Cable or pushrod torque tube

[46TCRAFT]

Hey guys, i have looked at the swick ,cole and ritchie clippwings.
Is the swick pushrod system worth all the work and weight??

I am leaning on the swick tube with the cole aileron bellcrank
(which is already built i.e. Stock elavator bell crank ) any ideas?

Thanks bill

[Steve Morgan]

Re: Cable or pushrod torque tube

I know this is a kind of old thread, but my opinion is that it really depends on what type of clipwing you have... I would only recommend the additional weight of the pushrod system if you have the horsepower to offset it, and if you really plan to notice the difference between one or the other.

I think about 90% of all clipwings have no need for the additional weight. Warren Pietsch has the highest performance Swick-T out there and he still has cable controls throughout, with the exception of the aileron control rods inside the cabin leading up to the wing. I was fortunate to carry on a conversation with him regarding this issue and he expressed interest in upgrading to all push-pull tubes for the reduction of slop, but keep in mind he flies a very vigorous airshow routine.

Ask yourself what you want from your clipped t-craft: a single seat aerobatic machine or the 2 seat sunday acro plane with fuel economy to match?

[Acroeric]

Re: Cable or pushrod torque tube

Even after having both ailerons built and both wings ready to cover I still keep wishing I would have made an all push rod system and 30% hinged type ailerons. . . .the old frise type with cables work fine at 100 mph stright and level but there is much better designs out there now. I have push rods up to the top of the fuse then the cables from there to the ailerons. . . .

[46TCRAFT]

Re: Cable or pushrod torque tube

Thanks guys.

Eric after flying cole and swick ts, are the swick pushrods that much better than the aleron pulleys used on the cole?

I have a student {77 years young} with a restored t craft with ball bearing pulleys. The controls are 500% better than stock.

I think 2 pulleys like that at the top of the fuslage would be the ticket for light weight and simplicity???

I had a friend with a factory cert. O200 swick years ago at dacy airport. Flew it a lot. Never got my hands on a cole.

Have both plans and need to make my mind up on which way to go.

Its time to stert cuttn n welding !!

Thanks bill

[Acroeric]

Re: Cable or pushrod torque tube

Where the Swick is better than the Cole is definately in the ailerons. My Cole had spades and was still pretty heavy. Basically Cole used stock ailerons and there was no counterbalance to help it out. The slop in the old pulleys is one thing but the stretch in all that cable is something totally different that we all tend to forget about. My last BC-12-D had all BB pulleys and it was WAY better than the old bushing type. The absolute best way to do it is to have all pushrods out to the bellcranks.. . . .no cables. Every time I look at my wings I think about doing it before I start covering. It would add a month and probably $1000 to the price tag but I think it is totally worth it. After flying some Pitts and a MX-2 with the new style 30% hinged ailerons it is really kind of crazy not to do it.

Steve Wolf helped me design a new aileron set-up. . . I'm really thinking about doing it.
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