Many have recommended shortening the elevator bell crank. I agree that
reducing the mechanical advantage on the elevator improves stick feel, but
there are downside issues.
Control system pushrod forces increase.
Any play in control system bearings is amplified by the shorter throws.
Trim spring forces increase.
My recommendation is to change the ratio by raising the attach point of the
forward end of the forward elevator pushrod. I did this by making longer tabs
that bolt to the existing tabs and hook around the stick torque tube. The alternative
is to weld on longer tabs.
I did not like the inertial feel induced by the elevator bobweight. Also it
rotates in the wrong direction to compensate for abrupt pitch changes. I experimented
with different bobweight mass and found my preference to be zero.
I am not a big fan of the long mount. Extending the cowl and prop forward
essentially cancels out some tail volume, reducing stability. It also increases
surface area, adds weight creating more drag. I have not found the short mount to be
a big maintenance problem.
Regards, Bill Hannahan
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