Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Make a small bell crank with a ratio to match the display

Yep, I was afraid that was gonna be the the suggestion. I think I'll just remove it. I'll save a few ounces of weight while I'm at it.

It looks like Im going to need to run down to my local machine shop to get these fork ends swaged (for my rudder cables). In case I've missed it, I just wanted to ask if there was a reasonably priced tool I could purchase to do this myself?

Not only do they need to be swaged, but go no go tested. Some boat yards can do it.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Oh, good tip, thanks. I didn't consider testing.

I think this is the only tool I have seen and it's not what I would call affordable:
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... kkey=46640

Is it feasible to convert to nicopress? Not as sleek and pretty but every bit as effective and a lot cheaper to work with. Then again, I bought my rudder cables from Cubes.

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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 have rudder cables in stock. Having said that, I have no idea if there is a difference in length by moving them outboard
Cubes

Outboard is about .75 longer than down the center.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
KEFD

Yep , as Bob sez . I took some of my cables to a "rigging outfit" that does just that . They had a hydraulic press that squeezed on the fittings ! When they found out it was for an aircraft they weren't even going to charge me , but I told them I knew a few Air Force guys and they said that will be $5.00 ! OH MY ! If you don't have a commercial boat yard that does this sort of thing , then try a "rigging outfit" that does cables , etc. for commercial cranes .

RB

The S-18 cables are about an inch longer than the ones I replaced on my T-18. If Ryan's T-18 is like mine, and there is nothing to say that it is, then the S-18 cables might fit the new routing.

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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

We'll see I guess. Thanks for all the outstanding input. I have gone back and decided to route my rudder cables down the center as per plans. The per plans method is a straight shot from the pedals to the rudder attach point. Its just so clean and efficient, i like it too much. I'll just have to lift my foot over the rudder cables when I want to stretch out on those long cross country flights. I do that now with my flying T18 and it doesn't bother me. I find that future maintenance thoughts drive a lot of my build decisions. That's why I removed the elevator trim indicator too. Just one more thing to have to fix/repair.

Ryan, you're a man after my own heart. 100% agree.

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John Evens
Arvada, Colorado
T-18 N71JE (sold)
Kitfox 7 SS N27JE

FWIW, I have S18 cables in stock as well. Jeff, they should be exactly 5 inches longer than the T.
Cubes

You might be thinking of flap cables which are exactly 1 inch longer.
Cubes

This is the ray allen position sensor mounted on trim arm. It travels the full movement of the sensor for the display.