Do your elevators fall when plane sitting?

[woodmw]

With the plane sitting in hangar, if you pull the elevators to full up, will they stay in place, or will their weight pull them full down?

[3Dreaming]

They should fall to full down when sitting. If they don't there is too much drag in the system. It can come for mis-alignment of the stabilizers, hinge line being pulled out of alignment (3 hinge elevators), bushings at the bottom of the "H" column, possibly a bad pulley, or rough control shaft through the panel. Or, it could be a combination of any or all of the listed items.

[Miguel]

The elevators must be according to the position of the elevator command.

[woodmw]

Thanks, Tom. Wasn't sure if elevators had enough weight to pull "H" frame over center if elevators were full up. Mine need a little help to go down until just above neutral, parallel to horizontal stab. From that point they fall on their own. New pulleys, ball bearing type, chrome control rods, new phenolic guides in panel with just a bit (tech term) of clearance, "H" frame was removed and shims (bearings) looked OK. No rough edges or bends. New pins and bushings in elevator hinges. I think I will loosen the bolts on the "H" frame clamps a turn or so and see that frees up anything. Its been a few years since all this was done and I don't remember how easily the elevators moved with new hinge hardware but before cables attached. Need to disconnect elevator cables and check.

[Hank Jarrett]

One thing I have seen done that will cause this is putting the shims on the "H" with the oil holes not aligned with the holes in the hold down straps. When the shims are backwards no oil gets to the moving surfaces. Also if there is a tiny bit of rust on the H journals it will drag a bit as it wears off. When you put oil into the lube holes you will get just a bit of rust on a paper towel as it weeps out at the edges. That tiny bit of rust will wear off pretty quick and the elevators will start to drop on their own.

[mike lutz]

Be sure to check the cable tension also. On a Taylorcraft I have found when this problem occurs the cables are just slightly to snug.

[mikeg]

Slid tubes may need a little lube. I use vasaline.
Mike

[N96337]

Slid tubes may need a little lube. I use vasaline.
Mike

They should be lubed with graphite if at all.
John