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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Perry Rose on April 19, 2021, 01:06:35 PM

Title: Bellcrank post.
Post by: Perry Rose on April 19, 2021, 01:06:35 PM
I've always used 1/8 music wire for the post and the hole in the bushing is larger causing some slop. The other day I was looking for some 1/8 wire and came across a piece of wire from a political sign support. It's a perfect fit. I know it's not as stiff as the music wire but trying to bend a 2 1/2 inch piece by hand isn't possible.
Title: Re: Bellcrank post.
Post by: Jim Svitko on April 19, 2021, 03:16:09 PM
What are you using for the bushing?  1/8 music wire or 1/8 A2 steel rod fits very well into a bushing made from 5/32 brass tube.  Of course, there is some slop, but not enough to be concerned about.
Title: Re: Bellcrank post.
Post by: Kim Doherty on April 19, 2021, 03:21:48 PM
I've always used 1/8 music wire for the post and the hole in the bushing is larger causing some slop. The other day I was looking for some 1/8 wire and came across a piece of wire from a political sign support. It's a perfect fit. I know it's not as stiff as the music wire but trying to bend a 2 1/2 inch piece by hand isn't possible.

Perry,
Go get your bathroom scale and two small blocks of wood. Suspend the piece of wire (cut to length) between the blocks and use another piece of wood the same thickness as the portion of the bellcrank that will bear against the wire and push on the wire in the middle until you see 40 pounds. You will never reach this value while still flying. If the wire has not bent you are good to go.

Kim
Title: Re: Bellcrank post.
Post by: Brent Williams on April 19, 2021, 09:29:04 PM
I doubt the metal from a political sign is very good for our needs.  I would suspect it is soft and flexible. 

A high speed steel 1/8" drill blank is very strong, very smooth and polished.  Much nicer than rough music wire.

1/8" x 2.75" = $1.91  https://www.grainger.com/product/VERMONT-GAGE-High-Speed-Steel-Jobber-Drill-403H63

The phenolic material is tough and fairly self lubricating.  An additional brass bushing for the post seems a bit redundant, imho.

This bellcrank example is from Crist Rigotti.  Simple and effective.

(https://stunthanger.com/smf/gettin-all-amp'ed-up!/2013-electric-stunter-a-build-log/?action=dlattach;attach=112518;image)
(https://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=28728.0;attach=112682;image)
Title: Re: Bellcrank post.
Post by: Avaiojet on April 20, 2021, 07:47:02 AM
I've always used 1/8 music wire for the post and the hole in the bushing is larger causing some slop. The other day I was looking for some 1/8 wire and came across a piece of wire from a political sign support. It's a perfect fit. I know it's not as stiff as the music wire but trying to bend a 2 1/2 inch piece by hand isn't possible.

That's inexpensive wire and it's not tempered. I wouldn't use it.

Unless the sign industry has changed?

Why not sleeve the post and drill out the bell crank? This will remove slop but not ware.

Once the lines are tight, the slop isn't felt, or is it?

Why are you bending a 2.5" piece of wire? Heat will do this and a good vice.  I bend 90's all the time with mu wire bender?

Do you have a wire bender?
Title: Re: Bellcrank post.
Post by: Tim Wescott on April 20, 2021, 12:06:04 PM
Bingo -- what matters is that the bellcrank not rock side to side -- you get that with a longer bearing.  Gluing phenolic material on the top & bottom of a phenolic bellcrank will do exactly that.

This bellcrank example is from Crist Rigotti.  Simple and effective.

(https://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=28728.0;attach=112682;image)
Title: Re: Bellcrank post.
Post by: 944_Jim on April 20, 2021, 08:47:28 PM

Quote
Why are you bending a 2.5" piece of wire? Heat will do this and a good vice.

I think the intent is to show just how much force it will take to bend the post as if it were supporting a bellcrank. The pounds of force was given as an example of "over-engineered" if it doesn't bend by 40 lbs.
Title: Re: Bellcrank post.
Post by: Perry Rose on April 21, 2021, 05:51:26 PM
I agree with Ty.
Title: Re: Bellcrank post.
Post by: Chris Wilson on April 21, 2021, 06:08:20 PM
If you are using 1/8" rod for a bell crank post then why not use dedicated 1/8" bearings?
Slot cars have been using using oilite sintered bronze bearings for before I was born. They solder extremely  well, are cheap as chips, have a shoulder that that allows perfect perpendicular alignment and once oiled last for a very long time.
Chris.
Title: Re: Bellcrank post.
Post by: Craig Beswick on April 21, 2021, 11:17:19 PM
Where do you get those bearings Chris?

The closest sintered bearings I found were from Mini Bearings here in Brisbane and they were about $6 each!!
Craig
Title: Re: Bellcrank post.
Post by: Chris Wilson on April 22, 2021, 02:17:12 AM
Where do you get those bearings Chris?

The closest sintered bearings I found were from Mini Bearings here in Brisbane and they were about $6 each!!
Craig
River City Slot Car centre at Margate should have them or at least know how to get them.
Shocked if they are $6 each!

Chris.