Matronics Email Lists :: View topic

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Thimbles

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kolb-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

tkrolfe(at)usadatanet.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:07 am Post subject: Thimbles

Now at 570 hr.'s on my FireFly I need to replace my cable thimbles for

my horizontal stabilizers.  Thanks to John H. for bringing it to my

attention when we met at Homer's farm last month.



I noticed that there are stainless steel thimbles available as well as

the standard a/n steel models.  I'm thinking of using the stainless

ones this time.  Would appreciate any comments pro or con regarding

using the stainless steel ones?



Terry -  FireFly #95

Eugene Zimmerman

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 392

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:20 am Post subject: Thimbles

Terry,



Looks like not many people recognized the significance of your question.

I'll offer my opinion for what it is worth.



Generally stainless steel has less strength and wear qualities than  

standard steel.

If rust and corrosion are not the issue I'd  go with the regular  

steel ones. You are replacing them because of wear, right?

Perhaps it would be a good idea to chamfer the holes they fit through  

a slight bit to remove the sharp edges that wear on the thimbles.



Gene



On Sep 12, 2006, at 9:38 AM, Terry wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Now at 570 hr.'s on my FireFly I need to replace my cable thimbles for

 my horizontal stabilizers.  Thanks to John H. for bringing it to my

 attention when we met at Homer's farm last month.



 I noticed that there are stainless steel thimbles available as well as

 the standard a/n steel models.  I'm thinking of using the stainless

 ones this time.  Would appreciate any comments pro or con regarding

 using the stainless steel ones?



 Terry -  FireFly #95

tkrolfe(at)usadatanet.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:17 am Post subject: Thimbles

Eugene Zimmerman wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 Terry,

 Looks like not many people recognized the significance of your question.

 I'll offer my opinion for what it is worth.

 Generally stainless steel has less strength and wear qualities than

 standard steel.

 If rust and corrosion are not the issue I'd  go with the regular

 steel ones. You are replacing them because of wear, right?

 Perhaps it would be a good idea to chamfer the holes they fit through

 a slight bit to remove the sharp edges that wear on the thimbles.

 Gene

 On Sep 12, 2006, at 9:38 AM, Terry wrote:

 > 

 >

 > Now at 570 hr.'s on my FireFly I need to replace my cable thimbles for

 > my horizontal stabilizers.  Thanks to John H. for bringing it to my

Gene,

Your right, not much interest in my question!  Thanks for your reply.  I am

going to chamfer the stainless steel tangs when I replace them.  Wish someone

had said something the first time to a new builder.  I know stainless isn't

as strong as steel, but I'm not sure I agree about the wear factor.

The stainless tangs did a good job of wearing the AN steel thimbles without

any wear to themselves.  I think it also depends of the alloy of the

stainless.  I don't believe strength is an issue in this particular use, I

might be wrong.

Guess that's why I posted the question hoping someone else had experience

with them,

Terry _  FireFly #95

jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:18 am Post subject: Thimbles

At 09:38 AM 9/12/06 -0400, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  


	


Terry,



It might be easier and better to shim them.  A brass shim will provide a 

good bearing surface in comparison to stainless steel on steel.



How I did it can be seen at:



http://www.thirdshift.com/jack/firefly/firefly120.html



Jack B. Hart FF004

Winchester, IN

Steve Boetto

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 364

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:21 am Post subject: Thimbles

Hi Terry,

 I prefer the stainless ones because I usually use stainless cable. On my Firefly a lot of water ends up on everything. Did your thimbles wear through or did they just get loose. There are a lot of opinions on HOW to install them. I like to snip the little points off and when I swage the sleeve  I squeeze the end away from the thimble first and then squeeze the other half next to the thimble. This sequence snugs everything up really tight. I then add the second sleeve. Do the inside half first or you will create slack on your free end. Most people also agree that you need a little bit of cable protruding out of the second sleeve.

 Lots of opinions on this so you should see more comments.

 

 Steve B

 Firefly 007 on Floats  [quote][b]

tkrolfe(at)usadatanet.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:02 am Post subject: Thimbles

Jim, Jack & Steve,

  

 Thanks for the replies regarding the stainless  steel thimbles.  I think I'm going to try the stainless type this  time.

  

 Steve, you brought up another question!  You  are using stainless cable, what about the stretch I have heard about?  I  understand your choice considering that you now have a float FireFly, but  wondering if you had any issue with them stretching?  Thought about going  that route also.

 OH, and yes, they have wore down a bit, not through  yet!  Just trying to be careful.

  

 Terry -  FireFly #95

 [quote]   ---

jrsmith2(at)triad.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:37 pm Post subject: Thimbles

Thank you,  these pictures are worth a M words....

---

Steve Boetto

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 364

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:51 pm Post subject: Thimbles

Terry,

  by moving your bolt to the other holes you have the ability take up slack. I have not had any noticeable stretch.  

 On my new Firefly I plan to use SS swaged terminal ends. I think that is what Possum did.

 steve  [quote][b]

tkrolfe(at)usadatanet.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject: Thimbles

Steve,

  

 Thanks for the info.  I do know about being  able to take up slack with the other holes, I just didn't want an ongoing  problem!  Are you going to use turnbuckles or still use the stainless steel  tangs to adjust?

  

 Terry -  FireFly #95

 [quote]   ---

Steve Boetto

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 364

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:29 pm Post subject: Thimbles

In a message dated 9/13/2006 7:11:39 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  tkrolfe(at)usadatanet.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		     Steve,

    

   Thanks for the info.  I do know about being    able to take up slack with the other holes, I just didn't want an ongoing    problem!  Are you going to use turnbuckles or still use the stainless    steel tangs to adjust?

    

   Terry -  FireFly  #95

	


 

 Terry,

 Not sure yet. Probably turnbuckles because I am not sure how good AC Spruce  is on tolerance. As far as an ongoing problem, I think if you get any stretch at  all it will stabilize. Keep in mind that the cables are good for almost 1000lbs  if I remember right. The load on your cables has to be a mere fraction of that.  Also, if the cable stretches it probably bounces back. I actually count on this  fact on my cross brace cables on my floats. It absorbs energy and helps minimize  fatigue.  Maybe the Experts will help on this one.

 If it can't flex, It fatigues.

  

 steve

  

  [quote][b]

tkrolfe(at)usadatanet.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 4:14 pm Post subject: Thimbles

Steve,

  

 Thanks again for the reply!  Think I'm going to use the stainless  steel thimbles and will consider using stainless steel cable even though I have  a lot spare gal.steel cable to make use of!  Like you pointed out, not  much load on those aft cables.  Send pictures of your new  FloatFly when you have it near done.  I hope to make contact with you  in the not too distant future to see your creation!

  

 Terry -  FireFly #95

 [quote]   ---

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kolb-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum