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Rudder cables - yet again

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 4:24 pm
by Rich
I had my rudder cables replaced at 5 years - in 2007. With the new deal for on-condition replacement I figured I didn't need to do it again. But I just decided to check that the cables are stainless steel and discovered they are not. Who would do that :scratch: Answer - well I know who did it (not me) but it was technically not wrong at the time.

I semi-understand the controversy about section 4 vs. 5 in the AMM. But I think I'll go ahead and replace all six of these with stainless this year sometime. To be honest there does might be some wear in a couple of them inside those s-fittings.

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 4:53 pm
by blsewardjr
How did you determine they were not stainless steel? Thanks.

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:25 pm
by Rich
blsewardjr wrote: Thu Jan 10, 2019 4:53 pm How did you determine they were not stainless steel? Thanks.
Magnet exhibited strong attraction to cables.

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 3:48 pm
by Lance Murray
If I remember correctly you could buy either in a kit from Diamond. Not sure why they offered both options

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 4:23 pm
by Rich
Lance Murray wrote: Sun Jan 13, 2019 3:48 pm If I remember correctly you could buy either in a kit from Diamond. Not sure why they offered both options
Presumably the non-stainless is cheaper. Back when they expected replacement every 5 years there wouldn't have been any benefit to paying more, I suppose.

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 7:41 am
by Karl
Rich wrote: Thu Jan 10, 2019 4:24 pm I had my rudder cables replaced at 5 years - in 2007. With the new deal for on-condition replacement I figured I didn't need to do it again. But I just decided to check that the cables are stainless steel and discovered they are not. Who would do that :scratch: Answer - well I know who did it (not me) but it was technically not wrong at the time.

I semi-understand the controversy about section 4 vs. 5 in the AMM. But I think I'll go ahead and replace all six of these with stainless this year sometime. To be honest there does might be some wear in a couple of them inside those s-fittings.
Inspect the S tubes for wear first. Just run a finger on the inside of the curve. If you can feel a ridge you should replace them.

Would be bad news fitting stainless cables then having to cut them next year to replace the S tubes.

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:28 am
by Rich
Reading the tea leaves of the AMM's current entries, it would seem the replacement interval might be due to concern regarding corrosion rather than wear. I wouldn't think stainless would wear less readily than non-, but it would be less subject to corrosion.

And there are actually 8 cables to be fabricated, not 6, due to turnbuckles lurking in the rear fuselage.