Carbon Fiber Push Rod

[Michael Massey]

I am getting ready to retro fit a carbon fiber push rod into a heavy 60 size plane that I suspect, was experiencing  push rod flex with the older wire push rod.  What size (diameter) carbon fiber push rod should I be using?  Thanks.

[FLOYD CARTER]

I go to Eugene Toy & Hobby.  Visit the carbon fibre tubing display rack.  Grab some and test by flexing.  If it looks nice and stiff, I buy it.  I don't pay any attention to the size marked.

Floyd

[Tim Wescott]

There's an archery shop about 15 miles from me that sells rebuildable arrows -- usually these are arrows that are missing the heads and some fletching, but have good shafts.  They go for a buck apiece.

Then I whack off the ends and use them for pushrods.  The one that's rolling around on my electronics bench is 7.5mm OD, 1mm wall thickness.

[Kim Doherty]

I am getting ready to retro fit a carbon fiber push rod into a heavy 60 size plane that I suspect, was experiencing  push rod flex with the older wire push rod.  What size (diameter) carbon fiber push rod should I be using?  Thanks.

Assuming the connections to the rod enter and exit in the center of the rod then you can use just about any wall thickness and diameter you can find. Some rather exceptional models have been flown with .020 wall .250 dia soft aluminum tube. You don't need much.


Kim.

[SteveMoon]

Michael: For .60 size planes I always use 3/16" cf pushrods with 4-40 inserts.
I've used the rods from Central Hobbies for years with great success. I also
ALWAYS use 24 hour J-B Weld to assemble them.

Steve