REFLECTOR: Rudder cable attch point

[Paula & John Schoorl]

Terry:

 

We had similar issues with our rudders.  If we pulled the rudder out too far
in preflight the cable would get caught and the rudder would not retract
entirely.  Usually a kick on the pedals would straighten it back out.  The
cable bushing does help.  However, a word of caution.  We put a cable
bushing on but didn't realize at the time that it did not move freely around
the bolt.  This is probably the reason the rudder would hang up but it also
forced the rudder cable to start bending.  Eventually the cable broke at the
crimp  (on the ground after gusty winds blew the rudder locks off).  We
finally figured out what was happening after we took it apart.  Make sure
when you install the bushing that you verify that it will move freely around
the bolt.  We had several bushings and a handful of bolts and not all
combinations worked.  I suspect the tolerance on the cable bushing is not
real good.

 

Should solve your problem, just make sure you don't give yourself a new one.


 

John Schoorl

XL5-FG 230+ hours

Palmdale, CA

 

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Terry Miles
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 1:47 PM
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
Subject: REFLECTOR: Rudder cable attch point

 

XL-5

 

When I preflight my rudder, the rudder cable end flips over on it self at
the bell crank and then won't retract the control surface all the way back
because it's bent back on itself.  A tap with an inserted long screwdriver
is all that is needed to get it to rotate back the way it should. 

 

 I checked w/ the factory.  Solutions are replace what I have w/ an AN111
cable bushing.  They also said some have fixed this with a strategically
placed zip tie or the like to prevent this.  Even a gust of wind on the ramp
can do this to me.  I cannot see in there good enough to say more yet until
I pull the rudder off, but I thought I would check in advance.

 

Anybody have any experience with this?  

 

Regards,

Terry

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