Too much aileron travel

[Paul Eastham]

Builders who have gone before me:

I am in that last chapter of the manual where Van's finally decides to disclose the min/max acceptable travel for all the control surfaces. Sadly, my ailerons travel about 1 to 1.5 degrees past the max allowed, and Van's says that it is "probably worth" correcting this (without saying why). I have also heard some stories about bellcranks going "over center" and locking up -- perhaps due to excess travel? I don't know.

At any rate, fixing this little problem does not look easy. Looks like I'll have to detach control rods and remove all ailerons and flaps, drill out the little aileron travel stops, and put in larger ones. I am wondering if anyone has come up with a better way, or determined that such modification is not necessary. A little part of me has considered epoxying on a tiny doubler to the stop or something like that, since we're probably only talking about 1/32" here.

Thanks,
Paul

[szicree]

I don't remember who it was, but somebody on here had what looked like a much simpler aileron stop design. It was essentially a small delrin sleeve slipped over the bolt that connects the pushrod to the aileron. It's worth looking for.

[flydjd]

Hi,

Mickey Coggins came up with a great idea that quite a few people have "borrowed"


http://www.rv8.ch/article.php?story=20040924215600851

Simple and effective and you don't have to worry about getting the bracket spot on ! or changing it after fitting

[fodrv7]

Aileron Stops!!!

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ad.php?t=15624


Pete

[fodrv7]

I was doing my walk-around today and when I came to the Aileron with Mickey's brilliant Aileron Stop that I fittied, I hesitated and thought of taking a pic of it installed.............. but didn't.

Regret it now.

Does anyone want a pic of it installed............ so they can see how it fits?

Pete.

[Davepar]

Paul,

Head down to Lowes or another hardware store with a good selection of parts. Pick up a couple of nylon bushings. I used 1/2" diameter, but am finding that may be a bit small.

[Paul Eastham]

Thanks everyone, this sounds like a perfect workaround! I will give it a try.

[alpinelakespilot2000]

Paul-See Mike Wilson's A-914 thread. For the 9A I think it is the 3/4" or 7/8" size you'll need (in any case, coincidentally, it's the same size as the large diameter washer in that assembly.)
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ad.php?t=15624
Good luck.

[swisseagle]

found on my friends homepage, Berni and Alex http://flyvans.com

I have made the Delrin-Bushing for them.

The Delrin sits with a light press-fit on the standart aluminum spacer.

regards,

Dominik
RV-7A, very slow build

[Rick6a]

Originally Posted by Paul Eastham

...........fixing this little problem does not look easy. Looks like I'll have to detach control rods and remove all ailerons and flaps, drill out the little aileron travel stops, and put in larger ones. I am wondering if anyone has come up with a better way, or determined that such modification is not necessary......Thanks, Paul

Paul,
Mickey's solution is about as elegant as you can get. Inspired by his creativity, I ordered 1 foot of Delrin rod from Spruce but the 1/2" diameter was woefully inappropriate. Just for grins, I stacked some AN970-3 area washers and as it turns out, is a much better fit....at least I know what diameter rod to order next time.

Alternatively, using these area washers, a builder "could" radius out just enough material from the aileron bracket so that the washers meet the bracket at the maximum design limit of aileron travel. But that is a little like the tail wagging the dog. Better to go the Delrin route.