takes a LOT of force to control.



Does anyone else have this issue, and can anything be done about it?  Or 

does anyone even notice.



(BTW, before someone tells me to search the archive if this is a common 

complaint, I've run out of ideas on search strings and have found no mention 

of the issue.)



Thanks for any help you can offer.



Doug

JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:59 pm Post subject: Rudder Force

Doug, my XL rudders peddles were stiff until I took the peddles completely out, scothbited the ends and center support and used graphite grease to reinstall. Also regrease the steering linkage ball joint ends. Smooth and gentle now. If you still have something binding jack up the front of the plane at the bottom londergons and try the rudder peddles. If still stiff disconnect the two steering rods and try the rudder. Also check the tightness of the bolt across the front of the bottom plastic/rubber holder (?) that the front strut goes through. I had mine way too tight. Best regards, Bill of Georgia

noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:39 pm Post subject: Rudder Force

I would suggest tying the tail  down instead of jacking the front up.  Much less chance of damaging the  plane...No chance of having it slip on jacks.

  

  

 

Noel [quote]   

   --

Daniel Vandenberg

Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 22

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject: Rudder Force

Can SLSA owners do their own maintenance?



Dan

Do Not Archive



JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com wrote: 	  Quote: 	
		   Doug, my XL rudders peddles were stiff until I took the peddles completely out, scothbited the ends and center support and used graphite grease to reinstall. Also regrease the steering linkage ball joint ends. Smooth and gentle now. If you still have something binding jack up the front of the plane at the bottom londergons and try the rudder peddles. If still stiff disconnect the two steering rods and try the rudder. Also check the tightness of the bolt across the front of the bottom plastic/rubber holder (?) that the front strut goes through. I had mine way too tight. Best regards, Bill of Georgia

randy(at)shadycreekoutlaw
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:11 pm Post subject: Rudder Force

Get Bill of GA to send a pic of his stand he made  for his XL...  A really good solution to get the front wheel off the  ground, safely...

  

 Randy

 XL Wings - Plans Only

 http://www.n344rb.com

  

 Do Not Archive

  

  

 [quote]   ---

JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:28 am Post subject: Rudder Force

Noel, I just assumed everybody built a rocking support stand that spreads the load on the bottom longeruns to gently lift the front wheel off the floor as the front of the plane is lifted and rotates back on the rear wheels. If you want I will try to send you a photo of the stand I built. Works great with a tiny jack and is a good general support, Let me know, Best regards, Bill of Georgia

jean-paul.roy4(at)tlb.sym
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:05 am Post subject: Rudder Force

Bill, would you be kind enough to post your  pictures on the Matronic site so anybody could view it?

 Thanks ahead

  

 Jean-Paul Roy

 Quebec, Canada

 [quote]   ---

JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:18 am Post subject: Rudder Force

Jean, I'll get to the hanger in the next couple days and take the photos to post, Best regards, Bill

 do not archive

ch601xl(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:24 am Post subject: Rudder Force

I would like the pictures.



On 7/11/06, JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com (JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com) <JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com  (JAPhillipsGA(at)aol.com)> wrote: 	  Quote: 	
		   Noel, I just assumed everybody built a rocking support stand that spreads the load on the bottom longeruns to gently lift the front wheel off the floor as the front of the plane is lifted and rotates back on the rear wheels. If you want I will try to send you a photo of the stand I built. Works great with a tiny jack and is a good general support, Let me know, Best regards, Bill of Georgia   



	


-- 

Christopher W. E. Smith

fly1m1

http://ch-601xl.com

NYTerminat(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject: Rudder Force

I

  

  

  

 Bill,

 I'd like to see what you made.

  

 Bob Spudis

  	  Quote: 	
		  Noel, I just assumed    everybody built a rocking support stand that spreads the load on the bottom    longeruns to gently lift the front wheel off the floor as the front of the    plane is lifted and rotates back on the rear wheels. If you want I will try to    send you a photo of the stand I built. Works great with a tiny jack and is a    good general support, Let me know, Best regards, Bill of    Georgia

noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 3:54 pm Post subject: Rudder Force

The reason I mentioned tying  the tail down is that is the procedure used to do retract tests on smaller  twins.  

  

 When I was a teenager we used  the same procedure and the main gear to do retract tests on the nose wheel of my  fathers LA-4.  The nose wheel retract tests on the Lake were necessary on  an annual basis to check the operation of the front gear doors for water  landing.  Believe me you don't want those doors open even a crack when  water landing!!  We use to jump out the WOW switch and hold the main gear  locks in place with vise grips.

  

 Down force on the tail against  the main gear is something the plane undergoes on every take off.  The only  thing is to make sure there is enough weight to keep the tail down when there is  a person in the pilot seat.

  

 Larger Transport Category   planes do have forward jacking points used for retract  tests.

  

 As I also said in an  earlier post.... with the tail tied down there is no chance of having the plane  fall off jacks as the mains are still on the ground and only the nose wheel is  elevated.  the absolute worst that can happen is the plane may lift the  tail weight and allow the nose wheel to come in contact with the  floor.

  

 We used 2 - 90 gal. drums half  filled with good old water to ballast the tails.

  

  

 

Noel [quote]   

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