Greg Arehart

Greg Arehart

Well Known Member
I'm building a 9A with IO-360 engine planned. My wife is also a pilot (as well as a great riveter!) so we want to put a quadrant throttle between the seats in a planned console. I have a few questions.

Does the amount of throw on any of the quadrants make any significant difference (i.e., given the engine, does that limit my choice of quadrants based on the throw of the throttle and, if so, how do I determine what that throw must be?)?

Are there any quadrants out there other than what is available through Spruce or other similar vendors? I would prefer a flat top to fit in the console easily, but could perhaps modify the console to fit a curved top. Has anyone modified a side mount quadrant to fit in the center? Are there any other options I haven't considered (I really need the quadrant since my wife has arthritis which makes the standard knobs not so easy to deal with).

Any other suggestions/advice would be appreciated.

thanks,
greg
 
I need to beat Bill Repucci to this thread because he is so quick on this kinda thing!

He has done a nice job on installing his quad. I just may do the same. I already have this one from Van:

http://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin...7-100-165&browse=controls&product=10-quadrant

It has a curved top instead of the flat one. The price tag is over $500 because it contains the control cables for the -10. I bought mine from Aircraft Spruce for less without the cables, but since then, Tom Green (at OSH 2007) SAID they were going to break it out "ala carte" in the next catalog. Dunno if it will happen. Call Van for special pricing on it if you are interested. Tell them Tom Green sent ya!

I also asked him for a customer appreciation tent like Cirrus has. He told me they bought a bunch of adirondack folding chairs for us instead!

Bill, Show us your pictures!

:) CJ
 
John, you are a funny man!

The quadrant I bought was made by Dayton, RV-4 builder, who posts on this forum. It looks liked Dayton makes just what you want. Check out this panel. FWIW, I'm happy with the curve top and wouldn't want a console in my -9 as it would take up too much room for my big 'ol butt.

Mine came from Aircraft Spruce and the cost was a LOT less than what Van's is selling them for. Here's the link.

To see how I installed mine, check out the panel page on my web site.

PS. Dayton also makes the TQ's that Van's sells.
 
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I also bought mine from Spruce and it worked out just about perfect with the standard length cables that Vans calls out. I say just about perfect because I remade all three levers to get less of a cable entry angle into the quad which in turn gave increased throw. I made my first engine start a couple weeks ago and all went well so I must have done something right.;) I absolutley love this Quadrant!
The links below show the install of the Quad but not the redesign of the levers so if you need to see the new levers, let me know and I can get you the snap shots.

http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_log.php?user=rglick&project=20&category=132&log=14210&row=1
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_log.php?user=rglick&project=20&category=132&log=14195&row=2
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_log.php?user=rglick&project=20&category=0&log=14195&row=67
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_log.php?user=rglick&project=20&category=0&log=10065&row=133
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_log.php?user=rglick&project=20&category=0&log=9882&row=140

Richard Glick
RV7A 0-360 Aerosport Power
Slinger, WI
 
Bill, we do try!

;)

Say, here's something to think about; Has anyone ever thought about using a 2 lever quad for power and prop and a VERNIER for fine mixture control?

Hmmmmm? I am not gonna do it because I have made up my mind to go with the 3 lever unit (ha... ha...) I already have.

Question for you guys flying with the quads: Are they accurate for mixture control? Would a vernier be more precise?

:confused: CJ
 
Thanks to all who responded - useful information, photos and food for thought. I still am thinking about what I want to do with my controls and will eventually post some photos when I get to that point. I also would be interested in comments about the ability to set mixture using sliding rather than vernier controls as posed by Capt John.

greg
 
Greg Arehart said:
I also would be interested in comments about the ability to set mixture using sliding rather than vernier controls as posed by Capt John.
Click to expand...
It has been a long time since I've used vernier controls but I can say this about the DJM quad, setting the mixture isn't a problem at all. I don't have my TQ locked down tight, ever. You can tighten it enough so the lever moves with just the right amount of friction so you don't shut the engine off in flight. Even if you do, just push it forward and it will start right up again.

The amount of travel required to lean the engine seems just about right. I have to take out about 3/4 of it before hitting LOP.

All in all, I'm very happy with the TQ. Thanks for making such a great product Dayton!
 
Throttle Quad and Center Console

After years of flying with a center mounted throttle quadrant I didn't like going back to the vernier knobs. So, here's what my 6A looks like now that I installed the center console and quadrant.

my.php


One Note: At 5' 9" and 170 lbs I fit very nicely. So does my wife. When I take a 6', 260 lb passenger they sometimes feel cramped. Big thighs can resist extreme stick movements (towards the center of the cabin), but not prohibit them. You can get the stick over if you really need to.

I purchased mine from: http://www.aircraftextras.com/Console.htm
 
Well I just ordered one of these today from Andair. I plan to have it drop off the panel rather than use it between the seats. I liked the design as well as the flap switches on the throttle lever.

j7b8zq.jpg


Here is a link to Andair: http://www.andair.co.uk/system/index.html

If this unit is as high quality as their valves I think it should be pretty nice. I'll post some pics as soon as I have it.

- Peter
 
Captain_John said:
Bill, we do try!

;)

Say, here's something to think about; Has anyone ever thought about using a 2 lever quad for power and prop and a VERNIER for fine mixture control?

Hmmmmm? I am not gonna do it because I have made up my mind to go with the 3 lever unit (ha... ha...) I already have.

Question for you guys flying with the quads: Are they accurate for mixture control? Would a vernier be more precise?

:confused: CJ
Click to expand...

I have been flying with a quadrant on my RV-8 for almost 600 hours. Everything worked fine until the mixture cable started binding due to internal damage caused by heat within the cowling. I replaced the mixture cable and it is now very smooth but the throttle and prop control cables are starting to bind. Now when I set the friction to keep the mixture control from moving it makes the throttle and prop controls too stiff!

I have decided to change my prop and mixture controls to vernier cables and keep the throttle on the quadrant. This is a common setup for many aerobatic airplanes and since I do a lot of aerobatics and formation flying, I think it will be a great solution.

Advantages:
1. Individual friction setting for each control.
2. Fine vernier control for prop and mixure.
3. Can use wrist rest on throttle control.

The new vernier cables arrived from AC Spruce yesterday. Tinkering starts tomorrow.
 
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