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  #1  
Old 12-31-2008, 08:09 AM
Mark Castle-Smith's Avatar
Mark Castle-Smith Mark Castle-Smith is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dorset, England
Posts: 42
Default Flap Motor Failure

My flap motor appears to have failed after only around 20 hours flying. I have checked voltage to the motor etc so am sure it is a mechanical failure.

Very surprised it has failed so quickly; anyone have experience of the reliability of the flap motors in an RV7? Is it possible to just replace the motor rather than the whole flap motor/gearbox/rod assembly?
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  #2  
Old 12-31-2008, 08:16 AM
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chrispratt chrispratt is offline
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Castle-Smith View Post
... Is it possible to just replace the motor rather than the whole flap motor/gearbox/rod assembly?
Mark:

Welcome to Van's flap motor club. We have a large alumni group. :-)

Assuming you're using the motor supplied with the kit, and it's an older kit, it may be grease in the motor. There are numerous threads on this so use the "search" function on this site to find them.

If it is the motor, you can clean the grease out. Worse comes to worse you can buy a new motor direct from the new supplier. It fits perfectly (ask me how I know). To answer your question, yes you can replace the motor only without having to change anything else (assumig the motor is the problem).

Chris
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Last edited by chrispratt : 12-31-2008 at 08:17 AM. Reason: typo
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  #3  
Old 12-31-2008, 08:30 AM
noelf noelf is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Cary, N.C.
Posts: 1,216
Default Check out Van's website...

...and under the Service Bulletin section, see:
SB 07-4-12
SB 04-3-1
SB 96-10-3

Then look at the FAQ section, and find the letter on FLAP MOTOR MAINTENANCE. I think this will answer your questions...
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  #4  
Old 12-31-2008, 10:35 AM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
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Mark,

Check out this thread. Somewhere in there Tad talks about cleaning the flap motor, which works just fine.

Still, if mine go out a 3rd time, I'm going to buy an extra flap motor and toss it in my flight bag along with the tools needed to replace it.
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  #5  
Old 12-31-2008, 12:23 PM
Bill Riggs's Avatar
Bill Riggs Bill Riggs is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Louisa, VA LKU
Posts: 60
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You can buy just the new motor with the worm gear attached here. http://www.usherprecision.com/

But I bet if you take yours apart and clean it up it will be good for a long time.
Don't ask how I know.

Bill

Last edited by Bill Riggs : 12-31-2008 at 12:27 PM.
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  #6  
Old 12-31-2008, 10:20 PM
Bob Brown's Avatar
Bob Brown Bob Brown is offline
 
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Yep, I'm also a member of the 20 hour flap motor club...I just bought a new unit so I have an extra laying around.
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