Elevator trim tab slop

[Goneflyin]

The IA that does my annuals usually leaves me a todo list and this winter he wants the trim tab looked at. The freeplay in my trim tab is about 1/2", I only have one other TCraft in the area to compare it to and his seemed about the same. I've looked at the Taylorcraft.UK site (great site) and the linkage looks like there's room for a little movement. Is a 1/2" bad ?

Thanks Bill

[taylorcraft078]

Mine is real close to zero. I have a 41 with what I am told is a 46 or newer trim setup. They should not wiggle much.
Dave
N36078 '41 BC-12-65

[Tcraft Classics]

There's a ton of info in our very own forum on trim problems/fixes.

Here's the link.

http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49

[Robert Lees]

Bill, 1/2" of slop is not excessive, tell your man that sometimes these old birds get that way a bit.

I have never heard of a flutter situation (which is his concern) on the Taylorcraft.

There are some fixes that are easy to do that can reduce it...but to eliminate it will require invasive surgery.

Have a try at some keyhole surgery through the inspection hatch under the elevator as a start.

Good luck!

[Forrest Barber]

Many times that slop is in the bolt to the horn wearing a notch or the hole in the horn being elongated. Very easy to fix, if it is the pulley mechanism, 1/2 in is not that bad. At the factory, we flight tested it with the tab free floating and it would not flutter if that is the concern.