Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 10:01:32 -0500 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from turkey.mail.pas.earthlink.net ([207.217.120.126] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.1.6) with ESMTP id 2704395 for lml@lancaironline.net; Fri, 31 Oct 2003 09:49:54 -0500 Received: from pool0021.cvx4-bradley.dialup.earthlink.net ([209.178.146.21] helo=BobsLaptop) by turkey.mail.pas.earthlink.net with smtp (Exim 3.33 #1) id 1AFab1-0007RU-00 for lml@lancaironline.net; Fri, 31 Oct 2003 06:49:51 -0800 From: "Robert Pastusek" X-Original-To: "Lancair Mailing List" Subject: RE: Flap Adjustment X-Original-Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 10:01:08 -0500 X-Original-Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_003C_01C39F95.E8043840" X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) In-Reply-To: Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4910.0300 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_003C_01C39F95.E8043840 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Craig Blitzer Wrote: Listmates, I am making final adjustments to flaps on my IV-P. Does anyone know if I am supposed to use the "smart-tool" and make sure that the flaps are indicating specific angles in certain positions? Craig, We haven't flown yet and I need to so qualify my answer, which is: Rig each flap so it fully retracts at both track guides, and then rig the connecting linkage so both flaps fully retract at the same time. This takes at least two people; preferably three, and you'll want to perform the check by pulling on the flap operating rod, rather than pushing the flaps into the retracted position--for obvious(?) reasons. Check for minimum binding and freedom of movement with the actuating cylinder disconnected. This is not as trivial as it sounds, and some amount of friction/binding will be present because the flap operating mechanism is not linear and the tracks themselves are not completely parallel. Years ago, a number of builders went to great pains to "straighten all this out." If anyone ever fully succeeded, I never heard from them, but the bottom line is that they work just fine, even though they are not mechanically "clean." The next step is the most important: Connect the flap actuating cylinder and adjust it so it's fully (bottomed or extended--I can't recall which) when the flaps are fully retracted. You'll want to do the final test of this adjustment with the hydraulic system functioning if you're setting this up earlier. The idea is to have the linkage exert a slight load to hold the flaps fully retracted when the cylinder is fully extended/retracted. If the cylinder has not reached it's full throw, it will hold the flap operating mechanism under a high load, and eventually fail some component. Now extend the flaps with the operating cylinder attached so it moves to the other end of it's travel. Carefully remove the bolt that connects the cylinder rod end to the center pivot and check to be sure the flaps will extend just a bit farther. This is to confirm that the flap mechanism is not hitting a stop or binding before the cylinder reaches it's full travel. Same rationale as above. Last check is to retract the flaps, and set your smart level on the flaps in a position that they can be extended without moving the level (bottom?). Zero the indicator with the flaps in the retracted position and then fully extend them using the hydraulic system if possible. Check the angle on both sides. If they are within 2-3 degrees of each other and within 5 degrees of the book value, consider your rigging a total success. If it's not, see note below. If you see other problems, you're welcome to call me... NOTE: Lancair shipped hydraulic operating cylinders in earlier kits with a longer throw/travel than normally needed. Builders adjusted this by inserting a bushing inside the cylinder to mechanically limit the travel, but cylinders in later kits were shortened to provide the correct travel. If you have too much travel, you might check with Vern at Lancair about the part number on your cylinder. If you have one of the early ones, he probably still has some of the old bushings, or you can get a shorter cylinder. Due to building variations, I'd carefully check the replacement as outlined above anyway. Bottom line is that, unlike the ailerons, elevator and rudder, the flap extension angles are not critical. They should extend smoothly without binding, retract fully, and not "rattle" when retracted. IMHO, these are the primary considerations. Unless you've modified the Lancair-provided parts, they will extend symmetrically by design, and should extend and turn down approximately 40 degrees--with the exact amount not being critical at all. Hope this helps, Bob Pastusek 703-271-8008 ------=_NextPart_000_003C_01C39F95.E8043840 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Craig Blitzer Wrote: Listmates,
I am making final adjustments to = flaps on my=20 IV-P.  Does anyone know if I am supposed to use the "smart-tool" = and make=20 sure that the flaps are indicating specific angles in certain=20 positions?
Craig, We haven't flown yet and I need to so = qualify my=20 answer, which is: Rig each flap so it fully retracts at = both track=20 guides, and then rig the connecting linkage so both flaps fully = retract at=20 the same time. This takes at least two people; preferably three, = and you'll=20 want to perform the check by pulling on the flap operating rod, rather = than=20 pushing the flaps into the retracted position--for obvious(?) reasons. = Check for=20 minimum binding and freedom of movement with the actuating cylinder=20 disconnected. This is not as trivial as it sounds, and some amount of=20 friction/binding will be present because the flap operating mechanism is = not=20 linear and the tracks themselves are not completely parallel. Years ago, = a=20 number of builders went to great pains to "straighten all this out." If = anyone=20 ever fully succeeded, I never heard from them, but the bottom line is = that they=20 work just fine, even though they are not mechanically "clean." The next = step is=20 the most important: Connect the flap actuating cylinder and adjust it so = it's=20 fully (bottomed or extended--I can't recall which) when the flaps are = fully=20 retracted. You'll want to do the final test of this adjustment with the=20 hydraulic system functioning if you're setting this up earlier. The idea = is to=20 have the linkage exert a slight load to hold the flaps fully = retracted when=20 the cylinder is fully extended/retracted. If the cylinder has not = reached it's=20 full throw, it will hold the flap operating mechanism under a high load, = and=20 eventually fail some component. Now extend the flaps with the operating = cylinder=20 attached so it moves to the other end of it's travel. Carefully remove = the bolt=20 that connects the cylinder rod end to the center pivot and check to = be sure=20 the flaps will extend just a bit farther. This is to confirm that the = flap=20 mechanism is not hitting a stop or binding before the cylinder reaches = it's full=20 travel. Same rationale as above. Last check is to retract the flaps, and = set=20 your smart level on the flaps in a position that they can be extended = without=20 moving the level (bottom?). Zero the indicator with the flaps in the = retracted=20 position and then fully extend them using the hydraulic system if = possible.=20 Check the angle on both sides. If they are within 2-3 degrees = of each=20 other and within 5 degrees of the book value, consider your rigging a = total=20 success. If it's not, see note below. If you see other problems, you're = welcome=20 to call me...
 
NOTE: Lancair shipped hydraulic = operating=20 cylinders in earlier kits with a longer throw/travel than normally = needed.=20 Builders adjusted this by inserting a bushing inside the cylinder to=20 mechanically limit the travel, but cylinders in later kits were = shortened to=20 provide the correct travel. If you have too much travel, you might check = with=20 Vern at Lancair about the part number on your cylinder. If you have one = of the=20 early ones, he probably still has some of the old bushings, or you can = get a=20 shorter cylinder. Due to building variations, I'd carefully check the=20 replacement as outlined above anyway.
 
Bottom line is that, unlike the ailerons, = elevator and=20 rudder, the flap extension angles are not critical. They should extend = smoothly=20 without binding, retract fully, and not "rattle" when retracted. IMHO, = these are=20 the primary considerations. Unless you've modified the Lancair-provided = parts,=20 they will extend symmetrically by design, and should extend and turn = down=20 approximately 40 degrees--with the exact amount not being critical at = all.=20
 
Hope this = helps,
Bob=20 Pastusek
703-271-8008
 
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