Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I was replacing the flap springs last night and noticed the wires (pn 631-2), especially the right one, are getting corroded and pitted. I don’t think I would like to have only one flap deploy so I am thinking it’s time for new. The drawing calls for .09 hard steel wire. Are people using hinge pin to make these?

Thanks

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Thorp T18
O-320-B3B (160 HP)
68x74 Sterba Propeller

"The joke in aviation is, 'If you want to make a million, you'd better start with £10m.' " -Bruce Dickinson

Local hobby shop might have what you need.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

I don’t have a local hobby shop unless you count a 2 hour drive as local. I do have about 6 feet of piano hinge with the hinge pin. If I need something else I can call Spruce and have them add it to the order I placed last night.

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Thorp T18
O-320-B3B (160 HP)
68x74 Sterba Propeller

"The joke in aviation is, 'If you want to make a million, you'd better start with £10m.' " -Bruce Dickinson

The local ACE Hardware carries several sizes of piano wire,maybe try them

Try Cubes . Thorp Central probably has them ready made . I got mine from Classic Sport which is now Thorp Central .

RB

Thorp Central is a valuable resource to be sure but I have been having some problems matching their stock to a 44 year old hand built aircraft of a different model. In some cases it has been deviations from the drawings in others it has been differences between the models. What I am looking at today is a deviation for sure. I haven’t checked the S-18 drawings yet to see if there is a difference.

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Thorp T18
O-320-B3B (160 HP)
68x74 Sterba Propeller

"The joke in aviation is, 'If you want to make a million, you'd better start with £10m.' " -Bruce Dickinson

A bit of copper coated welding rod 1/8" works well.

Tony Schischka
T18C
ZK-VMS

Ops, I used that as the link between the spring and the flap, not the spring!
Tony

I just went ahead and used the hinge pin. It’s fairly strong and there isn’t a lot of pressure on it even when the flaps are full down. If I auger it in with one flap extended then we will know I was wrong.

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Thorp T18
O-320-B3B (160 HP)
68x74 Sterba Propeller

"The joke in aviation is, 'If you want to make a million, you'd better start with £10m.' " -Bruce Dickinson

I am always right at least 50% of the time !

RB

RB does that make you left the rest of the time
Phil
118BC

I am surprised no one called me out on my comment about only one flap deploying.

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Thorp T18
O-320-B3B (160 HP)
68x74 Sterba Propeller

"The joke in aviation is, 'If you want to make a million, you'd better start with £10m.' " -Bruce Dickinson

Nothing gets past me ! You wouldn't be the first T-18 to have split flaps on landing . I can think of one S-18 ( not mine ) that pulled it off .

RB

I don't think it would happen. I had my right flap stick down after retracting the flaps , on takeoff I would hear a "thump" and it was the flap coming up due to the airflow The airflow over the wing would keep the flaps up. I would think you would be in deep DODO if you had them extended and a cable broken letting one flap retract

You could eliminate that connector. I have springs that are unfinished on one end. They are about 14" long. Just bend as desired.
Cubes