Handle failure

[Gus Urtubey]

I got these handles from Tom. I wanted to adjust the line spacing and the down screw broke.
I NEVER tight screws more than needed, I just put minimun pressure and it broke.
The screws material is really soft, it is noticiable .
I was very lucky that it happened before flying.

[RknRusty]

Dang, you are very lucky.
Look in the stainless steel drawers at Lowes and get new ones for all of the handles.
Rusty

[frank mccune]

     Hello Gus:

     Your soft screws are just the norm for fasteners sold today!  I have found that screws, nails, bolts and nuts are so very soft that they are difficult to use.  I confronted my local hardware dealer about the nails being so soft that I could not drive one into wood without bending it.  I took a 16d nail from the bin and bent it with my bare hands!  The slots in screws strip before they can be driven home. In many cases I have had the self threading wood screws break before they are driven to full depth.   I pleaded to the owner of the hardware store begin stocking items that were usable but to no avail. I will gladly pay an additional cost for quality goods! Bolts and nuts are no better! Tough as nails? Not any more!

     I have been told that these products are made in China from steel produced in India.  Pure garbage! What ever happened to steel made in Pittsburgh, Cleveland etc.

                                                                                                                      I feel your pain,

                                                                                                                      Frank McCune

[Perry Rose]

I made a bar handle with the same type eye bolts. I used 4-40 eye bolts in a .136 hole with only the lock nut on the end. That way the bolt isn't exposed to bending as much as with two nuts locking it in place, plus the stress of tightening the lock nut. I get the eye bolts from a hobby shop either Sullivan or Du-Bro. 
They are "Sullivan 4-40 steel eye bolts, No. 549. About $2.50 for a pack of 6.

[Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach]

I made t5he same complaints to our local hardware store here in Canada and was told that there is only one place that does hardware anymore.  One company bought out all the others, soo they have to buy from them....and guess what they sell?  I now order everything from McMaster-Carr....good product, good price and quick delivery.

[Tim Wescott]

http://stunthanger.com/smf/open-forum/hard-point-handles-34623/



16 gm (handle weight makes a difference for some people).  I haven't had a failure yet.

[Fred Cronenwett]

I made a batch of handles (cable & hard point) and pull tested all of them and one of crimps on the cable version failed. I pulled the handles to 100 lbs or more just to make sure they would not break.

Fred

[Mark Scarborough]

I used to uise that style handle, and as a matter of course replaced the eyebolts at least once a year, or every three or four adjustments because they did have a tendancy to fail and its a critical part in the connection to the airplane.
Now I use the carbon plate style, not much to wear or fail there.

[dave siegler]

I build my own handles and use larger 1/4"  eye-bolts form the hardware store.  A little more bulky and i had to bend my own clips but it works well.

[Brett Buck]

I made a batch of handles (cable & hard point) and pull tested all of them and one of crimps on the cable version failed. I pulled the handles to 100 lbs or more just to make sure they would not break.

    I never had the cable fail from load. What got them was fatigue where the cable comes out of the hold, or where the cable turned the corner to go into the hole. Interestingly, the larger the cable diameter, the faster it failed.

     Brett

[Tim Wescott]

Dunno if these can be had in model quantities: http://www.wencosimplex.com/spade-bolts.aspx

I figure that if it comes from the hardware store, it's the cheapest of the cheap.  If I want good quality, I get it from an industrial supplier.  I'll pay more, but I'll get what I pay for.

[Steve Helmick]

Be sure to call/email Tom Morris about this failure...he may want to increase the size of the eyebolts or some other change. Like you, I used elastic lock nuts on my TM handles, but I never adjusted the eyebolt for length (clip length did that), only for spacing.  FWIW, Paul Walker used to fly his 103 oz B-17 STUNTER on one of those...stock, same as yours and mine. It flew rather quickly, too. 

Tim's "Spade Bolts" look like they'd be a bunch stronger. I'd go for 6-32's, while I was at it.  Steve

[Motorman]

I use 10-32 thumb screws in my hard point handles. Anyone using 6-32 eye bolts from a hardware store is just asking for it.

[Bill Adair]

So far I've seen no Chinese nuts and bolts at my local ACE Hardware stores. If that changes, I'll look for another source.

Bill

[Gus Urtubey]

Thank you guys, I am looking for the right hardware now.

[Paul Walker]

Be sure to call/email Tom Morris about this failure...he may want to increase the size of the eyebolts or some other change. Like you, I used elastic lock nuts on my TM handles, but I never adjusted the eyebolt for length (clip length did that), only for spacing.  FWIW, Paul Walker used to fly his 103 oz B-17 STUNTER on one of those...stock, same as yours and mine. It flew rather quickly.



Not true Steve. You have your facts wrong again. It was a custom made handle with oversize eyelettes. Still just fine. Should try the B-17 on one of my current handles!

[Target]

I'm using these right now....
  http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0789/2325/products/MPJ2298.jpg?v=1457470976

[Steve Helmick]

Be sure to call/email Tom Morris about this failure...he may want to increase the size of the eyebolts or some other change. Like you, I used elastic lock nuts on my TM handles, but I never adjusted the eyebolt for length (clip length did that), only for spacing.  FWIW, Paul Walker used to fly his 103 oz B-17 STUNTER on one of those...stock, same as yours and mine. It flew rather quickly.



Not true Steve. You have your facts wrong again. It was a custom made handle with oversize eyelettes. Still just fine. Should try the B-17 on one of my current handles!

Anytime you fly the B-17, I want to be there to see it again! Either one! That was only 16 years ago. Clearly, your memory is failing. Don't leave out the RWO in Ozzie!    Steve