securing the clevis snd servo connections

[p3arljam]

Getting ready for my first flight with my e flite apprentice and i was just wondering should i secure the connections with anything other than what came with my plane like a glue or thread lock?

[stuart]

welcome to wattflyer!!!! not sure what your asking. clevis's with threaded rod shouldn't require lock tight. but the clip part of oa cleavis should have little pc's of fuel line slipped over them to assure they don't come apart. can you post a picture .

if your using an adjustable control arm pc where the rod slips into a hole and a screw tightens down on it you would use locktite so the screw dosn't come loose. use the blue locktite as it will release easyer when needing adjusting.

i just checked the eflite site and dont see any need for locktight. but i'v not seen one in person so i hope that is what your looking for as an answer and hope you have a great flight on the apprentis. looks like a nice bird at 58"ws.

99

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by p3arljam

Getting ready for my first flight with my e flite apprentice and i was just wondering should i secure the connections with anything other than what came with my plane like a glue or thread lock?

Certainly no glue or thread lock should be used as you may want to adjust or alter. On clevis an old trick is to use small fuel tube rings to keep the two arms together ... but to be honest if you have the nylon clevis that has the click to lock pins - then that should be fine.

Nigel

[stuart]

nigel,one minute apart .....we do think alike....

[p3arljam]

I have the little tubing over it i was just making sure because i have read of some people having issues with control arms coming off in flight just wanted to make sure thanks for the help.

[stuart]

between the "z" bend and threaded cleavis,the rod won't be able to spin. if the threaded rod end is inserted into carbon fiber or plastic control rods i would glue that in using ca. just dont glues the cleavis on...lol...

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by stuart

between the "z" bend and threaded cleavis,the rod won't be able to spin. if the threaded rod end is inserted into carbon fiber or plastic control rods i would glue that in using ca. just dont glues the cleavis on...lol...

Lets look at ways controls are hooked up :

Good old fashioned Z bend into hole in arm - I love these and use inside fuselage wherever possible. No need for any locking fluids / glues at all.

L clip - a variation on the Z by only bending an L into the rod and then a plastic clip locks on to hold in hole in arm. Again an excellent secure idea not needing any Loctite or glue.

Locking clevis - using a pin that clicks into other half of clevis - these are great for small to medium models and generally survive without rings over the arms and no need for loctite / glue.

Non-locking clevis - these require a small rung of fuel tube or similar to lock the two halfs secure ... often metal.

Screw locks - small stand-offs to arms that control rod passes through and a locking screw then tightens down onto. I like these and contrary to popular advice - I do not loctite these ... why ? I have broken too many arms trying to free the screw even with blue loctite used. I just make sure it's tight and check it every so often - NEVER had a failure yet.

.......

Rods vary from old style wood rods with metal ends ... which I prefer actually ... making sure that metal rod has L shape to end and that prong is buried into the wood to stop any twist. I then bind with carpet thread and secure all with a smooth application of epoxy.... thriough arrow shafts to the thin metal rods that prevail today in tubes.
A great way was the sullivan nylon or metal bowden cable in tube method ... made easy work of threading controls through thin or difficult fuselages / structures.
But the finest and most accurate apart from direct servo connection to surface is the PULL-PULL wire system ... where two wires are attached to such as rudder giving positive pull action either way.

Just a little note on some of the ways we get to throw our pride and joy around the sky !!

Nigel