Lindy
1/15/2010
Well it took a LOT longer than I thought it would (what's new...), but I got the Tail Lynx springs installed tonight. There was quite a bit more to installing these than I thought...
First, you temporarily install the springs/cable (I switched them around...see below).
Then you mark a bend line (not yet done in this pic) in the tabs using the rudder horn.
The clevis at the cable end of the system was bent to 20 degrees last night, and the spring end tab gets bent to 15 degrees (but I swapped 'em...see below).
Then I marked and drilled the holes in the tabs, cut off some extra material from the tabs, and then installed the clip to keep the spring compressed. This is done with a tool that you have to make out of some AL tube they send with the kit. Kinda silly, but I suppose that cuts a bit of cost for the consumer. Here you can see the AL tube tool being used in a drill press to compress the spring. The tool has slots for the clip to fit in, as well as for the cable to exit out the side so as not to get pinched while compressing the spring.
With it compressed, you can now insert the clip with a pair of tweezers.
And voila, the spring is ready to use.
As I was getting ready to install these, I remembered reading something about installing these backwards, so I grabbed the 'ol iPhone to get on VAF to check the threads about this link system...sure enough, most of those that posted about using these did swap the ends to keep the springs from smacking the bottom of the rudder when in flight. So before installing, I changed the bend angles, and drilled the holes the appropriate sizes for each end, and installed it. I might take them back off to trim a bit more from the tail wheel end though...
Here you can see the slight amount of slack I built in to the system. This has to be done while building...no adjustments can be made once drilled, unless you order new tabs...which I have done already in case I don't like how these feel. The small amount of slack allows for a bit more control with the rudder when landing in a crosswind before the steering becomes effective.
Next is rigging of the controls!
2.25 hours