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Replacing Lock Clips in Turnbuckle Barrels

DHeal

DHeal

Well Known Member
Patron
I want to reconfirm the tension on my legacy RV-12 stabilator cables and may therefore need to adjust/rotate the turnbuckle barrels. I built this plane 11 years ago and am comfortable with the control rigging process per KAI Page 32-14. HOWEVER, I may need to remove two and possibly four of the previously-installed MS 21256-1 Lock Clips in order to adjust/rotate the MS 21251-B5S Barrels.

My question is: How do I completely remove the Lock Clips? The Clip can be cut off and substantially removed but It would appear that the little hook end would then remain inside of the Barrel body. Is it OK to leave this Clip remnant inside the barrel or must it be removed by unscrewing the assembly or am I vastly over-thinking this issue -- inquiring minds want to know!?

ps --I have spare new Clips so that is not a problem.
 
DHeal said:
I want to reconfirm the tension on my legacy RV-12 stabilator cables and may therefore need to adjust/rotate the turnbuckle barrels. I built this plane 11 years ago and am comfortable with the control rigging process per KAI Page 32-14. HOWEVER, I may need to remove two and possibly four of the previously-installed MS 21256-1 Lock Clips in order to adjust/rotate the MS 21251-B5S Barrels.

My question is: How do I completely remove the Lock Clips? The Clip can be cut off and substantially removed but It would appear that the little hook end would then remain inside of the Barrel body. Is it OK to leave this Clip remnant inside the barrel or must it be removed by unscrewing the assembly or am I vastly over-thinking this issue -- inquiring minds want to know!?

ps --I have spare new Clips so that is not a problem.
Click to expand...
 
Good guidance on just pulling it out. I have had the locking tang break off when removing but it easily falls out of the barrel when it happens. Just keep an eye out for the broken section if it does not come out in one piece.
 
Oooops I just reused the clips during CI after re-tensioning the stab cables .
Is the NEVER NEVER! admonition just because of difficulty in reuse?
It was a bear to get them back in but they seemed to "lock" back down into the hole in turnbuckle.
I'd hate to have to go back in to remove & replace (my hands have not healed).
 
GatorsR1 said:
Oooops I just reused the clips during CI after re-tensioning the stab cables .
Is the NEVER NEVER! admonition just because of difficulty in reuse?
It was a bear to get them back in but they seemed to "lock" back down into the hole in turnbuckle.
I'd hate to have to go back in to remove & replace (my hands have not healed).
Click to expand...
The "Never" is from A&P school, IA experience, AC 43.13-1B, and common sense - they are a disposable locking device, if installed & locked properly they will only be removable by deformation never to have the required locking ability again.
They're really inexpensive too.
 
GatorsR1 said:
Oooops I just reused the clips during CI after re-tensioning the stab cables .
Is the NEVER NEVER! admonition just because of difficulty in reuse?
It was a bear to get them back in but they seemed to "lock" back down into the hole in turnbuckle.
I'd hate to have to go back in to remove & replace (my hands have not healed).
Click to expand...
You may not have had them inserted correctly. This is a mistake that I made initially. After learning that they are disposable and taking a closer look they were only partially inserted. If you don't install them all the way they can be removed and still appear to be good.
 
Thanks guys for the video -- it was very helpful. The removal of the old clips was very easy. Reinstalling the replacement clips within the confined belly of the beast was a bit of a challenge but doable. On to the next project!
 
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