dhall_polo
Well Known Member
This thread is specific for rv7/7A with vertical io-360 and Precision FI servo.
Questions first:
- What cable lengths did you use for throttle/mixture? and from what source?
- If you went with the 50.5" controls from Van's, how tight was the run around the rudder assembly? (Assuming you exit firewall a few inches below heat box.)
- If you ordered any custom length, please state source and specs that work with 182PC?
Detail:
I spent the day scratching my head over engine control installation. As you know, Van's does not make a fwf kit directly for the vertical io-360. We must order the 0-360 kit, and Van's removes the throttle and mixture controls from the package because obviously they have come to know that the lengths of the cables in that kit are wrong. Still, my fwf kit did come with the V-182-PC bracket to mount both throttle and mixture controls. I wondered at the time why Van's has a working bracket but hadn't addressed this cable void for a fairly common engine, but I figured I'd just be left to solve that mystery later. Later has arrived.
Once I had the V182PC installed with the engine/servo, I measured a safe length of about 54-55 inches for both controls. The longest cables from Vans are 50.5". Hmmm. Maybe I was conservative on the measurement and can do with 4-5 less inches. Dunno yet.
Searching for other options, I found the following on Aircraft Spruce:
I figured I'd rather have a few extra inches of cable than not enough, so I ordered the 60" A-1760 cables from Aircraft spruce. Dangit, they will not work with the V182PC without modifications. It looks like V18PC bracket is designed for about 7-1/4" inches from the bracket to max throw of the cable. (coincidentally about the same as the prop bracket, so maybe this is the design distance for all van's brackets and control cables) The "standard" A1760 cables from Aircraft Spruce would require about 9" from bracket to max throw.
Here's a pic of my too-long throttle ACS cable. I don't even have the bearing on it yet - that add's another 1/2".
Working on mixture cable revealed the same length issues and a couple more interesting things. Obviously the angle on the bracket is not aligned with movement of the mixture arm. So now both length and alignment both wrong with the ACS cable. More mystery.
I checked my Precision Air manual and the diagram shows a mixture arm that is pointing south instead of north, and the positions on the stops (R/ICO) are opposite as my servo.
Here's a close-up of the stops on my unit. (FYI: The "G" indicates I replaced a bad gasket per recent AD on the servo. ) I guess Precision ships it both ways or changed it at some point. I plan to inquire regardless. I'm guessing the 182PC was designed for the mixture arm pointing down, but it's actually better with the mixture point up to prevent interference with the FAB unit. (not installed yet in my case)
There are a lot of great builder sites for us rv folks, but when you get to fwf and you have specific engine selections, there is definitely less reference material. I found a few.
All above are same engine/fi AFAIK, yet three somewhat different results.
Next step for me is to see if I can make 50.5" work and buy from Van's. I'd like to get away with as little mod to V182PC as possible. I will also probably just bend V182PC like JonJay did above. My main questions are at the top, but I'm throwing this out there because I'm sure there are more than three other builders who also stubbed their toe over the same issue. Additional comments or reference sites appreciated.
Thanks, Don
Questions first:
- What cable lengths did you use for throttle/mixture? and from what source?
- If you went with the 50.5" controls from Van's, how tight was the run around the rudder assembly? (Assuming you exit firewall a few inches below heat box.)
- If you ordered any custom length, please state source and specs that work with 182PC?
Detail:
I spent the day scratching my head over engine control installation. As you know, Van's does not make a fwf kit directly for the vertical io-360. We must order the 0-360 kit, and Van's removes the throttle and mixture controls from the package because obviously they have come to know that the lengths of the cables in that kit are wrong. Still, my fwf kit did come with the V-182-PC bracket to mount both throttle and mixture controls. I wondered at the time why Van's has a working bracket but hadn't addressed this cable void for a fairly common engine, but I figured I'd just be left to solve that mystery later. Later has arrived.
Once I had the V182PC installed with the engine/servo, I measured a safe length of about 54-55 inches for both controls. The longest cables from Vans are 50.5". Hmmm. Maybe I was conservative on the measurement and can do with 4-5 less inches. Dunno yet.
Searching for other options, I found the following on Aircraft Spruce:
Vernier Controls of various standard lengths, (priced similar to van's stock cables).
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/a1760.php
And a shocking price for custom length for RV's.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/a1760rv.php
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/a1760.php
And a shocking price for custom length for RV's.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/a1760rv.php
I figured I'd rather have a few extra inches of cable than not enough, so I ordered the 60" A-1760 cables from Aircraft spruce. Dangit, they will not work with the V182PC without modifications. It looks like V18PC bracket is designed for about 7-1/4" inches from the bracket to max throw of the cable. (coincidentally about the same as the prop bracket, so maybe this is the design distance for all van's brackets and control cables) The "standard" A1760 cables from Aircraft Spruce would require about 9" from bracket to max throw.
Here's a pic of my too-long throttle ACS cable. I don't even have the bearing on it yet - that add's another 1/2".
Working on mixture cable revealed the same length issues and a couple more interesting things. Obviously the angle on the bracket is not aligned with movement of the mixture arm. So now both length and alignment both wrong with the ACS cable. More mystery.
I checked my Precision Air manual and the diagram shows a mixture arm that is pointing south instead of north, and the positions on the stops (R/ICO) are opposite as my servo.
Here's a close-up of the stops on my unit. (FYI: The "G" indicates I replaced a bad gasket per recent AD on the servo. ) I guess Precision ships it both ways or changed it at some point. I plan to inquire regardless. I'm guessing the 182PC was designed for the mixture arm pointing down, but it's actually better with the mixture point up to prevent interference with the FAB unit. (not installed yet in my case)
There are a lot of great builder sites for us rv folks, but when you get to fwf and you have specific engine selections, there is definitely less reference material. I found a few.
- Jamie had the downward mixture arm and had to modify/mangle his FAB. ref pic of modified FAB .
- Scott W has mixture arm upward, but did some mods to his 182 PC. refhere. note extension on cable too.
- JonJay also mixture arm upward, bent his 182PC to resolve alignment issue. ref here.
All above are same engine/fi AFAIK, yet three somewhat different results.
Next step for me is to see if I can make 50.5" work and buy from Van's. I'd like to get away with as little mod to V182PC as possible. I will also probably just bend V182PC like JonJay did above. My main questions are at the top, but I'm throwing this out there because I'm sure there are more than three other builders who also stubbed their toe over the same issue. Additional comments or reference sites appreciated.
Thanks, Don
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