REFLECTOR: Elevator Trimming

[NMFlyer1 at aol.com]

Larry, 
 
 Do me and yourself a favor:  Tomorrow, call the factory and double check the 
physical measurements of your offset torque tubes, AND the instructions!  
 
I had some incorrect parts, some incorrect instructions (in my overall 
correct manual) and some incorrect incidence gauges. It's best to stop now and 
figure out what is up. 
 
I have the 173 Elite, with the offset torque tubes. I have 4 hinges per side, 
so which one is "the center"? 
 
I went outside and measured mine. The torque tube offset plate is 23.5" from 
the second hinge away from the fuselage. 
Both sides are exactly the same, EXCEPT:  The fuselage was not symmetrical, 
so there was a 1" gap on the pilots side between the end of the elevator and 
the fuselage. There was about 3/16" on the right. 
 
I ended up making some fill pieces that make the gap a perfect 1/4" on each 
side (neutral, at the fat side).
On mine.. the inboard end of the elevator cut is at the torque tube offset 
plate.  Those are  34.25" apart from each other. 
 
The clearances do get closer as the elevator moves down. 
 
Also, as I recall, if you cut the elevators square, you will have to do some 
more trimming later because the fuselage widens as it goes back from the 
torque tubes.
 
Hope this helps, let me know what you discover. 
 
 Kurt Winker
 
 
 
In a message dated 4/2/2007 3:42:52 PM Mountain Daylight Time, 
ljepstein at hotmail.com writes:

Well- The "most recent" builder's manual (Web site) says  "measure 20 1/2 
inches from the center hinge and cut the elevator square".
Remembeing that I have the 173 FGE (ie' big wings/canard-little fuselage) 
that would leave about 4" on either side of the fuselage between fuselage 
side and the elevator. This does not seem correct (although it matches the 
offset torque tubes that I have).

Any other 173's (now SE-LW) can tell me if this is correct? Is there a 
shorter set of Torque tubes available?

Larry Epstein





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