Ball Link Question

[Pinecone]

I was going to order some ball links and push rod ends from CLC.  I see they have left hand tread inserts.  Is there a left hand thread ball link?  If so, what part number/how to order?

[Pinecone]

That would make sense.

I am talking about the Rocket City links sold by CLC.

[Rob Killick]

Hi ,

The Rocket City ball links came , or come in RH and LH threads (looking at the packages , as I type).

HTH

Rob K.

[Bob Reeves]

Never bothered to check, the LH rod end threads into a RH ball link just fine. All of my larger ships have this setup, makes adjusting the flap-elevator push rod real easy.

[Bill Little]

For those that may not know it, the left hand thread push rod end has a hex shoulder to use a wrench on.  Combined with a right hand thread on the elevator pushrod, you can adjust the pushrod length.   A hatch is cut in the fuselage side so adjustments can be made.

I understand that people have had problems when the ball link is bottomed out on the pushrod end.  So far, I have not encountered any problems at all, but I leave some *adjustability* at each end.

Big Bear

[TDM]

Bill finally someone who understands.
First the links are not threaded and the rod is acting like a tap. Something that has to be done is measure the depth of the hole in the link because you do not want to bottom out the threaded rod on the bottom of the ball link, during adjustment, because it will destroy the link.
The insert that goes in the push will be glued inside and make sure you rough that area where the joint connection takes place and after that use some carbon tow and go around the outside to make sure the shaft will never split open.

[Bob Reeves]

What Bill said..... I try to have both rod ends screwed in about 1/2 the length of the threaded portion of the ball link with the flaps and elevator at 0-0. I've never had to lengthen the push rod (raise the elevator) but do typically have to shorten it (drop the elevator). With both ends screwed in 1/2 way I can shorten the pushrod almost a full inch before bottoming out.

[Randy Powell]

>> ...after that use some carbon tow and go around the outside to make sure the shaft will never split open.<<<

Or you can do what I do and slip a piece of aluminium tubing over the end of the pushrod. I use about 3/8" of an inch worth.

[W.D. Roland]

Cool
Wish I would have known about the availability of left hand.
That will make life much easier in the future.

David

[john e. holliday]

I just looked at the new bulk package of ball links I have and no visible threads.  I also have the ends for the pushrod.  Turn one way to shorten or the other way to lengthen. 

[Brian Hampton]

I use the large DuBro ball links where the threaded coupler cuts its own thread although it's more like the thread deforms the plastic to make a very tight thread. The left/right hand threaded coupler is a turn buckle so the left hand thread goes into the plastic and the hex between the two threads is where you adjust the pushrod length. I shorten the turnbuckle so that there's only about 1/8" of thread showing either side of the hex at initial setup to keep any bending stresses as low as possible because I've found some turnbuckles can be fairly brittle.

[Jim Snelson]

The Rocket City ball links we sell do not have any precut threads. You can use either the BL-57 or the BL-87 for both left and right hand threads. The only difference in the two ball links it the amount of plastic encapsulating the ball. The extra heavy duty has more plastic than the heavy duty.

I hope this helps.

Thanks,


Jim Snelson
www.clcentral.com

[david beazley]

When using RH & LH ball links and threaded ends, do you use a jam nut on one end?  If not does the push rod have a tendency to turn?

[Bill Sawyer]

When I wrap the outside of the carbon fiber I use dental floss covered with a thin coat of epoxy.

[Bill Heher]

I wrap the rod end and the 1st couple of exposed threads on the insert with 1/2A dacron flying line in a sprial cris-cross pattern. A drop of CA spread around to tack the thread in place, then encapsulate the whole thing in a thin layer of JB weld ( I already have some mixed up from gluing the insert in).

1 little spool of the Cox flying line from RTF planes will do a heck of a lot of wrapping.

[Bill Little]

When using RH & LH ball links and threaded ends, do you use a jam nut on one end?  If not does the push rod have a tendency to turn?

Hi David,

No jam nuts needed, in fact they can be somewhat difficult to turn after they are set to length.  The material the ball links are made from seems to want to act like a nylon locking nut.  Make you access hatch large enough to get an ignition wrench, or small needle nose vise grips into it.  I have never seen a set up loosen on its own.

Mongo