Bungee install tool

[TimHicks]

After a harrowing experience using a standard bungee tool (where both ends of a bungee are raised at the same time using a screw) to install the first two bungees, I decided to try a different path to install the 2nd two bungees.

I made this lever.

I don't have any other pictures. But after a couple of tries, it worked pretty well.

I started with the 1090HD bungee looped aroung the forward upper peg, then around the landing gear. Then I tied the free end to the lever tool using a nylon rope. Then (with the wheels chocked) I rotated the right end of the lever up and forward (about the left end in the picture) a touch more than 90° until the tool was mostly vertical.

At that point, the top of the bungee loop was above the rear peg, but it was not really looped around it. So I used a big, dull screwdrive to convince the bungee laterally into its proper orientation (while I held the tension with the tool). Then, once the bungee was around the peg, I rotated the tool back rearward to lower it onto the peg. Then I untied the knot in the cord and pulled the cord from underneath the bungee.

You can see that I scraped the paint off where the lever bore against the cross tube.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Bungee install tool

Clever idea. A few questions.
1) Did the bungee slide around on the bottom or is there more tension in the aft part of the loop than the front now?
2) Since this is how the bungees used to be put on (pulled around, not the new tool) does it matter if the tension is asymmetric?
3) How much force was needed to pull the handle up? If it slipped loose would it go down and punch through the bottom of the fuselage?
4) What kind of problems did you have with the old tool? Mine went pretty smooth (the instal, not the removal...till we bit the bullet and cut them)

Hank

[Guest]

Re: Bungee install tool

After a harrowing experience using a standard bungee tool (where both ends of a bungee are raised at the same time using a screw) to install the first two bungees, I decided to try a different path to install the 2nd two bungees.

I made this lever.

I don't have any other pictures. But after a couple of tries, it worked pretty well.

I started with the 1090HD bungee looped aroung the forward upper peg, then around the landing gear. Then I tied the free end to the lever tool using a nylon rope. Then (with the wheels chocked) I rotated the right end of the lever up and forward (about the left end in the picture) a touch more than 90° until the tool was mostly vertical.

At that point, the top of the bungee loop was above the rear peg, but it was not really looped around it. So I used a big, dull screwdrive to convince the bungee laterally into its proper orientation (while I held the tension with the tool). Then, once the bungee was around the peg, I rotated the tool back rearward to lower it onto the peg. Then I untied the knot in the cord and pulled the cord from underneath the bungee.

You can see that I scraped the paint off where the lever bore against the cross tube.

Hi Tim,

Tell me more about that harrowing experience please.

I had not heard of a problem before.

Were you using one of my tools or some other?

I am thinking that it was not my tool because I don't see your name on my customer list.

I have been making them since 1998 or 1999 never had anything but good reports.

Dave

[Guest]

Re: Bungee install tool

Clever idea. A few questions.
1) Did the bungee slide around on the bottom or is there more tension in the aft part of the loop than the front now?
2) Since this is how the bungees used to be put on (pulled around, not the new tool) does it matter if the tension is asymmetric?
3) How much force was needed to pull the handle up? If it slipped loose would it go down and punch through the bottom of the fuselage?
4) What kind of problems did you have with the old tool? Mine went pretty smooth (the instal, not the removal...till we bit the bullet and cut them)

Hank

Hi Hank,

Most of the scenarios that you list are why I started doing the tools.

The lever method is dangerous and back in the beginning of my making them I had folks sending me notes thankful that they could get away from the lever and car jack.

Some told horror stories of the damage caused by the lever when it came loose or they slipped and it catapulted thru the covering and damaged the cabin.

I recall in the early 80's that one fellow got his head seriously whomped by a car jack scheme.

Frankly the lever is a bad idea. Some one will get hurt.

I am very curious to hear the details of the harrowing experience.

Dave

p.s. - note that with my tool you get installation instructions that tell you to cut the cords with a knife as you ended up doing, the tool is not intended to remove cords.

[TimHicks]

Re: Bungee install tool

I'll take a picture of the screw-type tool. Not sure if it is DRude tool. But conceptually it is the same.

Maybe i just need to be trained on how to use it safely. I borrowed it from another TCraft owner at my home-drome. He told me how nice it was to use.

When I used the DRude-type tool, everything went great up until the point that the bungee was stretched and lined up to go onto the the pegs. Then if one loop was moved onto one of the pegs, the other side of the bungee pulled down on the tool and cocked it so much that it was no longer lined up with the other peg.

And this was the harrowing part. The cocking was not a gentle thing. It was a great lopsided release of energy that threatened to throw the tool through the floor on the tensioned side. And screwing the screw further with the tool cocked (while one of us put as much righting force as possible on the tool) to try to get the remaining side high enough was bending the screw.

These were 11104 bungees. So a bit stronger than the 1090 bungees that perhaps the tool was designed to work with. after trying to install the 2nd 11104 bungees per side with the Drude-type tool with zero success after several alarming attempts, I decided to install 1090HD's as the second bungee per side. While I waited for the 1090s to arrive, I started thinking about the lever method.
So I didn't try the DRude-type tool with the 1090HD bungees. And I didn't try the lever-type tool with the 11104 bungees.

To answer Hank's questions
1. I believe some degree of both. Some sliding around happened, but I got the impression that there was asymmetric tension at the end.
2. Does it matter? I bet after the first landing, the asymmetry goes away.
3. How much force to actuate? Not sure. One man standing in the doorway can do it. When the bungee force gets greater, its moment arm gets shorter. So it doesn't take much force to hold it in the fully stretched position. And yes, if it got away from you, it could easily damage the floor of the fuselage.

[Guest]

Re: Bungee install tool

I'll take a picture of the screw-type tool. Not sure if it is DRude tool. But conceptually it is the same.

Maybe i just need to be trained on how to use it safely. I borrowed it from another TCraft owner at my home-drome. He told me how nice it was to use.

When I used the DRude-type tool, everything went great up until the point that the bungee was stretched and lined up to go onto the the pegs. Then if one loop was moved onto one of the pegs, the other side of the bungee pulled down on the tool and cocked it so much that it was no longer lined up with the other peg.

And this was the harrowing part. The cocking was not a gentle thing. It was a great lopsided release of energy that threatened to throw the tool through the floor on the tensioned side. And screwing the screw further with the tool cocked (while one of us put as much righting force as possible on the tool) to try to get the remaining side high enough was bending the screw.

These were 11104 bungees. So a bit stronger than the 1090 bungees that perhaps the tool was designed to work with. after trying to install the 2nd 11104 bungees per side with the Drude-type tool with zero success after several alarming attempts, I decided to install 1090HD's as the second bungee per side. While I waited for the 1090s to arrive, I started thinking about the lever method.
So I didn't try the DRude-type tool with the 1090HD bungees. And I didn't try the lever-type tool with the 11104 bungees.

To answer Hank's questions
1. I believe some degree of both. Some sliding around happened, but I got the impression that there was asymmetric tension at the end.
2. Does it matter? I bet after the first landing, the asymmetry goes away.
3. How much force to actuate? Not sure. One man standing in the doorway can do it. When the bungee force gets greater, its moment arm gets shorter. So it doesn't take much force to hold it in the fully stretched position. And yes, if it got away from you, it could easily damage the floor of the fuselage.

Tim,

Thanks for the explanation.

Please stop calling it a Drude tool it absolutely cannot be one.

Mine are designed to prevent the problem that you had.

With my tool you can slip one end of the cord onto the bungee tower leave the other end on the tool and it sits there stable and upright. You could go to lunch and come back and finish the job. Picture attached.

You definitely do not have one of my tools so please do not refer to it as a Drude tool.

Dave

p.s. my later tools do not have miter joints and also do not have crank but rather have a hex nut.

here is the old ad text;
New Taylorcraft Shock Cord Bungee Tool - This tool is very similar to the one manufactured by Taylorcraft however improvements have been made. Made of square steel tubing so the arms that hold the cord in place cannot rotate out of position. A crank operates the jackscrew making smooth fast operation. It has enough reach so that the new bungees can be attached to it even when the landing gear has moved up because the old bungees have been removed. Locks into position when the bungee has been fully stretched for no hands operation. You don't have to balance the tool while you slide the cords off. This tool remains stable even after you slide one side of the bungee off the tool and onto the plane. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. I think you will find it to be the best tool you have ever used. ...

[astjp2]

Re: Bungee install tool

I need to get a tool, someday if its in my budget...

[Pearson]

Re: Bungee install tool

1 trip to emergency room.................$7200.00

I screw type bungee tool...................priceless

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Bungee install tool

Hi Hank,

p.s. - note that with my tool you get installation instructions that tell you to cut the cords with a knife as you ended up doing, the tool is not intended to remove cords.

We were originally going to cut the cords but the mechanic with me was very nervous about them flying off and hitting something. We removed the first one by levering it off the posts. NOT a good idea! We cut the second one and it basically just kept stretching and relaxing so that as the last strands were cut it simply fell off. You need to cut it by pulling the knife across it in strokes. DO NOT saw on them! When it suddenly lets go it could flip the knife (not likely, but cold). I also would NOT cut through them with something like cutters or metal snips (we didn't try it, but I could see what would happen if you cut them suddenly). Just take a slice pulling the knife across them, let the remaining rubber stretch, and cut again. By the time you get to the last ones there is almost no energy left. We took about 3 or 4 cuts to part each one.
As to the tool, I was worried about it cocking because of the force and we were watching for that. Absolutely NO problem. It stayed solid in place the whole time. I am betting it was NOT one of the new tools, or if it was you need to get it back to Drude because it is seriously bent from the original shape. To bend his tool that much you would need to run over it with a train so if it IS one of his tools DO NOT USE IT AGAIN until he has checked it out!

Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Bungee install tool

Hi Hank,

p.s. - note that with my tool you get installation instructions that tell you to cut the cords with a knife as you ended up doing, the tool is not intended to remove cords.

We were originally going to cut the cords but the mechanic with me was very nervous about them flying off and hitting something. We removed the first one by levering it off the posts. NOT a good idea! We cut the second one and it basically just kept stretching and relaxing so that as the last strands were cut it simply fell off. You need to cut it by pulling the knife across it in strokes. DO NOT saw on them! When it suddenly lets go it could flip the knife (not likely, but could). I also would NOT cut through them with something like cutters or metal snips (we didn't try it, but I could see what would happen if you cut them suddenly). Just take a slice pulling the knife across them, let the remaining rubber stretch, and cut again. By the time you get to the last ones there is almost no energy left. We took about 3 or 4 cuts to part each one.
As to the tool, I was worried about it cocking because of the force and we were watching for that. Absolutely NO problem. It stayed solid in place the whole time. I am betting it was NOT one of the new tools, or if it was you need to get it back to Drude because it is seriously bent from the original shape. To bend his tool that much you would need to run over it with a train so if it IS one of his tools DO NOT USE IT AGAIN until he has checked it out!

Hank

[Guest]

Re: Bungee install tool

We were originally going to cut the cords but the mechanic with me was very nervous about them flying off and hitting something. We removed the first one by levering it off the posts. NOT a good idea! We cut the second one and it basically just kept stretching and relaxing so that as the last strands were cut it simply fell off. You need to cut it by pulling the knife across it in strokes. DO NOT saw on them! When it suddenly lets go it could flip the knife (not likely, but could). I also would NOT cut through them with something like cutters or metal snips (we didn't try it, but I could see what would happen if you cut them suddenly). Just take a slice pulling the knife across them, let the remaining rubber stretch, and cut again. By the time you get to the last ones there is almost no energy left. We took about 3 or 4 cuts to part each one.
As to the tool, I was worried about it cocking because of the force and we were watching for that. Absolutely NO problem. It stayed solid in place the whole time. I am betting it was NOT one of the new tools, or if it was you need to get it back to Drude because it is seriously bent from the original shape. To bend his tool that much you would need to run over it with a train so if it IS one of his tools DO NOT USE IT AGAIN until he has checked it out!

Hank

Thanks Hank for the info.

The cords do make an absolutely awful noise when you cut that last strand don't they!

Dave

[TimHicks]

Re: Bungee install tool

The tool that I used was not a DRude tool because it doesn't have square tubing. Sorry that I still don't have a picture. But it had round tubing. And a square thread screw with a nut on top.
I'm glad that Dave has figured out how to keep it from cocking under a crooked load. I'll never use this round-tube screw-type Bungee tool again. Too dangerous.
I may use the lever tool again. It was controlable. And it can be used to dismount the bungees without cutting them (not that I've ever needed to do that).

But more likely for me is to just buy a Drude tool the next time I need to install bungees.

[LostnSpace]

Re: Bungee install tool

I have seen several bungee tools that looked like someone saw a picture of Drudes very fine tool and did a copy, but didn't catch all the design work Drude did, I have had mine from Drude for quite awhile and it is a very good design and well worth the price, Tom

[3Dreaming]

Re: Bungee install tool

I have seen several bungee tools that looked like someone saw a picture of Drudes very fine tool and did a copy, but didn't catch all the design work Drude did, I have had mine from Drude for quite awhile and it is a very good design and well worth the price, Tom

The tool he described sounds like a copy of the Taylorcraft bungee tool which predates the drude tool.

[TimHicks]

Re: Bungee install tool

Here is a picure of the screw-type bungee tool that I used initially. I'll never use this tool again. Too dangerous.