Fairleads

[Blade]

I need new fairleads for my airframe. Has anyone tried these from Aircraft Spruce before?

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo.../fairleads.php

The price isn't bad but I want to make sure they would be okay to use.

[N-43121]

Re: Fairleads

I ordered a couple of these to try out when I was starting to put things back together. They didn't fit right (too loose if I remember correctly) and I decided I didn't like the complexity. I decided to go with the phenolic type and glue them in. I believe I got them from Forrest through the foundation. They worked great.
Rod

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Fairleads

Mark.

The Acft Spruce fairleads are a smaller diameter than the T-craft leads. You can make them work if you wrap some electrical tape around them but they are not the best solution.

Make new fairleads yourself. Here is how:

Purchase 1 foot of phenolic tubing from United States Plastic Corp.

https://www.usplastics.com

Part number is 47082. Catalog page is 171. $7.20 per foot.
This is 5/8 OD phenolic with a 3/32 wall thickness which is identical to the OEM phenolic stock in every way except color. New stuff is tan vs brown.

Cut the phenolic tubing to length with a hack saw or turn it on a lathe if you have one. Square the tubing on a bench sander if your hacksaw skills are like mine. Fairlead length is .837 inches. Allow extra if you plan to sand it square.

Now chuck a 5/8 dowel into your drill press and slip one piece of phenolic tubing onto the dowel. Turn the phenolic on the dowel and cut the groove into each end of the fairlead using a needle file or a small sharp tool of your choice. DON"T FORGET TO WEAR EYE PROTECTION. If the phenolic slips, just use a little duct tape to hold it to the dowel.

If you don't own a drill press, no problem. Put your largest drill bit into your electric drill motor. Wind duct tape onto the drill bit until the phenolic tube fits tightly on the bit/tape. Now you have a poor-boy lathe and you can cut the grooves with a sharp tool.

If you have OEM C-clips then mount the new fairleads with those. If you don't have the C-clips then a wrap of safety wire will do quite nicely to hold the fairleads in place.

Attached photo is an OEM fairlead is poor condition.