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10-24-2018, 10:22 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 269
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Dan,
Did you make up your own cables?
__________________
Adam Silverstein
Technical Counselor Chapter 643
Flying RV-8 10/30/07
PAID 2021
Pittstown, New Jersey
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10-24-2018, 01:59 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ashland, OR
Posts: 2,573
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowflake
It seems it shouldn't be that hard for a competent builder to make a prototype and prove the change would be an improvement.
Personally I haven't had a problem with my Rocket Link...
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It would not be difficult to cut one out of normalized 4130 sheet. But it would require taking it somewhere for heat treat to make the latching notch durable.
I suppose I could cut one out of 17-4PH.
Also the link arms need to be longer. For a proof-of-concept, I could use a stacking nut as an extension, but I would not want to trust that very long.
__________________
Steve Smith
Aeronautical Engineer
RV-8 N825RV
IO-360 A1A
WW 200RV
"The Magic Carpet"
Hobbs 625
LS6-15/18W sailplane SOLD
bought my old LS6-A back!! 
VAF donation Jan 2020
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10-24-2018, 02:02 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ashland, OR
Posts: 2,573
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV7Guy
If you guys are referring to the Silver Bullet Link, JD Air was born after getting taken for my money after ordering one. Found out later several others had problems too.
The JD Air link looks much like the Silver Bullet but thats it. It was a clean sheet design with much improved innards. We have sold hundreds of these with very few problems. Keep in mind tail wheel components take a beating back there. If you try to lift the tail with the steering link, it will break.
Many if not most of the failures (about 6 over 10 years) are caused by improper maintenance of the tailwheel assemblies. They need to be cleaned, the locking pin and arm checked and everything regreased on a regular basis. I used to do it every oil change while the oil was draining. About 20 minutes start to finish.
Definitely don't be afraid of a steering link type system. It is positive and will give you years of service with proper maintenance. We have them in stock and ready to ship.
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Darwin, I would be delighted to work with you on a modified steering arm geometry, and an accompanying longer link.
__________________
Steve Smith
Aeronautical Engineer
RV-8 N825RV
IO-360 A1A
WW 200RV
"The Magic Carpet"
Hobbs 625
LS6-15/18W sailplane SOLD
bought my old LS6-A back!! 
VAF donation Jan 2020
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10-24-2018, 11:07 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: San Diego
Posts: 99
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV7Guy
If you guys are referring to the Silver Bullet Link, JD Air was born after getting taken for my money after ordering one. Found out later several others had problems too.
The JD Air link looks much like the Silver Bullet but thats it. It was a clean sheet design with much improved innards. We have sold hundreds of these with very few problems. Keep in mind tail wheel components take a beating back there. If you try to lift the tail with the steering link, it will break.
Many if not most of the failures (about 6 over 10 years) are caused by improper maintenance of the tailwheel assemblies. They need to be cleaned, the locking pin and arm checked and everything regreased on a regular basis. I used to do it every oil change while the oil was draining. About 20 minutes start to finish.
Definitely don't be afraid of a steering link type system. It is positive and will give you years of service with proper maintenance. We have them in stock and ready to ship.
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I'll probably grab one of your links when I get home in March.
__________________
RV-8 N188LC
Dues Paid 11/19
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10-25-2018, 07:39 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 08A
Posts: 9,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam
Dan,
Did you make up your own cables?
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Yes. Oval swage sleeves are not difficult.
Maybe more than you want to know...
https://www.danhorton.net/VAF/Chains...Squeeze_r2.pdf
__________________
Dan Horton
RV-8 SS
Barrett IO-390
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10-25-2018, 09:56 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mount Vernon, IN
Posts: 1,270
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scsmith
Darwin, I would be delighted to work with you on a modified steering arm geometry, and an accompanying longer link.
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Steve,
Terry Jantzi was the original designer of the steering links, now made by Wayne Hadath, and sold by Blake through www.flyboyaccessories.
Blake would be happy to also work with you on any improvements to the geometry. That way we all win. We're all in this together, eh?
__________________
Vince Frazier
www.f1aircraft.com
F1 Rocket and F4 Raider components
1-888-F1AIRCRAFT (1-888-312-4727)
www.flyboyaccessories.com
RV and Rocket Accessories, Tailwheels, Tools, & More
1-888-8FLYBOY (1-888-835-9269)
F4 Raider - under construction
F1-H Rocket "Crazy Horse" - sold
RV-4 "Chief Pontiac" - sold in 1994, purchased in 2018
Last edited by vfrazier : 10-25-2018 at 09:59 AM.
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10-25-2018, 10:26 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mojave
Posts: 4,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JonJay
I am curious. Is the Rocket or other type of asymmetric push/pull single rod system ever been used on any other tailwheel aircraft or is this just an RV developement?
I have never seen any other tailwheel aircraft with a single rod...
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Steve Wittman used a single arm unit decades before there were any RV's. Many of the early Tailwinds and racers were so equipped.
These were solid rods and the tailwheels had no swivel function, but I think your point is the asymmetric actuation, which these share.
__________________
WARNING! Incorrect design and/or fabrication of aircraft and/or components may result in injury or death. Information presented in this post is based on my own experience - Reader has sole responsibility for determining accuracy or suitability for use.
Michael Robinson
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Harmon Rocket II -SDS EFI
RV-8 - SDS CPI
1940 Taylorcraft BL-65
1984 L39C
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10-25-2018, 10:28 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Mount Vernon, IN
Posts: 1,270
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toobuilder
Steve Wittman used a single arm unit decades before there were any RV's. Many of the early Tailwinds and racers were so equipped.
These were solid rods and the tailwheels had no swivel function, but I think your point is the asymmetric actuation, which these share.
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The Sonex series uses a solid, single rod. There are others too.
__________________
Vince Frazier
www.f1aircraft.com
F1 Rocket and F4 Raider components
1-888-F1AIRCRAFT (1-888-312-4727)
www.flyboyaccessories.com
RV and Rocket Accessories, Tailwheels, Tools, & More
1-888-8FLYBOY (1-888-835-9269)
F4 Raider - under construction
F1-H Rocket "Crazy Horse" - sold
RV-4 "Chief Pontiac" - sold in 1994, purchased in 2018
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10-25-2018, 10:59 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Battleground
Posts: 4,348
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Cool. Thanks.
As always, the knowledge base here is amazing.
__________________
Smart People do Stupid things all the time. I know, I've seen me do'em.
RV6 - Builder/Flying
Bucker Jungmann
Fiat G.46 -(restoration in progress, if I have enough life left in me)
RV1 - Proud Pilot.
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10-25-2018, 02:14 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,932
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The solid rod versions with no swivel are not really comparable to this situation. I think the issue people see with the Rocket/Flyboy/Jantzi links is that the asymmetry affects how the "release" actuates depending on which way the wheel is turned. I know when my pin wears, one side wears faster than the other. If I let it go too far, i'll end up with positive steering turning one way, and full swivel turning the other way.
Regular maintenance (disassembly, regreasing, checking pin for roundness) of the assembly seems to prevent this.
__________________
Rob Prior
1996 RV-6 "Tweety" C-FRBP (formerly N196RV)
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