Rob,

 

My S-Tec pitch servo is mounted behind the passenger seat in a pocket built into the tunnel wall so the push rod lines up beneath the center of the elevator push rod.  The servo push rod runs aft and is secured to the elevator push rod with the same type nylon bracket used in the mechanical trim system.  Both the trim bracket and the A/P bracket have SS hose clamps on each side so that no sliding can occur.  The Lancair brackets made any adjustments quite easy.  The servo has the mechanical stop mounted so that there can be no run-away. 

 

Finally, note that the forces exerted by the servo are very small when the elevator is in trim.  When it is not in trim, the A/P will tell you.  Thus, even a properly sized and secured Adel clamp (maybe with a rivet thru it) could be adequate.

 

 

Does anyone see a problem with mounting an autopilot pitch servo control rod to the main elevator pushrod by using the hardware supplied for the mechanical pitch trim, i.e., a collar clamped to the main pushrod to which the pitch servo pushrod rod end bearing is attached? 

Related question -- I vaguely recall that the STEC intsallation calls for brackets to be pop-riveted to the main elevator pushrod, and the rod end bearing is attached to those brackets.  Is this recollection correct and, if so, does anyone have part number information so I can order up a set from STEC?

Related question -- has anyone who uses the mechanical trim system had the collar slip at all?

- Rob Wolf