Trim Tab Stuff

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 7:33 pm

Seeing as the plans are so LAME, who's site has the best low down on how to do the trim tab/Mac servo stuff?

I have it set up with side grip cleco's but the part #'s don't jive with the drawings. It says to drill a 3/8" hole in the LEFT bracket, but the brackets look like it should be drilled in the right. What do your plans say?

Also, it looks like a significant amount of trimming needs to be done on the brackets in order to make them even close to fitting inside the inspection hole. Is this normal?

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 8:43 am

Now, enter this:

http://www.gretzaero.com/products/macservotrim.html

The Gretz product looks really slick!

The Gretz Aero method of mounting the electric Ray Allen (formerly MAC) servo elevator trim is VERY EASY to install. It does not add the weight of the servo to the elevator, which has to be balanced out with lead. It moves the weight of the servo forward to the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. It saves overall weight. This alternative method places the servo on the rear fuselage deck, between the horizontal stabilizer and the vertical stabilizer and is covered over with the fiberglass fairing provided with the fuselage kit. There are few parts needed for the installation. The hard to find and get parts are made available to you by Gretz Aero in one inexpensive package.

Installation kits consist of:
New push/pull cable
Weldment like wd-415 (not a Van’s made part)
Two each special clevis for servo end of cable and trim tab control horn end.
Bag of mounting hardware needed for installation
Instructions for installation

This kit is best utilized installed on a RV-6/RV-6A, RV-4
RV-7/7A, RV-8/8A, and RV-9A, originally built with a manual trim.

Now, this muddies the decision waters!

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:26 pm

...and FWIW, I found a very detailed site expaining how he installed his servo motor.

http://www.kane-king.com/rv7aproject/empennage.htm

I hope this helps you.

CJ

Snap · Post by **Snap** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 6:21 am

Do you often talk to yourself?

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:02 am

Not anymore! Thanks for chiming in!

I was wondering if this thing is working!?

Hello, can you hear me now? Good!

(Snap, FYI... that is part of a television commercial that airs frequently up here.)

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 8:06 pm

HEY, All...

I made a decision, and it seems like a good one!

Came out dam fine if I do say so myself!

Just so that all you newer "snap together" guys know, this older style kit had me lay out these holes on my own! I stewed over the layout on that too long as well!

Nice alignment? 1/8" overlap EXACTLY!

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 9:38 pm

Yeah, but we need to work on your color choice with respect to primers. How can you look at that puke green all of the time?

-- John

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 10:10 pm

Well, funny you should mention that. I was thinking about that earlier today when I was squirting it on. It is more like a khaki/tan in real life. To this point, I have consumed nearly a quart of the stuff. Three more quarts to go before I even consider making any changes!

CJ

Thermos · Post by **Thermos** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:56 pm

That's why I picked the primer I did (Super Koropon). It's a nice, bright yellow color, makes my parts look like they came from Boeing. Now if I could just get them to send me a CFM-56 for my RV-7...

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:05 pm

Thermos wrote:That's why I picked the primer I did (Super Koropon). It's a nice, bright yellow color, makes my parts look like they came from Boeing. Now if I could just get them to send me a CFM-56 for my RV-7...

Ok, I will bite.

What's a CFM 56?

CJ

Thermos · Post by **Thermos** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:15 pm

It's one of those big jet engines from a 737. Do you think Van's would approve?

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:20 pm

Can I have the other one?

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:37 pm

Thermos wrote:It's one of those big jet engines from a 737. Do you think Van's would approve?

Why would Van's care? At that point you are building a rocket ship, not an airplane.

Thermos · Post by **Thermos** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:48 pm

Ha!

I actually threw that in because I had just finished reading the 'why do you want to use bigger engines' thread (a good thread, too). Figured I'd push it over the top...

Cheers,

Dave

Snap · Post by **Snap** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 12:25 am

now has anyone seen that Long-eze with the rocket motor?
Now that is what I call FUN FUN FUN
http://www.xcor.com/gallery/ezflight/02 ... ght14_0684

Same guys that did the X-prize thingy

Love to hang around with them for awhile. These guys will take us into space one day.
It will not be the big corporations that get us out there(space) but the small builders like us that do the work and experiment.

Just think.......'Well, its been 20 years since I finished the RV. Maybe I should build again? Maybe the new 'viper' kit. That sounds cool. I could take trips to the moon base and the maybe a really big trip to mars later.'

What fun to be had in the future.

Thermos · Post by **Thermos** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 7:54 pm

Yup...I can't wait for Van's to come out with a suborbital RV!

Dave

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:20 pm

Jim, You called and were asking about this stuff.

Did ya find this thread?

The trim threw me for a loop too!

CJ

jimrobinette · Post by **jimrobinette** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 7:10 am

John,

Getting it. Doing a lot of research/fact finding. Kind of the measure twice, cut once theory!

Found this last night.

Thanks,

Jim

Captain_John wrote:Jim, You called and were asking about this stuff.

Did ya find this thread?

The trim threw me for a loop too!

CJ