Control stick lubrication, cables, and pulleys

[SpecialT]

I've got my floorboards up and the center control stick apart. What's the best lubrication for the control stick caps before reassembling? A coating of light grease? The same for the rudder pedal caps?

Is there any recommended lube that you put on pulley bearings? I read that no coating should be put on cables. Correct?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Control stick lubrication, cables, and pulleys

I am attaching a copy of the lube chart. Never had a problem using what they recommend.

Hank

[3Dreaming]

Re: Control stick lubrication, cables, and pulleys

A little oil should do. If the cap for the saddle on the control stick doesn't have a small hole for oil I would drill one before you put it back together. Then just a drop or two of oil in the hole every once in a while will keep things in good shape. If there are any brass shims they need holes in them too, so the oil can get where it needs to be.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Control stick lubrication, cables, and pulleys

Hello SpecialT

Do you operate your clip wing under an STC for your aircraft? If so, should there not be an Operators Manual (or similar) to show where lubrication is required?

Or is it purely Experimental where you are the owner/operator?

Rob

[SpecialT]

Re: Control stick lubrication, cables, and pulleys

Thanks Hank and Tom. I have seen the "Mooney" guys using Tri-flow on a number of things related to control surfaces. Robert, this website is my manual :-) it contains all the latest up-to-date versions of Taylorcraft things. Ha, ha. But in all seriousness, my plane was built by a farmer from the mid-west and another guy out west and I have not been able to track them down or keep in contact with one and the other. The plane is certified as an Experimental, so no official manual. Weight and balance, operating limitations, a couple of other things, but I'm going to make one. I bought a Taylorcraft B Owners and Service Manual back at Oshkosh at the Taylorcraft Association tent. I'm the owner/operator.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Control stick lubrication, cables, and pulleys

Is that the Cole conversion clip wing that Sid Nelson used to fly? I think it was built out of a 1938 or 39 airplane.

[SpecialT]

Re: Control stick lubrication, cables, and pulleys

A BC-65. It is a Duane Cole conversion. But I don't think my plane is that famous. But maybe I can say Sid flew it?

[3Dreaming]

Re: Control stick lubrication, cables, and pulleys

Sid Nelson flew airshows here in the midwest in a Cole conversion Clip Wing T-Craft 20 to 25 years ago. He signature was an inverted ribbon cut on take off. I have been told the reason he did it on take off is because after flying his routine he was to tired to do it at the end. They said the Cole airplane was like flying a 450 Stearman, and the Swick was like a Buker.

[SpecialT]

Re: Control stick lubrication, cables, and pulleys

How about Graphite Dry Lube on the pulleys? Did I read somewhere in a Taylorcraft manual that "Graphite Lube" be used? Or was that just graphite grease for the "roller bearings in the landing wheels?"

Will Graphite lube, or any other kind of lube hurt the Polyfiber fabric if some overspray gets on it, when lubing things? I'm going over every inch of this plane... or at least it feels like it. I'm back in the tail checking the cables and don't want to crawl in there again until next year.

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Control stick lubrication, cables, and pulleys

Graphite lube won't harm the Polyfiber but it will stain it gray. Graphite will eventually destroy aluminum so be careful where and how you use it.
At my shop we use LPS 2 for pulleys and Aeroshell 5 grease for landing gear. There are other good products besides these, but you know...once we are in a groove we sort of stay there.