The Legacy has no lead anywhere on the rudder (or elevators) other than the counterbalance horns. You're right, it would be almost ineffective in the leading edge, being such a short distance ahead of the hinge. Reaching for a way-out example, I recall that the 737-300 in flight test actually busted off both horns from the elevators, but the elevators stayed on. They did *not* cure that by putting weight in the leading edges between the hinges!
In a *very* perfect world, the weight would be distributed all along the leading edge and there would be no counterbalance horn. That would eliminate torsional stresses if the rudder ever started buzzing. But this is also a way-far-out consideration, don't even think about it.
My Legacy manual says for the rudder: "1. Fit the rudder counterweight as far forward as possible. Some trimming of the counterweight may be necessary." "2. Measure the weight of the rudder counterweight. It should weigh 3.0 lbs or 1362 grams. Trim as necessary."
Of course I assume that the dimensions and mass properties of the Legacy rudder are NOT identical to the 360. I don't see how you can miss by mounting the rudder sideways (horizontally, rather than vertically) on hinge pins and balancing it with lead in the horn. Another 4-5 lb of lead sounds like an awful lot.
Charley Brown Legacy #299
PS -- My airplane's at Grand Prairie, you're welcome to come by and have a look.
On Feb 24, 2012, at 3:36 PM, Ed Gray wrote: I’m almost done with my L 360. The manual calls for 2 lbs. of lead weights on the leading edge of the rudder and enuf additional weight on the counterbalance horn to put the rudder in balance. The weights on the leading edge are only one inch ahead of the hinge line, thus very ineffective as balance. The horn still needs 4-5 lbs of lead to balance. The lead on the leading edge between hinges seems to be dead weight to me…Lancair guys say “follow the book”. I think all lead should be in the horn, as far from the hinge line as possible. Is there some mechanical reason to put lead on the leading edge between the hinges? The Legacy does not seem to have lead there, does it? Legacy instructions say “put additional weight in the horn near the factory weight” , how much weight is the factory quickbuild ? Thanks for help on these issues. The factory guys barely remember the 320-360 series. Ed Gray , Dallas L360, Superior IO 360, Dynon Skyview and txpd, Garmin SL 30, 214 734 2524
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