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

Re Rudder trim tab

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kolb-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

DAquaNut(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:55 pm Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

Group,

 

    I am left with no choice but to put a trim tab on my  rudder. Problem is 

the factory put the ribs on the right side of the rudder as  viewed from the 

rear. I need to make the rudder move to the left substantially .  That would 

involve putting the 2" portion of the trim tab on the left side of  the rudder 

while the 3" portion which is roughly 30* would be on the right side  in order 

to push the rudder to the left. There is not a rib on the left side to  put 

the rivets in. Is it OK to mount the  entire trim tab on the right  side  where 

the ribs are. I will have to put the rivets on the right side  instead of how 

Kolb shows it. Hope I am making sense . I just dont  think I have seen a trim 

tab mounted on the same side as the angled part.

 

 

           Ed  Diebel

John Jung

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 108
Location: Surprise, AZ, USA

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: Re Rudder trim tab

 	  DAquaNut(at)aol.com wrote: 	
		   I just dont  think I have seen a trim 

tab mounted on the same side as the angled part. 	




Ed,



My rudder trim tab is on the right side to push the rudder to the left. The rivets are on the right and the bend is to the right. It works good for me. Mine is made from Lexan and is less noticable than aluminum.



do not archive

_________________
John Jung
Firestar II N6163J
Surprise, AZ

HShack(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:45 pm Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

In a message dated 2/10/2006 10:56:01 PM Eastern Standard Time, 

DAquaNut(at)aol.com writes:

I am left with no choice but to put a trim tab on my  rudder. Problem is 

the factory put the ribs on the right side of the rudder as  viewed from the 

rear. I need to make the rudder move to the left substantially .  That would 

involve putting the 2" portion of the trim tab on the left side of  the 

rudder 

while the 3" portion which is roughly 30* would be on the right side  in 

order 

to push the rudder to the left. There is not a rib on the left side to  put 

the rivets in. Is it OK to mount the  entire trim tab on the right  side  

where 

the ribs are. I will have to put the rivets on the right side  instead of how 

Kolb shows it. Hope I am making sense . I just dont  think I have seen a trim 

tab mounted on the same side as the angled part.

Ed, you will surely get more replies tomorrow, but I will offer my opinion 

now.



I have not seen Kolb's dwg. on the rudder trim tab, but I have seen a bunch 

of tabs.



If the rudder needs to be moved to the left, then the tab should be mounted 

on the right side & bent to the right.



Don't see where you have a problem.



Howard Shackleford

FS II

SC                                      do not archive

Mike Schnabel

Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Manchester, TN

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 4:08 am Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

Ed,

   

  My Firestar 2 has a lexan tab attached to the right side of the rudder covering 2 rib bays, has 3 on the outboard angle and 2 on the attached angle. It is bent to the right thus pushing the rudder to the left (if you are looking at the plane from the rear). My Kolb was built by Brian Milburn, who I believe most would agree has a stellar reputation for building quality Kolb aircraft.

   

  If you need rudder deflection to the left, to me it makes most sense to have the tab on the right side of the rudder, thus "pushing" the rudder to the left, spreading most of the load along the trim tab itself. With the tab attached to the left side of the rudder the tab would actually be "pulling" the rudder to the left and placing most of the load against the attach rivets. But then again, the load amounts might be so small that this is not an issue. My guess is that the key point is to attach the tab to the side of the rudder opposite the trailing edge tube.

   

  I do have a Kolb Trim Tab document dated 10-96 that does show the tab attached to the left side of the rudder bent to the right. But in this drawing, the trailing edge tube is on the right side of the ribs, thus making the best installation point the left side. My plane the trailing edge tube is on the left side of the ribs, so the tab is best mounted on the right.

   

  Well thats just my .02 worth, and in this case, you are probably not even getting your monies worth! 

   

  Mike S

  Manchester TN

  Firestar 2 503

   

  do not archive



DAquaNut(at)aol.com wrote:

  



Group,



I am left with no choice but to put a trim tab on my rudder. Problem is 

the factory put the ribs on the right side of the rudder as viewed from the 

rear. I need to make the rudder move to the left substantially . That would 

involve putting the 2" portion of the trim tab on the left side of the rudder 

while the 3" portion which is roughly 30* would be on the right side in order 

to push the rudder to the left. There is not a rib on the left side to put 

the rivets in. Is it OK to mount the entire trim tab on the right side where 

the ribs are. I will have to put the rivets on the right side instead of how 

Kolb shows it. Hope I am making sense . I just dont think I have seen a trim 

tab mounted on the same side as the angled part.

Ed Diebel 



		

---------------------------------

DAquaNut(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:28 am Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

In a message dated 2/11/2006 6:08:56 A.M. Central Standard Time,  

tnfirestar2(at)yahoo.com writes:



But in this drawing, the trailing edge tube is on the right side of the ribs, 

 thus making the best installation point the left side. My plane the trailing 

 edge tube is on the left side of the ribs, so the tab is best mounted on the 

 right    

 

           Mike,

 

     That is the same drawing I had .  I  think I will make a tab out of 

lexan like you said. Do you know what thickness  your tab is?

 

              Ed

DAquaNut(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:37 am Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

Thanks too all who replied on rudder trim. I have  decided to go with lexan. 

I just dont know the best thickness to use. 

 

        Ed

rsanoa

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 71
Location: Bell Buckle,TN

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:59 am Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

Just my opinion after having used dozens and dozens. Trim tabs to be optimized usually need to be fine tuned by the very smallest bend.  Lexan is springy and I'm afraid you will be making an awful lot of flights to get the minute adjustment needed. Thin aluminum works best for me. If I need an extra long one, I cut narrow slots in it and bend each segment individually rather than ann at once.

  do not archive



DAquaNut(at)aol.com wrote:

  



Thanks too all who replied on rudder trim. I have decided to go with lexan. 

I just dont know the best thickness to use. 



Ed 



		

---------------------------------

_________________
Ray S.Anderson

rsanoa

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 71
Location: Bell Buckle,TN

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:59 am Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

Just my opinion after having used dozens and dozens. Trim tabs to be optimized usually need to be fine tuned by the very smallest bend.  Lexan is springy and I'm afraid you will be making an awful lot of flights to get the minute adjustment needed. Thin aluminum works best for me. If I need an extra long one, I cut narrow slots in it and bend each segment individually rather than ann at once.

  do not archive



DAquaNut(at)aol.com wrote:

  



Thanks too all who replied on rudder trim. I have decided to go with lexan. 

I just dont know the best thickness to use. 



Ed 



		

---------------------------------

_________________
Ray S.Anderson

Denny Rowe

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 89
Location: Leechburg, PA

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:36 am Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

Ed,

1/16" (.0625) or 3/32" .09375) Lexan will work fine for the tab.



Denny Rowe Mk-3, PA

PS:Let me know if you need some and what size piece, I probably have enough 

scraps laying around to make your tab.

---

Mike Schnabel

Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Manchester, TN

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:25 am Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

Ed,

   

  I did not have a good measuring tool, but am pretty sure that the lexan trim tab is 3/16 of an inch. I do like that its not very obvious. Step back a few feet and you cant even see it!

   

  Mike S

  Manchester TN

  Firestar 2 503

   

  do not archive



DAquaNut(at)aol.com wrote:

  



In a message dated 2/11/2006 6:08:56 A.M. Central Standard Time, 

tnfirestar2(at)yahoo.com writes:



But in this drawing, the trailing edge tube is on the right side of the ribs, 

thus making the best installation point the left side. My plane the trailing 

edge tube is on the left side of the ribs, so the tab is best mounted on the 

right 



Mike,



That is the same drawing I had . I think I will make a tab out of 

lexan like you said. Do you know what thickness your tab is?



Ed



		

---------------------------------

Mike Schnabel

Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Manchester, TN

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:27 am Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

Ed,

   

  I just realized i goofed... meant to say 3/32 of an inch NOT 3/16th!!!

   

  Sorry for the brain freeze. Thanks to Denny, when i read his reply It woke me up!

   

  Mike S



Denny Rowe <rowedl(at)highstream.net> wrote:

  



Ed,

1/16" (.0625) or 3/32" .09375) Lexan will work fine for the tab.



Denny Rowe Mk-3, PA

PS:Let me know if you need some and what size piece, I probably have enough 

scraps laying around to make your tab.

---

Richard Pike

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:46 am Post subject: Re Rudder trim tab

Be careful to only add the absolute minimum of weight to the trailing 

edge of the rudder. If you add too much weight, it will flutter. Guess 

how I know this?



Richard Pike

MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)



Mike Schnabel wrote:

[quote] 



 Ed,

    

   I just realized i goofed... meant to say 3/32 of an inch NOT 3/16th!!!

    

   Sorry for the brain freeze. Thanks to Denny, when i read his reply It woke me up!

    

   Mike S



 Denny Rowe <rowedl(at)highstream.net> wrote:

   



 Ed,

 1/16" (.0625) or 3/32" .09375) Lexan will work fine for the tab.



 Denny Rowe Mk-3, PA

 PS:Let me know if you need some and what size piece, I probably have enough 

 scraps laying around to make your tab.

 ---

_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

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