Rudder (and other ) cables

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

spduffee
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:48 am

Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by spduffee »

Hello All,

Is McFarlane the only source for rudder cables? Nothing against McFarlane, but I like options, I guess.
N5448C -1950 170-A
T. C. Downey
Posts: 548
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 5:58 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by T. C. Downey »

Are the cables removed ?
spduffee
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:48 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by spduffee »

Are they removed? All but removed. My tail is open and the second to last bulkhead is now out to re-form the skin. My A&P pricked his finger on the starboard cable, then noticed it is fraying. It could easily be removed, I guess...? What are you thinking, Tom?
N5448C -1950 170-A
T. C. Downey
Posts: 548
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 5:58 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by T. C. Downey »

spduffee wrote:Are they removed? All but removed. My tail is open and the second to last bulkhead is now out to re-form the skin. My A&P pricked his finger on the starboard cable, then noticed it is fraying. It could easily be removed, I guess...? What are you thinking, Tom?
We make new ones if we have an example.
spduffee
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:48 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by spduffee »

Tom, i will call you later. I have to go to ballet class.
N5448C -1950 170-A
User avatar
blueldr
Posts: 4442
Joined: Thu May 02, 2002 3:16 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by blueldr »

spduffee,

How about sending us a picture of you in your tutu?
BL
spduffee
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:48 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by spduffee »

Nope....
N5448C -1950 170-A
voorheesh
Posts: 590
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:22 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by voorheesh »

You guys are nuts. BTW, really enjoyed The 3rd Qtr 170 News today. Really makes me think about flying to a convention. Bruce's plane is my hands down favorite. :D
spduffee
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:48 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by spduffee »

Little Princess.jpg
So, above is the family's real ballerina...she's why I went to ballet class today...
Trust me, you DO NOT want to see ME in a tutu...Could liven up the next 170-fly-in, though 8O .
For the benefit of all, I called TCDowney today to ask about his services. He has a shop in Anacortes to whom he goes. I wasn't able to get a price out of him, but he is very satisfied with the results.
Aircraft Spruce has the McFarlane cables for less than McFarlane: Spruce sells galvinized for $105 and stainless steel for $125. McFarlane Sells theirs for $140.
I found an earlier posting about store-bought cables where the author reported the flap cable being too long and the rudder cables being too short, or something to that effect (http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... f=2&t=8137). Anyway, if anyone has any experience with the Spruce or McFarlane cables, do please speak up.
What is the difference between Galvi and Stainless cables?
Seeing how TCDowney's source reproduces exactly what they are given, I may go that route.
N5448C -1950 170-A
T. C. Downey
Posts: 548
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2013 5:58 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by T. C. Downey »

spduffee wrote: Seeing how TCDowney's source reproduces exactly what they are given, I may go that route.
Run them up we will take them to the riggers and see what the cost will be.
spduffee
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:48 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by spduffee »

T. C. Downey wrote:
spduffee wrote: Seeing how TCDowney's source reproduces exactly what they are given, I may go that route.
Run them up we will take them to the riggers and see what the cost will be.
Ok, I'll see what / when I can do...once the fog lifts. You're at BVS, right?

For anyone: TCDowney and I were discussing where the rudder cables disconnect further forward. I checked the parts manual and it shows a Fairlead about half way back, but no turnbuckles or similar. Does this mean I have to disconnect all the way up at the rudder pedals?
N5448C -1950 170-A
User avatar
blueldr
Posts: 4442
Joined: Thu May 02, 2002 3:16 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by blueldr »

I wouldn't consider stainless cables unless I was going to be working on salt water. The general concession is that galvanized are better.
BL
spduffee
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:48 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by spduffee »

blueldr wrote:... galvanized are better.
Ok, glad I asked. I would have thought stainless trumps all. I don't have a seaplane rating, so I certainly do hope I'll stay clear of salt water.... Thank you!
N5448C -1950 170-A
tps500
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:04 pm

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by tps500 »

I recently replaced the right rudder cable on my airplane. Once the fairlead in the tail cone was out, the cable removed from the pedal, and a wire attached to the aft end of the cable, I had a helper pull the cable forward while I follwed the aft end and removed and replaced each pulley as it went forward. We then pulled the new cable aft and did the same dance with the pulleys. The hardest pulleys to put back in were the forward rudder and aileron pulleys that are together just aft of the rudder pedal. I had my helper turn the yolk to the aileron stop and this helped.

I used the galvanized cable from Mcfarlane and had no trouble with the fit.

Tim
spduffee
Posts: 219
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:48 am

Re: Rudder (and other ) cables

Post by spduffee »

Thanks Tim for the detailed explanation. I am not sure how to deal with the mid-fairlead, but I guess I'll see later today. So, the rudder- and aileron cable are on the same pulley block? Am I looking at the highlighted smaller pulleys in the illustration? So I guess the whole group has to be disassembled...looks...not so easy....
++170a_pm++ 100.pdf
(55.35 KiB) Downloaded 308 times
N5448C -1950 170-A
Post Reply