elevators counterweight ... NES ...

[lucaperazzolli]

When I mounted my RV8QB elevator for the first time the left one with the electric trim servo, is 'heavy'. I'm in a hurry for flutter or something similiar; somebody tells that the elevators can balanced together but I think it's wrong.
I think that in any case I need more weight on the left counterweigh, how can I add it and solve this bug ?

Thanx in advance for help !

[Kevin Horton]

I agree with you that if we want to achieve the highest possible flutter speed, each elevator should be balanced independently. Balancing the two elevators as a pair will work, but the flutter speed will be lower, due to compliance in the structure, which could allow anti-symmetric elevator flutter.

I suspect you have the new counterweight design, with the long axis of the counterweight running from left to right. My very slow build RV-8 had the older counterweights (pictures here), with two weights on each side, with the long axis of the counterweights fore and aft. I've got electric trim, and I had enough weight in the counterweights to balance each elevator independently. So, one solution might be to use the older counterweights. I don't know which other parts have changed in the elevators, so I don't know if this will cause you any other problems. My plans are at the hangar, so I don't have the part number here.

[Mel]

If you intend to paint, leave the elevators slightly "nose heavy". You can drill out lead later easier than adding.

[Transporter]

Rick Galati added a nutplate to his that allows fine tuning using washers; see:

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...vator+nutplate

Mike