Build A Plane

[soloflight]

Here is what I did today.

I have temporarily hung my Dennis Olemann rudder pedals to test fit all the mounts. I can't take credit for the idea however I like the way everything turned out.

[soloflight]

sorry I forgot to list the pictures above.

[soloflight]

For some reason it only loaded on of my pics. I will try it later

[Rob Wright]

would you post another photo. A close up of where the tubes go through the bulkheads?

[soloflight]

Rob, here are a couple other pics I hope they help.

 

Notice the bulkhead extensions have not yet been glassed on nor have the mounting ends been glasssed. I also plan to beef up the area where the tubes pass through the bulkheads.

[macleodm3]

That looks like nice work. What are the reasons to install them this way (vs. plans)?

[rnbraud]

Are those bearings on the ends?

 

If so, could you elaborate on how you did them?

 

Thanks.

[soloflight]

I installed them hanging so that I wouldn't have the tube going across the floor. This will clear up space for the passenger’s feet.

 

Yes, those are bearings on the ends this is an idea I got from another builder. The end hub is set up just like a roller blade wheel with two bearings on each end attached to the shaft. There is a retaining collar in the middle of the bearings to hold the entire assembly in place.

[brendanw]

I installed them hanging so that I wouldn't have the tube going across the floor. This will clear up space for the passenger’s feet.

It seems like you might have trouble with the kinematics of this approach. With this orientation you'll have to push away and up with the balls of your feet to get full rudder deflection and engage the braking system. With the opposite orientation (plans method) your heels are essentially in line with the pivot point of the pedals, thereby making it a more natural movement.

 

Dont get me wrong, this will probably work and you've done a really neat job. Just make sure you consider the throw of the pedals for rudder and braking. If nothing else, it will give you an excuse to sit in the cockpit (with whatever shoes you may be wearing in flight), push on the pedals and make airplane noises!!

[soloflight]

It seems like you might have trouble with the kinematics of this approach. With this orientation you'll have to push away and up with the balls of your feet to get full rudder deflection and engage the braking system. With the opposite orientation (plans method) your heels are essentially in line with the pivot point of the pedals, thereby making it a more natural movement.

 

Dont get me wrong, this will probably work and you've done a really neat job. Just make sure you consider the throw of the pedals for rudder and braking. If nothing else, it will give you an excuse to sit in the cockpit (with whatever shoes you may be wearing in flight), push on the pedals and make airplane noises!!

Yep, already thought about this one and did some research sitting in the cockpit going through the motions and all seemed to work well.

[brendanw]

Yep, already thought about this one and did some research sitting in the cockpit going through the motions and all seemed to work well.

Good! How did the airplane noises come out then??!?!?!

[Zulu Yankee]

Where will the master cyliners go?

[soloflight]

Where will the master cyliners go?

At this point I am thinking I will build some sort of mounting bracket attached to the NG-30s.

[Rob Wright]

Looks nice. It’s probably just the way I am looking at the photos. It looks like the passenger side inboard rudder pedal tube would make contact with the tube that carries over to the passenger side outboard rudder pedal tube when the passenger inboard rudder pedal is pressed fully? Does what I am saying make any sense? I am having trouble articulating what I see.

[soloflight]

Rob, there is plenty of room for movement of the pedals it is just the camera angle that makes it look so close.

[HardKnox]

RV pedals are hung like this, but they use UHMWPE for the bearings instead of real bearings -- UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene). RVs use two end blocks with a hole drilled not all the way through. The top rods are inserted into these blocks and the blocks are bolted to the fuse walls. There's also a center bearing block with the hold drilled all the way through.

 

You can sort of see them in this photo of my RV under construction.

 

 

 

Not having received my plans yet, I don't know if the Cozy calls for this stuff, but it has a million and one uses in aircraft constrution.

[soloflight]

HardKnox,

I have been looking for a material to use on the center portion of the pedal tubes where they pass through the keel. I will check into this one.

[macleodm3]

I have been looking for a material to use on the center portion of the pedal tubes where they pass through the keel.

The kitchen cutting boards sold at department stores (usually white) may be an easy source of this material. We use black PE pipe at work... it is so durable and SLICK! I would not hesitate to use the cutting board material.

[Edge 513]

At this point I am thinking I will build some sort of mounting bracket attached to the NG-30s.

If you want master cylinder pressure that really works instead of just hoping it works, you should carefully examine the 2 diagrams on the Matco website and be sure to get at least the 2.5 to 1 ratio they REQUIRE. Some guys with hanging pedals are just not doing that and are not going to get the proper force into the Matco master cylinders. Just placing the Masters in front of the pedal arms is not going to cut it. Might look nice- but won't work properly pressurewise.

 

 

Your mileage 'will not' vary, instead of 'may', according to Matco.

[soloflight]

The kitchen cutting boards sold at department stores (usually white) may be an easy source of this material. We use black PE pipe at work... it is so durable and SLICK! I would not hesitate to use the cutting board material.

Even before you posted this I had installed some cutting board material as seen in the photo. Not sure if its the same material I picked the blue instead of white just for color. It is very strong and works great other than it squeaks.

I may try something else???

[macleodm3]

Maybe some sort of lubrication would help. Of course, will you hear the squeek when the engine is running?

[Edge 513]

UHMW will not squeek. I don't know what you've tied into, but it sounds like it's a different grade of plastic. Mine are UHMW and don't talk back to me.

[soloflight]

I think I will look for another material to try. Mine is low grade wal-mart poly. I have heard of a material called Derlin anyone have experience with it?

[raiki]

We used the white cutting blocks as material for cable bearings in the Corby CJ1. It looks like Nylon. I think it was John Corby that suggested it but I really cant remember, so long ago.

 

However we never flew the Starlet so I can't comment on durability. Had to sell it before we finished it.

[Big Steve]

If my memory serves me correctly Delerin is softer than uhmw. I work at a sugar factory and we use uhmw for bearings in shafts that contact sugar which is very abrasive. It works pretty good. That is what I am using for my bearings. Here is a picture.

 

 

STeve