Suspended Bellcrank Questions

[badbill]

About to install my first suspended b/c in a Magician I am building, and it leaves me with a couple probably easy questions. I watched Mike's video, that explained the install but what I need to know is- Should the 1/8 wire rod be glued on top and bottom, or just capped and left free to rotate? do you tighten the wheel collars.. I'm guessing yes? Leave any clearance between the collars and top/bottom of bellcrank? Whats the main function of the fuel tubing?

Thanks in advance!

[badbill]

Thanks TY ! If the collars are tight, and the rod is contained and glued, what's the fuel tubing for?

[badbill]

Thanks again Ty. Any advice on clearance between bellcrank and collars? Or just as close as possible w/ no resistance...

[john e. holliday]

My self I do not use the fuel tubing.  From experience it gets old, stiff and falls apart.   I take time to make plywood spacers.   Yes epoxy the rod in place with caps top and bottom to help keep it place in case the wheel collars come loose.  Lost my Sheeks Spitfire because the rod migrated out of the ply plates.

[Avaiojet]

Mike Griffin has, I should say does, a "How to" video on installing one.

I installed one in the ARGO II wing after viewing his video. Only difference, I soldered a washer on the top and bottom, just to be sure. My bellcrank is different also.

Moves smooth as silk.

[Mike Griffin]

Hi Bill

Should the wheel collars become loose for some reason , which is highly unlikely, the fuel tubing on top an bottom of each wheel collar, will keep the wheel collar from sliding down the 1/8" music wire post and letting the bellcrank move or slide down the post.  The fuel tubing extends from the bottom of the wheel collar to the plywood bellcrank mounting plate.  In other words the fuel tubing centers the bellcrank and keeps it from moving vertically.  I epoxy a small piece of 1/64 plywood over the top and bottom ends of the post after I cut them flush with the top of the mounting plates and the center sheeting covers everything.

Hope this helps
Mike

[badbill]

I appreciate all the sage advice Gentlemen ( and you too Mike Griffin! ). Now to knock it out!

[bill rutherford]

One thing no one mentioned is to lube the rod so it won't rust. Motorcycle chain lube I excellent . I have seen rust freeze up the controls.

[Bill Johnson]

Instead of fuel line, I cut 2 pieces of aluminum tubing, 1/8" ID, for spacers with aluminum washers at both ends of both tubes. Very smooth but a pain to assemble. Think I'll go the tubing route next time.

[Bob Hudak]

Use a carbon fiber rod in place of the fuel tube with a washer and wheel collar next to the bell crank. I don't trust the fuel tube for a spacer.
Bob

[Avaiojet]

Use a carbon fiber rod in place of the fuel tube with a washer and wheel collar next to the bell crank. I don't trust the fuel tube for a spacer.
Bob

I soldered a washer top and bottom. They sit on ply. Shaft has no place to go.