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RV-6 - Electric Elevator Trim Retrofit...

 
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Matt Dralle
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Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 25204
Location: Livermore CA USA

PostPosted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:17 pm    Post subject: RV-6 - Electric Elevator Trim Retrofit... Reply with quote

The Flyer had, believe it or not, *manual* elevator trim. This consisted of a long, heavy control cable that went from the elevator trim tab all the way up through the fuselage, under the seats, and then curved around and terminated above the fuel selector valve in a large vernier control. As with the flaps, I knew after the second flight that this had to go.

The problem is that retrofitting electric elevator trim presents some installation issues as the stock method assumes that you haven't yet riveted the elevator together. I suppose it might be possible to carefully cut a preexisting elevator skin but adding the stiffener and other bits and pieces just seems like a good way to ruin a perfectly good elevator. Mike and I discussed a variety of interesting techniques for mounting the servo in the area under the vertical fin and using a short 28-30" inch standard push rod. It took a few iterations and various cable length orders to get it just right, but I'm happy to report that Mike's hard labor paid off! The installation looks and works great!! Servicing the servo is as easy as removing the fiberglass tail fairing.

In the air, the setup works just as great as it looks. I didn't even need a regulator (aka Matronics Governor MkIII), as the trim sensitivity seems just right to me.

Thanks for your great engineering and installation on this project, Mike!
-
Matt "Red Dawg" Dralle

RV-8 #82880 N998RV "Ruby Vixen"
http://www.mattsrv8.com - Matt's Complete RV-8 Construction Log
http://www.mattsrv8.com/Mishap - Landing Mishap Rebuild Log
http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8 - Matt's RV-8 HDTV YouTube Channel
Status: 170+ Hours TTSN - Rebuilding Fuselage After Landing Mishap...

RV-6 #20916 N360EM "The Flyer"
http://www.mattsrv6.com - Matt's RV-6 Glass Panel & Interior Revitalization Log
Status: 12 Hours Since Purchase - In Albany Oregon Getting Carpet...


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Matt Dralle
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Matt Dralle
Site Admin


Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 25204
Location: Livermore CA USA

PostPosted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:22 pm    Post subject: RV-6 - Electric Elevator Trim Retrofit... Reply with quote

Sorry! I sent this to the wrong email address!

Matt
At 02:13 PM 11/20/2011 Sunday, you wrote:

Quote:
The Flyer had, believe it or not, *manual* elevator trim. This consisted of a long, heavy control cable that went from the elevator trim tab all the way up through the fuselage, under the seats, and then curved around and terminated above the fuel selector valve in a large vernier control. As with the flaps, I knew after the second flight that this had to go.

The problem is that retrofitting electric elevator trim presents some installation issues as the stock method assumes that you haven't yet riveted the elevator together. I suppose it might be possible to carefully cut a preexisting elevator skin but adding the stiffener and other bits and pieces just seems like a good way to ruin a perfectly good elevator. Mike and I discussed a variety of interesting techniques for mounting the servo in the area under the vertical fin and using a short 28-30" inch standard push rod. It took a few iterations and various cable length orders to get it just right, but I'm happy to report that Mike's hard labor paid off! The installation looks and works great!! Servicing the servo is as easy as removing the fiberglass tail fairing.

In the air, the setup works just as great as it looks. I didn't even need a regulator (aka Matronics Governor MkIII), as the trim sensitivity seems just right to me.

Thanks for your great engineering and installation on this project, Mike!
-
Matt "Red Dawg" Dralle

RV-8 #82880 N998RV "Ruby Vixen"
http://www.mattsrv8.com - Matt's Complete RV-8 Construction Log
http://www.mattsrv8.com/Mishap - Landing Mishap Rebuild Log
http://www.youtube.com/MattsRV8 - Matt's RV-8 HDTV YouTube Channel
Status: 170+ Hours TTSN - Rebuilding Fuselage After Landing Mishap...

RV-6 #20916 N360EM "The Flyer"
http://www.mattsrv6.com - Matt's RV-6 Glass Panel & Interior Revitalization Log
Status: 12 Hours Since Purchase - In Albany Oregon Getting Carpet...


- The Matronics RV9-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV9-List

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