Mike S
Senior Curmudgeon
Today, I helped a buddy install the tail on his 10.
One of the horror stories we have heard repeatedly in the past is all the problems installing the trim cables.
Steve had already mounted the trim unit, so the cables had to be threaded into the stab as it was put on the plane.
I suggested trying an old trick from the R/C model world---------first we slipped a length of plastic tubing, similar to Vans brake line, but larger in dia., into the stab, large enough that the threaded end of the trim cable would fit into it. Let it just hang out both ends. We use some scrap, nothing special. Used a couple of cloths pins to hold tubing in place while we lifted the stab up onto the fuse. The trim cables fit into the plastic tube, and as the stab was worked forward into its position, the trim cables followed the tubing right into the proper location. The plastic tube gets pushed out as the cable goes in.
In reviewing the procedure, I think that installing some guide tubes (large enough for the trim cable to fit through) into the stab as it was being built might be even a better way.
This might require opening up the hole in the front spar a small bit, so a call to Vans is in order.
Put them in permanently, so that if the stab ever has to come off, or a trim cable goes bad and needs to be replaced, the tubing is already there.
And, if you havent riveted the cable end mount ------the welded nut/steel plate thing-----to the cover yet, dont. It is a real pain to try installing the cover with the cable mount installed. It can be done easily if they are separate, and then riveted in place.
Also, the cable mount supplied by Vans is pretty cheesy. There is a service bulletin out on them, I seem to remember. Check out these CNC parts.
http://www.rivethead-aero.com/rv10_005.htm
Mike
One of the horror stories we have heard repeatedly in the past is all the problems installing the trim cables.
Steve had already mounted the trim unit, so the cables had to be threaded into the stab as it was put on the plane.
I suggested trying an old trick from the R/C model world---------first we slipped a length of plastic tubing, similar to Vans brake line, but larger in dia., into the stab, large enough that the threaded end of the trim cable would fit into it. Let it just hang out both ends. We use some scrap, nothing special. Used a couple of cloths pins to hold tubing in place while we lifted the stab up onto the fuse. The trim cables fit into the plastic tube, and as the stab was worked forward into its position, the trim cables followed the tubing right into the proper location. The plastic tube gets pushed out as the cable goes in.
In reviewing the procedure, I think that installing some guide tubes (large enough for the trim cable to fit through) into the stab as it was being built might be even a better way.
This might require opening up the hole in the front spar a small bit, so a call to Vans is in order.
Put them in permanently, so that if the stab ever has to come off, or a trim cable goes bad and needs to be replaced, the tubing is already there.
And, if you havent riveted the cable end mount ------the welded nut/steel plate thing-----to the cover yet, dont. It is a real pain to try installing the cover with the cable mount installed. It can be done easily if they are separate, and then riveted in place.
Also, the cable mount supplied by Vans is pretty cheesy. There is a service bulletin out on them, I seem to remember. Check out these CNC parts.
http://www.rivethead-aero.com/rv10_005.htm
Mike
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