Shaft for trim tab system needed

[PA1195]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

Gary,

"Prior to takeoff I set it neutral, or just look back and do the same".

How in the heck do you do that? Without opening the door and cranking your body halfway out to see the elevator? Either the back half of you plane has no covering or you have the neck of an owl, lol.

My indicator is 'inop' at this point and has been for awhile. I make it a habit to reset after shutdown, or when I remember. I know exactly how many turns I usually use so no problem.

WHO WHO ME? Yea I can lean out and see the up elevator, but usually just catch it during shutdown or center the trim turns during a checklist run. Any wood remaining in mine is only over the seaplane doors...the front and rear skylight attaches to metal so not sure where the trim deal would attach.

I can live with it as is as the trim's effect is puny compared with a flying tail on a Cub or Cessna. It's more for convenience in leveling flight than establishing some angle as the elevator pressure is very light. And actually I'd rather have full elevator authority on landing than give some up to a down-turned trim tab.

Gary

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

The parts book shows that the indicator plate is screwed to the front side of the wood strip that sits over the front upper cabin tube.

I found that painful to do so I attached mine with double sided foam tape and every 4-5 years I have to replace the tape.

[M Towsley]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

Hopefully some of these pictures will help.

Also, go to www.Taylorcraft.org.uk and look at the wonderful pictures Rob Lees took of his aircraft's trim indicator system. Go to the G-BREY section and click on Trim System Indicator.

[skip]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

Yes.

Go to this link and look on page 25 => http://www.taylorcraft.org/docs/Tayl...anual_1985.pdf

Dave,

That parts list shows a trim indicator and placard. Interesting. Thanks for posting it!

My 1946 BC12-D doesn't have any indicator. Haven't really needed one as the forces are light enough to overcome if needed on e.g. takeoff. And I do like others have mentioned and wind in three turns nose down after landing for the next flight.

But when I flew Peteroy's 41 Deluxe I saw that it had at least the indicator wire that moved with the trim. It would be nice to retrofit the indicator to the system on my plane. Does anyone have any drawings/pictures/advice on how one might go about adding/retrofitting the indicator to an otherwise working trim system?

[M Towsley]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

Gary,

"Prior to takeoff I set it neutral, or just look back and do the same".

How in the heck do you do that? Without opening the door and cranking your body halfway out to see the elevator? Either the back half of you plane has no covering or you have the neck of an owl, lol.

My indicator is 'inop' at this point and has been for awhile. I make it a habit to reset after shutdown, or when I remember. I know exactly how many turns I usually use so no problem.

[Bruce Caldwell]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

Hope this opens. If not I will try saving it as a jpg instead of a PDF.

Hank

Those came through perfect! Thanks Hank.
Bruce
N95893

[3Dreaming]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

It would have had a trim indicator originally.

[PA1195]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

A BF-65 would have had the flipper trim originally. The trim tab in the elevator came along with the B*12-65 series airplanes in 1941. They made both models for a time. The BC12-D didn't come along until November 1945.

Good information and catch on my mistake...mine was originally a BF-12-65 per Factory paperwork (it varies from a BF-12-65 to BF12-65 in the documents).

Was the trim indictor present at that time or was it a later dated installation?

Gary

[3Dreaming]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

Mine was born as a BF-65 in June 1941. There's not much mention in this Taylorcraft Instruction Manual on page 4 (https://app.box.com/shared/5koe6ad3br) about an indicator being installed. Maybe there's more available via this Forum regarding it's initial installation?

I had one on my last Taylorcraft (an even earlier 1941 BC12-D N29694) but don't know if it was O/E or added by Jim Blake the fellow that restored the plane prior to my purchase in 1974.

Might be a handy item to refer to if the pulley is covered by a headliner.

Gary

A BF-65 would have had the flipper trim originally. The trim tab in the elevator came along with the B*12-65 series airplanes in 1941. They made both models for a time. The BC12-D didn't come along until November 1945.

[PA1195]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

Mine was born as a BF-65 in June 1941. There's not much mention in this Taylorcraft Instruction Manual on page 4 (https://app.box.com/shared/5koe6ad3br) about an indicator being installed. Maybe there's more available via this Forum regarding it's initial installation?

I had one on my last Taylorcraft (an even earlier 1941 BC12-D N29694) but don't know if it was O/E or added by Jim Blake the fellow that restored the plane prior to my purchase in 1974.

Might be a handy item to refer to if the pulley is covered by a headliner.

Gary

[Robert Lees]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

Well for certain models (my 1946 and 1946 BC12D ones as examples) it was "original equipment".

Legalities aside, can I offer a friendly reminder to owners & pilots to only adjust the overhead trim when the control yoke is in the neutral position, otherwise the cable can slip over the aft pulley .

Rob

[PA1195]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

My trim takes about six turns to go from stop to stop. It's marked nose up/nose down on the pulley with arrows. Midway...three turns from either stop...is neutral trim with the tab in line with the rear of the elevator. Prior to takeoff I set it neutral, or just look back and do the same. Not sure how I'd benefit from an indicator.

Gary

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

OK, so let me get this straight. There is supposed to be a "trim position indicator" installed??

I had a '41 BC-65 with the flippers and of course no position indicator. Then I bought a '41 BC12-65 DELUXE that has the trim tab on the elevator and a crank in the overhead. It has a wool headliner but no position indicator. I thought that it could use one, but I decided that it didn't really matter, I turned it to relieve yoke pressure for whatever speed I was shooting for, not to make a needle point in a certain direction.

I thought that it was built that way. I guess that I will be doing some investigating when I get back up north in the spring (early May). Leave me some space on the forum so I can ask some probing questions.

Louie

Yes.

Go to this link and look on page 25 => http://www.taylorcraft.org/docs/Tayl...anual_1985.pdf

[M Towsley]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

Louis,

The indicator is nice to remind you the next time you take off. If you cranked in a couple of turns, or more, of up elevator trim at landing it will remind you to put it back where you want it for take off the next time you fly if you forgot.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Shaft for trim tab system needed

Hope this opens. If not I will try saving it as a jpg instead of a PDF.

Hank

I'd love to see the drawings. You can post them here of send me an email at [email protected].

Thanks Hank, I have learned so much from your posts.

Bruce
N59893