REFLECTOR: Fixes for Stick Slop

[Douglas Holub]

Some Reflectorite suggested this a few years ago (picture attached) and it's been working well for 130 hours now.

Doug Holub
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bob Jackson (Jax Tech) 
  To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list' 
  Sent: Friday, January 07, 2011 1:35 PM
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fixes for Stick Slop


  Nice design and approach!  How many hours do you have on it?  

  Don't you still have concerns about the effect on the softer aluminum of the hard steel bolt?

   


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  From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Brian Michalk
  Sent: Friday, January 07, 2011 1:02 PM
  To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fixes for Stick Slop

   

  There has been little discussion on a fix.  My solution involves making a saddle, I'm not sure if it's what the factory does or not.

  I think the tubes are 1/2", so I bought some 1/2"ID, .25" wall aluminum tube.
  With about 2" of stock, I first machined a flat on opposing side, leaving about 1/8" thickness.
  Next, cut the tube in half along a plane parallel with the two flats.
  Take the two halves, and place them flat to flat, drilling a hole for the bolt.  The tubes can now be cradled in the saddle.

  The flats help support the torque transmitted to the two tubes at right angles.  For extra smoothness, use a thin teflon washer(or sheet) between the flats.

  On 1/7/2011 11:13 AM, Bob Jackson wrote: 

  We've been flying for a couple of years and now have 300+ hours on the plane.  When we started doing some formation flying recently I began to be aware that we're developing stick slop -- it's not what you want flying close formation, or when landing or anytime you need small corrections and fine attitude control.

   

  When we built the plane we were leery of the standard steel AN3 bolt that joins the bottom of the aluminum stick stub and the aileron/elevator torque tubes) -- even when improved with the U-shaped steel reinforcing collar that the factory started shipping.

   

  In our case, we know that nearly all of our stick slop comes from this mechanical connection between the stick's torque tube and the aileron and elevator torque tubes.  We've been on the Reflector for 12 years, but haven't heard much, if any talk about this problem and improvements that builders have made.

   

  The question is:  do any of you have good fixes for this connection that eliminates stick slop?

   

  Thanks,

  Bob Jackson

  N2XF

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