"Papa3" wrote in message
ups.com...

Bill Daniels wrote:
I broke my TE probe at the fin socket. (Imagine cussing and dirt kicking)
After a bit more cussing, I managed to fish the broken end out of the fin
socket. (Of course, I did this AFTER assembling the Nimbus.)

The TE probe appears to have been a RU single function type with aluminum
two-hole tip, O-ring end that inserts into the 8mm fin socket and carbon
fiber tube between. The break was at one of the O-ring grooves. The
probe
forward of the break is good. It seems possible that a new O-ring plug
end
could be epoxied to the carbon tube.

Q's

Should I just buy a new probe?
Is there a source for the aluminum O-ring part to repair the broken
probe?
Should I abandon the fin mounting altogether and consider converting to a
less vunerable fuselage probe over the wing?

Bill Daniels

Bill,

If I'm reading the post correctly, it sounds like the "simple" fix
would be to just have someone locally machine a new adapter.
Basically, cut off the entire o-ring adapter, then have someone turn a
new one. A simple piece of aluminum rod stock, drilled out ot the OD
of your carbon fiber tube on one end and turned to the 8mm ID with
appropriate o-ring grooves on the other end would be a quick job for
any machininist. Most glider clubs seem to have at least a couple "on
staff" :-))

FYI - the length of the fin tube isn't critical as long as it more or
less gets you out of influence of the empennage, so the only important
thing is that you get a good seal between the tube and the adapter and
the adapter and the fin...

FYI #2 - Having done exactly what you did once (extensive and creative
cussing included), I would definitely check to make sure the fin mount
itself wasn't damaged. You can leak test it by plugging the orifice at
the tail and presurizing from the front (not too much or you could pop
the tube right off). I actually split the mounting tube itself (a
simple piece of brass tubing), so I had to rig up a new one. This
involved fishing around in the vertical stab (more cussing and a few
minor flesh wounds) and epoxying in a whole new mounting tube.

P3


P3, Tim Mara at Wings and Wheels has the replacement part in stock along
with instructions for repairing the probe.

I agree that making a replacement aluminum part is a no-brainer if you have
access to a metal lathe. I keep seeing old manual lathes for sale cheap.
Maybe one day I will buy one.

Bill Daniels