Rudderbar question

[mhorowit]

Attached is my rudderbar.
Rob says it's bent.
I see the ends certainly arn't in the same plane, but the curves are smooth and I can't visualize what forces might cause the rudderbar to bend.

Is it indeed bent? how did it likely occur? If indeed the ends should be in the same plane, where would you apply heat to bend the horns down? At the rudder post? - Mike

[VictorBravo]

Re: Rudderbar question

It's bent. Buy another cast aluminum one or make a better one out of steel tube and steel sheet. Re-bending the one you have could easily cause a weakness or start a crack. That is a very critical part in my opinion, because when it breaks at the wrong moment in a crosswind and you groundloop, all the work you're about to do over the next months will be put at risk. It's cheap insurance and good practive for you to fabricate a new one that won't break.

[high time cub]

Re: Rudderbar question

Hey Mike,

Your "Rudder Arm" is indeed bent.

To see a "Rudder Bar" scroll down to "flight controls" here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bleriot/tour-nf.html

Mike, I know we're getting older, but not THAT old!

Jim

[mhorowit]

Re: Rudderbar question

What force would cause the bend? - Mike

[Robert Lees]

Re: Rudderbar question

Tailspring failure or tailwheel cast bracket failure, causing the whole tail weight to land on the rudder arm?

[mhorowit]

Re: Rudderbar question

It's bent. Buy another cast aluminum one or make a better one out of steel tube and steel sheet.

Huh? I may have mis-named the part. I think this is steel (haven't used a magnet on it) and it's the part that the tailwheel springs attach to, not the part higher up that attach to the rudder cables. The legs are at least 1/4" thick metal. - Mike

[crispy critter]

Re: Rudderbar question

Mike,
It's made from magnisium(the same stuff the aileron hinges are made of).

[mhorowit]

Re: Rudderbar question

Mike,
It's made from magnisium(the same stuff the aileron hinges are made of).

Does a magnet attract magnisium? Whatever the material, a magnet sticks to it. - Mike

[Dick Smith]

Re:if Magnesium is magnetic...

Mike, according to this link, magnesium is not magnetic.
http://www.vanderkrogt.net/elements/elem/mg.html Dick

[Guest]

Re: Rudderbar question

Does a magnet attract magnisium? Whatever the material, a magnet sticks to it. - Mike

Some T-craft's had them made of steel. Steel is magnetic. Aluminum and magnesium are not magnetic.

Dave

[Guest]

Re: Rudderbar question

picture attached

[mhorowit]

Re: Rudderbar question

picture attached

Thank you Dick - Do you have a recommendation on how best to unbend mine? I'm tempted to heat it close to where the stud joins, but am concerned about possibilily weakening the metal - Mike

[Guest]

Re: Rudderbar question

Thank you Dick - Do you have a recommendation on how best to unbend mine? I'm tempted to heat it close to where the stud joins, but am concerned about possibilily weakening the metal - Mike

I would heat it till its redish-orange at the root (stud) and bend it back.

Check for cracks afterward using heat or magnaflux, heat will be better in this case.

Dave