---------------------------------------------------------- Kitfox-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 01/05/06: 7 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 03:32 AM - Re: Elevator Trim systems (Ceashman@aol.com) 2. 08:57 AM - Re: Elevator Trim systemsElevator Trim systems (Michael Gibbs) 3. 09:57 AM - Re: Re: Elevator Trim systemsElevator Trim systems (Mdkitfox@aol.com) 4. 11:15 AM - Re: Re: Elevator Trim systemsElevator Trim systems (Jim Cantrell) 5. 05:54 PM - Re: Elevator Trim systems (Cudnohufsky's) 6. 07:48 PM - Elevator Trim systems cables (Alan & Linda Daniels) 7. 08:09 PM - Re: Elevator Trim systems (Guy Buchanan) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 03:32:12 AM PST US From: Ceashman@aol.com Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Elevator Trim systems --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Ceashman@aol.com >LLoyd, What did you use for the cable and tab? How did you do the tab end >of things? I'm agonizing over the same thing on my IV with completed elevator. >Thanks, >Guy Buchanan Guy. A long time ago I visited Skystar and had a flight in their IV I believe it had the 618 engine. Anyway, that aircraft was fitted with a RANS trim system (the guys at SS told me that). When building my IV, I purchased the RANS trim system from Aircraft Spruce (I cannot find it in the AS catalogue right now). It was not that difficult to install but I had to make a bracket to hold the spin wheel that I could screw to the floor. Look at the trim at this link. Greetings. Eric. http://www.shoprans.com/AccessoriesAircraft.htm ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 08:57:20 AM PST US From: Michael Gibbs Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Elevator Trim systemsElevator Trim systems --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Michael Gibbs Lloyd asks, >Skystar...offered a retro kit to replace the screw with trim tabs, >why would they offer the retro kit if the screws were so well liked? John McBean can probably tell the story in all of it's glory, but my understanding was that the manufacturer of the screw device found out it was being used in airplanes and cut SkyStar off--they were concerned about the liability exposure. It had nothing to do with the system being liked or disliked. There was at least one failure of the unit that caused some concern but the problem is easily avoided with improved anchoring of the unit to the airframe. Hey, if it is good enough to use in MD-80s and B-717s... Mike G. N728KF ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 09:57:11 AM PST US From: Mdkitfox@aol.com Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Re: Elevator Trim systemsElevator Trim systems --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Mdkitfox@aol.com I had the original jackscrew system on my V and decided to replace it with the retrofit kit for the manual trim system. I heard the screw system had more than one failure, but only 1 resulted in an incident. The bottom line is the actuator lower bracket metal looks to be ordinary 'pot metal' and not very strong. The bracket is where the problem lies. Some guys have made a support to retain the actuator in case the bracket fails. I suppose this will work, but frankly, that bracket is a single point failure that could lead to a severe control problem should it fail in flight, i.e. the horizontal stabilizer will free float and cause pitch problems. Also the cost of a replacement actuator is over $400.00. Overall I thought the retrofit system was a big improvement. Rick Weiss Series V Speedster N39RW, 912S ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 11:15:23 AM PST US From: Jim Cantrell Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Re: Elevator Trim systemsElevator Trim systems --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Jim Cantrell Where can I purchase a manual trim retrofit kit for my V? Jim Cantrell ----- Original Message ----- From: Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Re: Elevator Trim systemsElevator Trim systems > --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Mdkitfox@aol.com > > I had the original jackscrew system on my V and decided to replace it with > the retrofit kit for the manual trim system. I heard the screw system had > more than one failure, but only 1 resulted in an incident. The bottom line is > the actuator lower bracket metal looks to be ordinary 'pot metal' and not very > strong. The bracket is where the problem lies. Some guys have made a > support to retain the actuator in case the bracket fails. I suppose this will > work, but frankly, that bracket is a single point failure that could lead to a > severe control problem should it fail in flight, i.e. the horizontal > stabilizer will free float and cause pitch problems. Also the cost of a replacement > actuator is over $400.00. Overall I thought the retrofit system was a big > improvement. > > Rick Weiss > Series V Speedster N39RW, 912S > > ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 05:54:52 PM PST US From: "Cudnohufsky's" <7suds@Chartermi.net> Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Elevator Trim systems --> Kitfox-List message posted by: "Cudnohufsky's" <7suds@chartermi.net> Guy, The trim on my 4 was an after thought so I made a trim tab from light gauge aluminum, about 14 ga. it was about 3.5" x 20" and was attached to the trailing edge of the elevator with a piano hinge via SS pop rivets. The cable was a single solid push pull wire in a wire would casing, very similar to what is used on lawnmowers etc. but a little heavier. I purchased mine at a hardware store. For the lever in the cockpit I fabbed out of aluminum flat stock and made a friction system similar to the flap handle friction system in the earlier Kitfox's To attach the push pull wire to the handle I made a swivel fitting from a small piece of aluminum square stock, drilling a hole in the end to accept the push pull cable and 2 holes at 90 degrees drilled and tapped for set screws to lock it in. A 3/16" cross hole was drilled at the other end to bolt it to the handle. Fabricated a holder for the wires sheath just in front of that, I think the other end was similar. The cable was run through the fuselage and exited below the horizontal stab at the rear. 2 stand-off horns were fabbed from aluminum, one was riveted to the trim tab and the other to the cross bar in the elevator. Lloyd ----- Original Message ----- From: "Guy Buchanan" Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Elevator Trim systems > --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Guy Buchanan > > At 04:46 PM 1/4/2006, you wrote: >> I fit the Model 4 I previously >>had with an elevator trim tab operated by a push pull cable to a lever I >>mounted just in front of my flap lever, it was fast and easy to adjust and >>I >>could trim for landing by feeling the position of the lever against the >>center bar, no need to look, it was also very easy and fast to trim for >>hands off flying, I liked it. > > LLoyd, > What did you use for the cable and tab? How did you do the tab end > of things? I'm agonizing over the same thing on my IV with completed > elevator. > > Thanks, > > > Guy Buchanan > K-IV 1200 / 582 / 99.9% done, thanks mostly to Bob Ducar. > > > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 07:48:50 PM PST US From: Alan & Linda Daniels Subject: Kitfox-List: Elevator Trim systems cables --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Alan & Linda Daniels For the control cable look at www.jegs.com They have shifter cables which are much better and up to 12 feet long with 3 inch stroke. Look at part number 130-80836 That may not be what you want but it will get you in the right area. They have all sorts of neat stuff for hot rods and race cars that work great for airplanes. > > > > > ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 08:09:35 PM PST US From: Guy Buchanan Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Elevator Trim systems --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Guy Buchanan At 06:08 PM 1/5/2006, you wrote: >--> Kitfox-List message posted by: "Cudnohufsky's" <7suds@chartermi.net> > >Guy, >The trim on my 4 was an after thought so I made a trim tab from light gauge >aluminum, about 14 ga. it was about 3.5" x 20" What did you think of the size. Was it about right? Too large? Too small? >stock and made a friction system similar to the flap handle friction system How did the friction system work? I bought a small throttle quadrant that uses friction but I was worried it wouldn't hold. ... >The cable >was run through the fuselage and exited below the horizontal stab at the >rear. 2 stand-off horns were fabbed from aluminum, one was riveted to the >trim tab and the other to the cross bar in the elevator. Did you run the cable out the angled member of the elevator? Or did the cable make some kind of an "S" to meet the tab perpendicular to it? Thanks for the help. By the way, I got your sketch off-line and it clarified how you handled the back end. Thanks again. Guy Buchanan K-IV 1200 / 582 / 99.9% done, thanks mostly to Bob Ducar.