Jim asked:
> So is the type of elevator I have ( straight trailing edge across) > any more or less apt to generate elevator/ trim flutter ? Neither kind is at all apt to flutter. We only suspect one accident in 62 years might have been caused by elevator flutter. Its worth taking proper care over but not worth worrying about. Jim asked: > We are having problems with the trim lever in the cockpit in that it > seems either jammed or not moving as free as it should. But the > trim itself on the elevator is very tight. We have tried to lubricate > the cable and cannot find any place it is binding. But when we move > the trim lever in the cockpit we notice the cable by the window seems > to be bending but the cable seems jammed. You should probably disconnect the trim tab from the cable wire at the back of the plane and make sure the trim tab moves freely. It should easily move down with moderate pressure and, when released, pop up against the stop. If its not moving freely, lubricate the hinge. There are special lubricants authorized and I dont remember their designation post that question on the tech forum and youll get good answers. Then, disconnect the trim cable from the control arm in the cockpit. Make sure the control arm moves freely, etc. Finally, check to be sure the cable is inside a cable housing all the way from the instrument panel to the back of the plane. Ive heard there are some planes where the cable is in the open for part of the distance. As long as theres a cable housing all the way, you just pull the cable wire out. If its perfect, you can re-insert it, pushing it through a rag soaked with the appropriate lubricant, reconnect it and youre done. A time or two, my mechanic needed to replace the cable wire with new wire (again, lubricating as it was put in). Im not a mechanic of any kind and I want you to watch the comments on the forum by the experts as they tell if I got anything wrong here. Fixing the trim is usually a pretty easy ½ hour to 1 hour job for any competent mechanic. Id guess experienced mechanics will probably have done this many times for other old aircraft. Ed Burkhead http://edburkhead.com/Ercoupe/index.htm ed -at- edbur???khead.XXX change -at- to @, remove ??? and change XXX to com
