Merged: Threads on Shinn brakes

[ROllerton]

Cables:

I have been told that the stainless cables are a tradeoff of anti-corrosion in exchange for flexibility. They are not able to take as many flex cycles as the steel cables can before needing replacement. So the Stainless steel cables have a shorter life than regular steel cables; unless of course you have a sea plane.

Given a climate thats a touch on the dry side, such as El Paso, I think you are safe with steel.

I am not an authority on this though.

Bob.

[Robert Lees]

Bob, you are essentially correct. Stainless cables have less resistance to fatigue.

Here in the very humid British Isles, our Taylorcraft cables fail initially by fatigue, corrosion issues come a long way down the list. So we always fit galvanised cables which, with a coat of lanolin, never corrode before they are replaced due to strand breakage.

This we find true of all cables (the right hand rudder cable is the worst, it never lasts more than about 500 hours, they always break strands at the rectangular fairleads under the canvas sling).

I might add that it is important to always use aircraft-grade cables, they have different self-lubricating and wear properties to the run-of-the-mill commercial types.

Rob

[ROllerton]

I wonder if they would last longer with a good lick of Bert's Bees????

[Robert Lees]

Sabrina:

3/32" dia brake cables is the factory size for your BC model. Many folk INCREASE to 1/8, but there are pros and cons of so doing.

The increase in dia leads to greater curvature around the small dia pulleys, so the lost motion (backlash) in the braking system can be greater. There should be a spring at the belcrank at the bottom of the gear to minimise this.

Also, the brake pedals may need to be drilled out to accept the larger dia cables.

My own opinion is to stick with the 3/32 cable, they are less prone to strand breakage, but be aware that they are inherently weaker than thicker cables, so vigilance is required during maintenance checks.

Rob