Problem with the Tom Morris Cable style handles

[Jim Snelson]

We have had a report of one of the swaged ends coming undone on one of the the Tom Morris cable style handles.

If you have purchased one of this style handles or handle bars Tom has asked that you vigorously pull test it. If you have one that fails we will replace it at no cost to you. We do not expect to find any more with this problem but we would rather be safe than sorry.

I would like to also remind every one that you should perform a pull test before every fight to ensure your equipment is safe to fly with. I know I am guilty of going out to fly and have not stopped to do the proper pull test as I am sure some of you might be guilty of also.

Please. This thread is not posted to start a fire fight about the differences in cable termination but as a notice to anyone using this handle to check it for safety.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or problems.

Thank you,

Jim Snelson
www.clcentral.com
clcentral@msn.com

[JohnPrator]

Hi Jim,

Please see my thread on this here;
http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=21485.0

Thank you VERY much for your help, very much appreciated sir!

Sincerely,
John

[john e. holliday]

So true about pull testing.  I was trying a new handle, not a  Morris handle and already had a flight on it.  Flying friend wanted to try the plane.   About half way thru the flight I noticed he is not holding the handle right and was flying level.   After landing discovered one of the screws holding the down line had worked loose.  Nothing like almost instant full up.

[Jerry Leuty]

   I bought 5 Tom Morris handle kits some years ago. Just recently I have painted them and rigged the cables. I got .062 (1/16") stranded wire from Home Depot and made the connections. I always wind the looped ends with copper wire and either soldier or epoxy the ends. I suspect that a pull test may be in order. What looks strong may not be. Humph, I will go get my fish scale guage out and test each handle now. I just finished a new .40 size scratch built Legacy. Nice plane. I would hate to loose it due to equipment failure.

[Paul Smith]

At my Home Depot, there's a selection of swages and a big (bolt-cutter type) swaging tool for customer use.   

I buy some cable and a pair of swages and swage one end in the store. Then I go home and set up the handle including prepositioning the heat shrink tubing, then return to Home Depot with the other swage and the receipt and finish the handle.  Genuine swages beat anything you can do at home. 

Of course you could just BUY the swager, but to me it's hardly worth it for a handle every few years.