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So we all know what to avoid or remove ASAP, open your Aircraft Spruce
1998/99 Catalog to page 151.  Wire Grip P/N 05-16000 and P/N 05-16001 are
the elegant looking, failure prone attachments.  My hangar mate had his Mixture Control solid wire break twice (first time he
assumed the Wire Grip had a sharp edge at the wire entrance so he polished a
rounded wire entrance to the Wire Grip).  My Carb Heat solid cable broke at
the entrance to the Wire Grip too.  Both applications had the Wire Grip
threaded into Rod End Bearings.  I believe this is caused by the Wire Grip acting as a lever from the pivot
point (Rod End Bearing) to bend the wire at the point of entrance to the
Wire Grip.  The "cushion" of extra cable we have to assure a control is
pushed all the way in helps exert this force by bending the cable at the
point of maximum leverage, right at the entrance to the Wire Grip.  The
extra pressure is relieved by bending the cable when it is pushed in and
straightening it when it is pulled out.  I called Mike Parker, the manufacturer of the Wire Grip, on 10-20-97 to
discuss the above.  He claimed that was the first time he had heard of a
wire failure but he would refund my money for 3 Wire Grips if I returned
them which I did the next day.  I have followed up with several phone
messages and am still waiting for my refund.  Steve Colwell

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Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.