Wedekind Sleeve Source?

The Wederkind sleeves are fairly complicated to install. The Uerling sleeves are pretty darn simple but only work on one type of Hotellier fittings. See http://derosaweb.net/aviation/wedekind/ for details. Good luck.

I should have been more clear. There are two types of "sleeves" used for L'Hotellier (pronounced "leh-hotel-e-ay") fittings.

- Uerling sleeves referred to above as "White LS Sleeves". These are plastic, only work on straight L'Hotellier fittings and have to be replaced every two years. Simple to install as they just snap into place.

- Wedekind sleeves. These are metal (aluminum and steel parts), work on both straight and right-angle L'Hotellier fittings and are a permanent solution. Difficult to install as you have to 1) remove the push tubes with L'Hotellier fittings from the glider, 2) remove the L'Hotellier fittings from the push tubes (be SURE to measure the overall length beforehand!), 3) figure out the documentation 4) *CAREFULLY* measure, fit and then drill a single hole, 5) reinstall everything, and 6) try not muck up the alignment of the control surfaces. Still, it was worth it.

My $0.02. Best of luck.

John (OHM)

Kevin, how did this go? Did you buy/install them yet?

-Dirk
ZP

On Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 5:40:56 PM UTC-5, ZP wrote:
Kevin, how did this go? Did you buy/install them yet?

-Dirk
ZP

Bought sleeves but not installed yet. Looks like the airbrakes may be glued as well as riveted. Trying to get more details from the rep.

Kevin

Kevin, checking in to see if you ever installed them. This is still something I'm considering.

Thanks.
-Dirk

On Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at 7:06:17 PM UTC-5, ZP wrote:
Kevin, checking in to see if you ever installed them. This is still something I'm considering.

Thanks.
-Dirk

Not yet. I got the parts and looked over everything carefully, but my IA has been tied up working on a power plane that has been rode hard and put up wet.

In looking things over, I have decided to do the Wedikind Sleeves on the ailerons, and will do the Unreling on the dive brakes. The Ailerons are easier on the DG-400, they unscrew, where the dive brakes are riveted and GLUED, making it very difficult if not impossible to get them apart without damage.

I checked on the price of getting new push rods and Holellier, but is was going to be ridiculous.

I will have two Wedekind sleeves for sale that will fit the DG-400 after I get mine installed.

Kevin

Le dimanche 6 mars 2016 16:27:13 UTC+1, a écrit*:
On Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at 7:06:17 PM UTC-5, ZP wrote:
Kevin, checking in to see if you ever installed them. This is still something I'm considering.

Thanks.
-Dirk

Not yet. I got the parts and looked over everything carefully, but my IA has been tied up working on a power plane that has been rode hard and put up wet.

In looking things over, I have decided to do the Wedikind Sleeves on the ailerons, and will do the Unreling on the dive brakes. The Ailerons are easier on the DG-400, they unscrew, where the dive brakes are riveted and GLUED, making it very difficult if not impossible to get them apart without damage.


The glue is Araldit. If you heat it up to around 100°C, it will come apart easily.

Installing Wedekinds requires taking the couplings off the control rods (at least on the gliders I've done) so you either have to work out a way to measure the rod end adjustment before taking them apart and a way to ensure that you have them adjusted exactly the same after reassembly. Alternately you need to check the rigging of the control surfaces and adjust them to the proper deflections when you get it all back together. I know someone who put Wedekinds in his ASW-20 and spent a few years mucking around with the control adjustments because the glider kept rolling whenever he moved the flap lever. Eventually a mechanic in the club convinced him to let him use a digital protractor to set everything to factory spec and it flew perfectly afterwards.

The safety pins, especially if they're the captive type or tethered to the rods aren't that bad to deal with if you have a ship where the connections are easy to reach and see but with a 200/202/400 the Wedekinds are a real blessing.

Sheesh. Captive safety clips for the win. Make 'em yourself or buy from Schempp Hirth. Absolutely zero reason for those over engineered sleeves.

Take the thousand dollars (?) or so you save and put it to a new vario. Email me and I can help you with that too :-).

Evan Ludeman / T8

Certainly the addition of Wedekind sleeves is strictly a convenience issue and the safety clip is perfectly adequate. In my case one pair of connections completely invisible and getting the clips in place was by feel only which could be VERY frustrating on a hot summer day. The price tag was about $200 for the parts which is inexpensive for carefully made (and engineered) safety devices. My $0.02.