Rudder cables - yet again

Any DA40 related topics

Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray

Post Reply
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Rudder cables - yet again

Post 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.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
User avatar
blsewardjr
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 485
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:19 pm
First Name: Bernie
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N377DS
Airports: KCHO
Has thanked: 118 times
Been thanked: 146 times

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Post by blsewardjr »

How did you determine they were not stainless steel? Thanks.
Bernie Seward, IR, AGI
2003 DA40 N377DS
KCHO Charlottesville, VA
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Post 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.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
User avatar
Lance Murray
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 1163
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:25 pm
First Name: Lance
Aircraft Type: DA40
Airports:
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 118 times

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Post by Lance Murray »

If I remember correctly you could buy either in a kit from Diamond. Not sure why they offered both options
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Post 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.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
User avatar
Karl
4 Diamonds Member
4 Diamonds Member
Posts: 317
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:58 am
First Name: Karl
Aircraft Type: DA40
Airports:
Has thanked: 68 times
Been thanked: 102 times

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Post 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.
User avatar
Rich
5 Diamonds Member
5 Diamonds Member
Posts: 4592
Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2010 12:40 pm
First Name: Rich
Aircraft Type: DA40
Aircraft Registration: N40XE
Airports: S39 Prineville OR
Has thanked: 145 times
Been thanked: 1180 times

Re: Rudder cables - yet again

Post 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.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
Post Reply