Trim Tab Cables

Ed Clark · Post by **Ed Clark** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 19:37

I had a frayed lower trim tab cable. Bought two trim cables from Aircraft Spruce for the 7AC and installed them this weekend..... not easy when the aircraft is covered...had to crawl into the tail cone.

Anyway, they are too long by about an inch. With both turnbuckles tightened completely there is still some slack.

Any suggestions?

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 21:18

Ed: It seems I ran into this problem on one of the Champs I rebuilt, although it also seems that the cables were too short (been a long time).
Anyway, you probably have a link (two short pieces of metal) that is attached to the lever for the trim control. It seems on mine those two pieces were missing and I had to fabricate a pair to have enough length to hook the turnbuckles (I looked at another Champ to see what I was missing). On the last Champ, it seems the cables were too long and I had to leave the link out and use a clevis instead.

I'm wondering if different manufacturer of the trim cable aren't using different length cables. One came from Safe Air and the other from Univar or Aircraft Spruce.

I just went out to the shop and looked at the trim setup (disassembled) on my L16 and I see it has the link, but I'm pretty sure on at least one of the Champs I rebuilt, it was necessary to use a clevis which shortens the cable by about one inch.

Just an idea

. (Like I said, it's been awhile).

Hope this helps!

Mike

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 15:56

Ed: I might be mistaken. I was at the airport today and all four of the Champs, plus my L16 have the link (two short pieces of metal about 1" long) that are attached to the overhead trim lever. I swear I thought at least one of the Champs had the trim cable attached to the lever with a clevis, but obviously I was wrong. Sorry if I sent you on a wild goose chase. Must be old age setting in

.

Mike

Paul Agaliotis · Post by **Paul Agaliotis** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 17:52

Ed,
Check the cable run and see if a cable has jumped a pulley. The pulley guards will allow the cable to come out of the groove during installation.
Paul

Ed Clark · Post by **Ed Clark** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 18:10

Thanks for the replies guys.

The cables are in all the pulleys, just too long.

What do you think of cutting them on either end and swaging in a new fitting?

Paul Agaliotis · Post by **Paul Agaliotis** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 18:20

Ed,
If I was going to cut them I,d cut the forward end. You could do this the cables installed.
The trim tab end would require the MS fitting to be replaced and portable swage units are not easily available.
Paul

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 19:36

Ed: back to "beating an old horse"........before you cut the cables, why not try taking the link out and hooking the cabin end of the trim cable right to the overhead trim lever? It might save you a lot of trouble. At this point, I'm not sure why you'd have to do that, but it might just pick up the length you need. There's still something in my empty mind that say's I've seen it done that way before.

Ed Clark · Post by **Ed Clark** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 22:42

I know the feeling...

I will meet the A&P/AI Saturday. She is bringing what she needs to cut and swage and we will try to figure out a solution.

She's an old timer and knows Citabrias pretty well so my guess is we'll make it work somehow.

Jody Wittmeyer · Post by **Jody Wittmeyer** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:40

While on that note, Wag sent me trim cables for a 7ac, when I ordered for an 11ac. Different part numbers, but the 7 and 11 cables are the same length. Difference in part numbers being the 7 uses the metal spacer, the 11 does not. Trim cable on the 11 hooks on the trim control, no metal spacer. If any 11ac rebuilders need the trim cables, don't get put on th back order list! order the 7ac cables from wag.

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:48

Aha

That must be where I seen it...

.