[rebel-builders] Rebel control stiffness in cold weather
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:37 pm
I've seen this a few times on other aircraft especially after heavy rain
or poorly lubed controls. Condensation can do it. I fly all winter here
and have never seen it on my rebel though. I have noticed that the
elevator cable tension reduces when very cold since the aluminum
fuselage shrinks more than the steel cables. Should the elevator freeze
solid, note that the trim tab will work in reverse. Wayne (one of our
resident plastic authorities) says to use 'Crown' brand silicone on the
delrin. He has posted that all the other products including other brands
of silicone caused issues when used in his business. I did not think
that delrin absorbed as much moisture as nylon?? Pulleys like to freeze
up as well if not full of dry grease.
Ken
Walter Klatt wrote:
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or poorly lubed controls. Condensation can do it. I fly all winter here
and have never seen it on my rebel though. I have noticed that the
elevator cable tension reduces when very cold since the aluminum
fuselage shrinks more than the steel cables. Should the elevator freeze
solid, note that the trim tab will work in reverse. Wayne (one of our
resident plastic authorities) says to use 'Crown' brand silicone on the
delrin. He has posted that all the other products including other brands
of silicone caused issues when used in his business. I did not think
that delrin absorbed as much moisture as nylon?? Pulleys like to freeze
up as well if not full of dry grease.
Ken
Walter Klatt wrote:
I did some high flying today in the mountains, where the OAT was down to -6
C for an extended time. I noticed a slight stiffness in my controls, both
elevator and flaperons. I have never noticed that in the past. Hard to
believe, but have probably never flown in that cold before. Normally, don't
go up there except in the summer when I am doing XC trips, and the temps are
still always above freezing, even up at 10,000 feet. And in the winter, I
usually only fly in good weather, when again the temps are well above
freezing. So this may well have been the coldest weather my Rebel has seen.
When I came back down to sea level and warm temps (+14 C), the controls were
back to normal.
Just wondering about you guys out east and in the interior of BC. You must
do a lot of flying in the cold. Is this normal to feel some stiffness in the
controls in cold weather?
Does the delrin absorb some moisture and then freeze and expand in cold
weather? I do not lubricate these joints, but was thinking of trying some
Boeshield on them. It is supposed to displace moisture, and is used in
commercial aircraft, and is also popular in the marine industry because it
prevents corrosion. Is there any other lubricant that can be used with
delrin?
Walter
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