Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
07-23-2003, 11:32 PM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
I was always concerned that the excess aileron leads might get in the way of the other servo's movement. I felt wires might "dangle and move around" while the plane is going through rolls, loops, etc, and get hung up. I installed a couple 1/8" square balsa sticks" and made a "slot" for a stiff sheet of clear mylar to slip into. I cut it slightly wider than the fuse inside width so it is bowed and has tension on it in the slots. I positioned it over the servo tray. Walla.... the aileron lead contact there is eliminated!!!...
lownslo...
Bob.
lownslo...
Bob.
07-24-2003, 01:37 AM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
I'd be more concerned with dangling participles...... 
Sorry.... I've done similiar things but with a piece of balsa. I've also gone to twist tying the leads to a hard point after I connect them.
Something about loose wires and moving servos scares me.....
Sorry.... I've done similiar things but with a piece of balsa. I've also gone to twist tying the leads to a hard point after I connect them.
Something about loose wires and moving servos scares me.....
07-24-2003, 06:26 AM
#5
Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
Good idea Bob ! I've have had the same worries but I just keep my extensions to the minimum length, and with a bit of wire management (I have a degree in that, LOL !), it has kept me out of trouble so far....
07-24-2003, 09:52 AM
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Re: Wires
Originally posted by Thud_Driver
Never seen an airplane lost to "dangling" wires
but have seen airplanes lost to EZ connectors on flying surfaces 
Never seen an airplane lost to "dangling" wires
but have seen airplanes lost to EZ connectors on flying surfaces
07-24-2003, 10:36 AM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
Hi Dennis,
The servo horns come with Hitec servos. (at least I know they come with the 605BB and 425BB servos).
They are X shaped.... and I cut off 3 ends. They are fairly thick and I had to sand the thickness down, on a different plane, when I used a Sullivan clevis at the servo. They are aslo more "beefy" at the spline hub.
lownslo...
The servo horns come with Hitec servos. (at least I know they come with the 605BB and 425BB servos).
They are X shaped.... and I cut off 3 ends. They are fairly thick and I had to sand the thickness down, on a different plane, when I used a Sullivan clevis at the servo. They are aslo more "beefy" at the spline hub.
lownslo...
07-24-2003, 10:51 AM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
I have a question for Vinnie and Thud_Driver.
What exactly went wrong with the lost planes using the e-z connectors. Was the failure due to the loose allen bolt???
If that was the case....... I am not going to worry about it. I am a maintaince freak... and I check things like that ALL the time. I have 3 planes with these connectors, in some applications, and have never had a hint of a slightly loose bolt. I works for me because of my attention to detail. I CAN see how this could be a problem. What I did see on a different plane I have was the "possible twist" at the servo arm due to the control rod being above the direct line to the servo arm hole. I just used a beefier servo arm for the rudder and elevator. (like the red ones from Hitec in my photo)....lownslo....
PS... I know a guy that DID get the servo leads hung up in the servos in the tray. He didn't loose the plane but DID have a problem getting it down. I feel this guard is cheap, easy to make, and does offer some degree of insurance.
Bob
What exactly went wrong with the lost planes using the e-z connectors. Was the failure due to the loose allen bolt???
If that was the case....... I am not going to worry about it. I am a maintaince freak... and I check things like that ALL the time. I have 3 planes with these connectors, in some applications, and have never had a hint of a slightly loose bolt. I works for me because of my attention to detail. I CAN see how this could be a problem. What I did see on a different plane I have was the "possible twist" at the servo arm due to the control rod being above the direct line to the servo arm hole. I just used a beefier servo arm for the rudder and elevator. (like the red ones from Hitec in my photo)....lownslo....
PS... I know a guy that DID get the servo leads hung up in the servos in the tray. He didn't loose the plane but DID have a problem getting it down. I feel this guard is cheap, easy to make, and does offer some degree of insurance.
Bob
07-24-2003, 11:05 AM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
The guard is good. I used one on my hanger 9 Edge because the wires were so close to the other servos.
As suggested.
I would consider using ball links or some other method of attachment instead of the quick connectors.
It's not the set screw that will give you trouble it's the way they attach to the servo arm.
As suggested.
I would consider using ball links or some other method of attachment instead of the quick connectors.
It's not the set screw that will give you trouble it's the way they attach to the servo arm.
07-24-2003, 09:04 PM
#12
EZ Connectors
Watched too many people lose airplanes to these things:
1. Wire slips in the connector, even if thought to be tight - high loads due to speed or large surface. After it slips, aircraft badly out of trim to uncontrollable.
2. Most common, bolt not tight or can't be made tight enough.
3. EZ Connector "wiggles" on servo arm, or worse pulls out. Gives problems with surface play, flight trim, centering, loss of precision, etc.
4. If you're serious about using them, notch the wire and get the kind with the hex body so you can get the bolt really tight, then loctite it.
But why take the risk, you can put a Z bend in the wire quicker than installing the EZ connector. No maintenence required if you use a Z bend or kwik link, ball link, etc.
I view these things as airplane killers.
1. Wire slips in the connector, even if thought to be tight - high loads due to speed or large surface. After it slips, aircraft badly out of trim to uncontrollable.
2. Most common, bolt not tight or can't be made tight enough.
3. EZ Connector "wiggles" on servo arm, or worse pulls out. Gives problems with surface play, flight trim, centering, loss of precision, etc.
4. If you're serious about using them, notch the wire and get the kind with the hex body so you can get the bolt really tight, then loctite it.
But why take the risk, you can put a Z bend in the wire quicker than installing the EZ connector. No maintenence required if you use a Z bend or kwik link, ball link, etc.
I view these things as airplane killers.
07-25-2003, 10:36 AM
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ez connector
I have clevises on all my flight surfaces, but for the throttle linkage to the servo I used a ez connector (filed down the surface where the screw meets the wire) The clevis to the engine is a solder type. I used the ez connector so I would be able to make adjustments. Do you think this will be a problem? Thanks.
Michael
Michael
07-25-2003, 11:34 AM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
Well, at any rate......
I like the install, the thought of those wires get caught up in the linkage is something that's always in the back of my mind.
Sam
I like the install, the thought of those wires get caught up in the linkage is something that's always in the back of my mind.
Sam
07-25-2003, 08:11 PM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
MSP1957 ASK:
Michael, I will ask the help of some others that might know for sure. My sources of mylar over the last 40 years have come from scraps at my work place. (or just from being a pack-rat).
This piece in my plane came from a "card holder" that held bread prices on a store shelf. They were trashing them... and I grabbed a couple.
I am thinking that office supply stores might have an item like mylar. ?? .....lownslo
Where do you get "stiff mylar"? Michael
This piece in my plane came from a "card holder" that held bread prices on a store shelf. They were trashing them... and I grabbed a couple.
I am thinking that office supply stores might have an item like mylar. ?? .....lownslo
07-25-2003, 10:09 PM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
Lowe's and Home Depot both sell it in the window section. Lexan or plexiglas. It comes in many thickness' and sizes.
07-26-2003, 09:42 AM
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trade name .. mylar
Thanks for jumping in guys.. and suggesting sources.
Rajul stated...
I tend to call all clear sheet "plastic" by the name Mylar. 
Any clear, slightly bendable material will do. (remember... mine was a bread sign cover at one time)!! ......lownslo
Bob
Rajul stated...
Mylar is a specific type of plastic. IMO any rigid transparent plastic will do for this job.
Any clear, slightly bendable material will do. (remember... mine was a bread sign cover at one time)!! ......lownsloBob
07-26-2003, 03:10 PM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
Well I hate the ez connectors.. My problem that I just recently had was I some how over tightened the allen screw, which pushed the wire down onto the pivoting post below it and in mid flight, the pivoting post came all the way through the connector. It was on the throttle linkage. The pivot is still on the servo arm, and the allen screw and connector is still on the wire!
After I got the plane down and examined it I made it a z bend.. No more problems. But be carefull with those things.. I have seen them fall apart more than once!!!! I only use them on the throttle, but now I may not even do that!!! It was quite eventfull because the engine was stuck on just over stall speed!!! try flying like that for 23 minutes!!!! I was having one rough time keeping the turns flat w/o loosing altitude.. had to use rudder only.
After I got the plane down and examined it I made it a z bend.. No more problems. But be carefull with those things.. I have seen them fall apart more than once!!!! I only use them on the throttle, but now I may not even do that!!! It was quite eventfull because the engine was stuck on just over stall speed!!! try flying like that for 23 minutes!!!! I was having one rough time keeping the turns flat w/o loosing altitude.. had to use rudder only.
07-26-2003, 04:48 PM
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ball links ordered!!
To all who suggested that ole' lownslo get rid of the EZ connectors........ I AM!! The LHS was out, but I have just ordered 4-40 Du-Bro ball link connectors!!! Thanks for your input....lownslo.l
Bob
Bob
07-26-2003, 05:53 PM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
It was quite eventfull because the engine was stuck on just over stall speed!!!
07-27-2003, 01:30 AM
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Are you concerned about dangling aileron leads?
Well, I may have just landed except that it was my planes 3 flight and didn't want to repair it... It is a 60-90 size Edge 540 ARF by Seagull