Re: New owner glitches on the 175B ( Why didn't they see them?)

[Justin Case]

Welcome to airplane ownership. I strongly suggest you join the type
club before turning any blank checks over to your mechanic. What you
are seeing may be an easy fix or a common problem that many have seen
before.

On Tue, 26 Aug 2003 20:17:00 -0400, "Wayne" >
wrote:

> Well, I am still picking the 175B apart, I've had it for more than a
>week now so I had to tear it apart. The door latch was broken on the right
>side and if you lift the lock, gravity and a little vibration would unlock
>it. Got those fixed, pics available
>http://12.151.5.4/175b/2003_08_25_door_repair/ .
>
> Here is my other problem that I am wanting to tackle right now. When you
>pull the yoke all the way back, it doesn't stay straight when it's clear
>back. I would like to put the gust lock pin in and see if while its in, if
>the elevator is in the neutral/straight position. However, I can't because
>the gust lock part, that holds the pin is missing all together!
>
> If I have someone pull the yoke all the way back and I go back and lift
>the elevator, it moves about 2 more inches up before I feel it hit the
>stops.I have noticed that there isn't enough elevator to carry the nosewheel
>during landing, my partners didn't even notice it, however they land on 6000
>foot runways all the time with 80 mph final. With me trying to get into the
>little grass strips, I have to add power to be able to flare.
>
> The mechanic that usually works on the plane said I can tear it down and
>he would help me set it back to factory spec and do the paperwork necessary.
>I am hoping that that adjustment makes the yoke farther forward so when
>pulled back against the stops it's still not far enough to cock off to the
>side the way it does. I want to replace the gust lock piece too (they call
>it a control lock collar). Cessna wants $400.00 for one! They are out of
>their minds! I was told to expect to pay half that for a used one. It should
>be about $20.00 I think.
>
>Wayne
>

[JDupre5762]

>Here is my other problem that I am wanting to tackle right now. When you
>pull the yoke all the way back, it doesn't stay straight when it's clear
>back. I would like to put the gust lock pin in and see if while its in, if
>the elevator is in the neutral/straight position. However, I can't because
>the gust lock part, that holds the pin is missing all together!

On some Cessnas particularly the 182 for sure the control yoke lock does not
lock the elevator in neutral but slightly nose up. Giving the elevator a nose
down force. This is to prevent the aircraft from taking off with the control
yoke lock installed or otherwise locked, for example with something less
visible than the factory lock. Elevators are set to neutral for rigging by
using an external lock, typically a couple of pieces of soft wood and a long
bolt or screw.

> If I have someone pull the yoke all the way back and I go back and lift
>the elevator, it moves about 2 more inches up before I feel it hit the
>stops.

Sounds like the elevator at least is seriously out of rig. Properly rigged the
elevator should hit the stop and then any internal stop under the panel should
hit. Some aircraft don't have an internal stop or only have one. But in any
event if you have two inches of movement on the elevator with someone pulling
the yoke back you have a problem. I would also check the ailerons and rudder
for similar rigging problems.

John Dupre'

[Wayne]

That makes some sense. I would think that the elevator being in the
neutral position should hold level flight at cruise though making it not
have much lift at takeoff speed. That would be the case in an aerobatic
plane that didn't have a negative incidence on the horizontal stabilizer
built in for auto correct.. If neutral at takeoff caused a climb, then
cruise speed would take a negitive force either by the elevator, or by the
trim tab to keep the nose down at cruise which would make extra drag. I
don't doubt that the gust lock holds it negitive but I don't think it would
be for that reason.
Hope that's worded okay, hard to explain.

> On some Cessnas particularly the 182 for sure the control yoke lock does
not
> lock the elevator in neutral but slightly nose up. Giving the elevator a
nose
> down force. This is to prevent the aircraft from taking off with the
control
> yoke lock installed or otherwise locked, for example with something less
> visible than the factory lock. Elevators are set to neutral for rigging
by
> using an external lock, typically a couple of pieces of soft wood and a
long
> bolt or screw.

Agreed, we will check it over comepletely.
Wayne

> Sounds like the elevator at least is seriously out of rig. Properly
rigged the
> elevator should hit the stop and then any internal stop under the panel
should
> hit. Some aircraft don't have an internal stop or only have one. But in
any
> event if you have two inches of movement on the elevator with someone
pulling
> the yoke back you have a problem. I would also check the ailerons and
rudder
> for similar rigging problems.
>
> John Dupre'