Aileron push rod tubes too short.

rv9aviator · #1 08-24-2008, 06:59 PM

I am trial fitting the aileron tubes to the sticks and using Vans dimension of 94-7/32 center to center the stick is over to the right about 15 deg. instead of being centered or straight up and down. I might be able to get it centered but the bearings would be screwed way out further than normal. I don't think it would be a safe thing to do. They seem to be about an inch short. Has any one else had this problem. The only fix I see is to make new tubes. Mine measure 94-1/2 right now with the bearings screwed half way in which is a little over a 1/4 inch more than the drawing and it is still short. I could make up some of the difference by lengthening the bell-crank to aileron push rod tubes but then those rod end bearing would be screwed out further than normal. Anyone out there got some words of wisdom for me?
On the good side I got to see my electric flaps go up and down under power today. I was so excited I had my wife come out and look. She tried her best to look excited too.

Oh well.

N941WR · #2 08-24-2008, 08:07 PM

Jim,

Something doesn't sound right to me.

My rods were cut to Van's dimensions and fit almost perfect.

Double check the length of the smaller push tubes that go from the bell crank to the ailerons and make sure they are the proper length.

While you are at it, make sure you have the bell cranks on the correct side and in the correct orientation.

Getting them rigged was a pain for me and took me some time to get correct.

Congrats on the flaps! You are almost there from the sounds of it.

rv9aviator · #3 08-24-2008, 08:38 PM

I will double check the length of the short tubes and see if there is a problem with them. I'm sure the brackets are on the right as I've installed a TruTrak servo on the right wing and the left is the one I'm fighting right now. I haven't even tried the right side yet but I remember going over the brackets in detail making sure they were right.
Thanks

godspeed · #4 08-24-2008, 08:53 PM

Yeah Jim, mine was a qb and I cut the tubes EXACTLY to plans, If you search through the old post, I told others to not cut them till the rigging stage, I ordered new tubes , mine might have worked but I didn't like the amount the bearings were screwed into the cones, a few threads
on each end was not enough for me.. you might double check
but thats what happened to me.. I didn't want to worry about it
later..

Danny..

rv9aviator · #5 08-24-2008, 09:01 PM

Man I wish I would have seen that post. I have checked everything I can think of and they are simply too short.

godspeed · #6 08-24-2008, 09:07 PM

Jim, I just did a search for those old post, search "Aileron push rods" and
read the thread, I think the other guy had a stick weldment that was
bend or crooked stick, and a few others posted simular issues.. also
I made a 2nd alignment bracket so I could have both rigged at the
same time.. doing it alone it really helped having two of them
one on each belcrank,

Danny..

gmpaul · #7 08-24-2008, 09:38 PM

Mine was too short also to keep me in the warm fuzzy feeling...probably about two threads worth. I went to the MC Masters catalog and ordered two more rod end bearings with longer shanks. It sure made me feel better knowing there's lots of thead screwed in the rod ends.

Good luck
G.P.

rv9aviator · #8 08-25-2008, 06:46 AM

A longer rod end would certainly make it work. I'll look into it today.

Thanks

Steve · #9 08-25-2008, 06:47 AM

G,
Would you post the McMaster part numbers on the long shank rod bearings?
Steve

fl-mike · #10 08-25-2008, 10:45 AM

At least one of the pre-first-flight inspection checklists I've looked at wants the pushrods long enough so that if the jam nuts back completely off the rod end bearings, the control rod will not fall off if it rotates all the way to one side. It mentions adding a second jam nut to limit travel if necessary.

I think one of mine might fail that test, but I have to verify the bellcrank positions first.