Trim guide inserts

[Pilot78]

Has anyone replaced the copper inserts in the trim cable guides? I noticed mine have some deep cuts into the copper from the trim cable. The inserts look to be copper tubing with flared ends. Any help would be appreciated.

Brian
Salt Lake City-UT
TF#1023

[Robert Lees]

Re: Trim guide inserts

I remanufacture the broken aft trim cable fairlead, using solid copper. The original was exemplary in its lightness, but made of fibreboard with copper inserts must have been very expensive to make, but bless CG for his attention to a light design. But I cannot afford the tooling or time, so I have ventured for 1/16 oz extra weight and gone for the easy option. I got the copper from an electrical supplier (it's a standard bus-bar section).

[Pearson]

Re: Trim guide inserts

Brian,

Are you referring to the guide in Robert's picture, or the others near the cockpit area? I did the same as Robert for the guide located just forward of the pully on the elevator. The 4 others located along the top of the fuselage look to me like what you describe, tubing with the ends flared out. I measured the ID as 0.125". But I can't get a reading on the OD because of the flare. The OD of the tubing holding the guide is 0.250", so the tubing is probably 3/16" OD.

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Trim guide inserts

I went out to the hanger and looked at mine. Still painted, they look like steel as there is a weld bead showing on the stand off. L

[Pilot78]

Re: Trim guide inserts

Richard,
Yes the ones above the cockpit. They are steel on the outside with copper inserts. I think I can drill the old ones out and replace. Thanks for the measurements.

Robert,
Thanks for the pic, the one on mine by the rear stabalizer is phenolic, but I think I like the looks of yours and I will do the same.

Brian