Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
I recently connected the aileron control cables on my Pietenpol project, and foundthat there was a lot of friction in the aileron control system. Today I tooka piece of candle wax and waxed the cables where they run through the hardmaple fairleads in the wing. This resulted in a dramatic reduction in the frictionin the system.Does anyone have any comments on this or other lubricants for cables running throughwood fairleads?Bob HumbertN491RHBattle Creek, MichiganI recently connected the aileron control cables on my Pietenpol project, and foundthat there was a lot of friction in the aileron control system. Today I tooka piece of candle wax and waxed the cables where they run through the hardmaple fairleads in the wing. This resulted in a dramatic reduction in the frictionin the system.Does anyone have any comments on this or other lubricants for cables running throughwood fairleads?Bob HumbertN491RHBattle Creek, Michigan________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 08:14:45 -0400

Original Posted By: Rcaprd(at)AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Aileron Cable FrictionIn a message dated 10/4/2005 10:00:19 PM Central Standard Time, slowbilder(at)comcast.net writes:I recently connected the aileron control cables on my Pietenpol project, and found that there was a lot of friction in the aileron control system. Today Itook a piece of candle wax and waxed the cables where they run through the hard maple fairleads in the wing. This resulted in a dramatic reduction in thefriction in the system.Does anyone have any comments on this or other lubricants for cables running through wood fairleads?Bob HumbertN491RHBattle Creek, MichiganBob,It seems you've pinpointed the location where most of your friction is. My guess is that you don't have the hole in the hard maple fairleads big enough for the cables to pass through freely. For my fairleads, I glued a piece of 1/4" plywood to the spars with T88, and screwed the hardwood fairleads to the 1/4" plywood, to eliminate violating the spars with any screws. I made saw cutsin the hardwood for the cable to pass through, which were at least 1 1/2 timesthe diameter of the cable...plenty of room. Two screws for each fairlead, which makes them removable. My aileron control is a very free, and smooth movements, with NO slop, or play. I have Never lubricated the fairleads...it'sa good thought, though. Another area which you probably already checked, is the pulleys. Do they have ball bearings, or brass bushings ? Are they lubricated well ? Do they work freely without the cable in them ? Is the cablefouling on the guides that keep the cables in the groove of the pulley ?Chuck G.NX770CG________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "John Ford"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: airleron gapIn a message dated 10/5/2005 7:16:35 AM Central Standard Time, harvey.rule(at)bell.ca writes:I have taped the gap on the top of the airleron.Is it necessary to tapethe bottom of the gap?The same question applies for the bottom surfaceof the elevator?I think I remember a letter a while back where some guyswere taping the rudder as well;am I correct in this?This is probablystuff already covered and I apologise for this but I can't seem to findthe info in the archives.Thanks for any info in advance.Harvey,I posted before about how I sealed the gaps in the ailerons (barn door hinges), elevators (flippers), and rudder - Vi Kappler hinges. Before I applied any paint, I used fabric material, applied with fabric adhesive, on both sides of the gaps, at all the control surfaces. I view thismethod as a permanent one, as opposed to using any type of tape. I'm sure thetape will eventually loose it's sticky adhesive, and you will have to re-do it.I'm into my fourth summer of flying my plane, with no signs of problems at thegaps. If I had to do it again, I would do it the same way I did.Chuck G.NX770CG________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 17:55:24 -0500

Original Posted By: Richard Carden
Thanks Chuck. The pulley bushing lubrication was on my list as the next item forimprovement. I have my fairleades screwed to 1/4" plywood pads as you do,and have had occasion to remove and replace some of them. It can be a littlechallenging in a wing that is already covered.Bob-------------- Original message -------------- In a message dated 10/4/2005 10:00:19 PM Central Standard Time, slowbilder(at)comcast.netwrites:I recently connected the aileron control cables on my Pietenpol project, and foundthat there was a lot of friction in the aileron control system. Today I tooka piece of candle wax and waxed the cables where they run through the hardmaple fairleads in the wing. This resulted in a dramatic reduction in the frictionin the system.Does anyone have any comments on this or other lubricants for cables running throughwood fairleads?Bob HumbertN491RHBattle Creek, MichiganBob,It seems you've pinpointed the location where most of your friction is. My guessis that you don't have the hole in the hard maple fairleads big enough forthe cables to pass through freely. For my fairleads, I glued a piece of 1/4"plywood to the spars with T88, and screwed the hardwood fairleads to the 1/4"plywood, to eliminate violating the spars with any screws. I made saw cuts inthe hardwood for the cable to pass through, which were at least 1 1/2 times thediameter of the cable...plenty of room. Two screws for each fairlead, whichmakes them removable. My aileron control is a very free, and smooth movements,with NO slop, or play. I have Never lubricated the fairleads...it's a goodthought, though. Another area which you probably already checked, is thepulleys. Do they have ball bearings, or brass bushings ? Are they lubricatedwell ? Do they work freely without the cable in them ? Is the cable foulingon the guides that keep the cables in the groove of the pulley ?Chuck G.NX770CGThanks Chuck. The pulley bushing lubrication was on my list as the next item forimprovement. I have my fairleades screwed to 1/4" plywood pads as you do,andhave had occasion to remove and replace some of them. It can be a little challengingin a wing thatis already covered.Bob-------------- Original message -------------- In a message dated 10/4/2005 10:00:19 PM Central Standard Time, slowbilder(at)comcast.netwrites:I recently connected the aileron control cables on my Pietenpol project, and foundthat there was a lot of friction in the aileron control system. Today I tooka piece of candle wax and waxed the cables where they run through the hardmaple fairleads in the wing. This resulted in a dramatic reduction in the frictionin the system.Does anyone have any comments on this or other lubricants for cables running throughwood fairleads?Bob HumbertN491RHBattle Creek, MichiganBob,It seems you've pinpointed the location where most of your friction is. My guessis that you don't have the hole in the hard maple fairleads big enough for thecables to pass through freely. For my fairleads, I glued a piece of 1/4" plywoodto the spars with T88, and screwed the hardwood fairleads to the 1/4" plywood,to eliminate violating the spars with any screws. I made saw cuts in thehardwood for the cable to pass through, which were at least 1 1/2 times thediameter of the cable...plenty of room. Two screws for each fairlead, which makesthem removable. My aileron control is a very free, and smooth movements, withNO slop, or play.I have Never lubricated the fairleads...it's a good thought,though. Another area which you probably already checked, is the pulleys. Dothey have ball bearings, or brass bushings ? Are they lubricated well ? Do theywork freely without the cable in them ?&nbsp ; Is the cable fouling on the guides that keep the cables in the groove of thepulley ?Chuck G.NX770CG________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 08:46:01 -0400