RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different?  
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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/14/2005 9:11:32 PM   
Lightfoot



Posts: 3252
Status: offline 		I have used EZ connectors in the past with no problems but I prefer Z-bends. On new models that do not have high loads on the control surfaces, I install EZ connectors for the initial trim flights. I do not do any aerobatics during these flights. When I get it trimmed, I land and readjust the wires in the EZ connectors then fly again to test again. When I am satisfied that all the control surfaces are properly set so that all the transmitter trims are at neutral, I end the day of flying. When I get home, I mark the location on the wire, remove the pushrods, make the Z-bends at the marks, and reinstall the pushrods. From this point on, I can to do minor adjustments with the clevises or with the radio.

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/14/2005 11:37:15 PM   
cat250


 

Posts: 23
Joined: 5/18/2005
From: Holly Springs, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Ken,

That is perfect I just finished making battery charger connects for what seems like every coupler possible so the soldering skills are still fresh.

Thanks for the help.


Cat

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 1:49:23 AM   
Pilot Chad


 

Posts: 2140
Joined: 1/22/2005
From: Madison, AL, USA
Status: offline 		today got throttle and elevator connected. I have an instructor lined up saturday to buddy box up with me. I think triple rates will do wonders on this plane.

-chad

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 8:47:01 PM   
Pilot Chad


 

Posts: 2140
Joined: 1/22/2005
From: Madison, AL, USA
Status: offline 		heres the pics



Attachments
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< Message edited by Lightfoot -- 6/15/2005 9:36:46 PM >

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 9:26:51 PM   
bruce88123


 

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Joined: 11/26/2004
From: Memphis, TN, USA
Status: online 		I realize it isn't ready to fly yet but you need to secure the antenna end and be careful about trapping wires between wing and fuselage. As I said, you probably already know this but want to make sure. Otherwise looks like it should fly OK. Can't tell from the pics, are the EZ connectors for the elev/rud directly even with their hinge lines? Rud looks like it may be back a bit, like I said it is hard to tell.

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 10:20:29 PM   
Pilot Chad


 

Posts: 2140
Joined: 1/22/2005
From: Madison, AL, USA
Status: offline 		Bruce,
The antenna will be done soon, most likely tommrow, if not tonight. I just need to find a pieve of a servo horn to do it. Yes they are even with the hinge line.

I don't have the $ to get the Z bend tool yet, so i am going to use the EZconncetors for the first few flights till i can get a Z bender.. I also need to check the wing.

Thanks for the reply.

Thanks for the edit lightfoot, i don't know why the thumbnails were so large...

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 10:44:49 PM   
FLYBOY



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Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Missoula, MT, USA
Status: offline 		Looks good. Later if you want to have some fun, get rid of the gear, get yourself a halco gear and mount it right behind the bulkhead at the front of the wing. Put a klett tail wheel assy on it. You'll have to make a rod through the fuse from the rudder to drive the tail wheel. It makes a great tail dragger. Floats to come! Its fun on them too.

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 10:49:39 PM   
2slow2matter


 

Posts: 2404
Joined: 8/25/2004
From: Springtown, TX, USA
Status: offline 		You don't have to have a tool to do Z bends, two pairs of pliars will do the same thing. Or, go to the LHS and get some quick connectors and make L bends. Those are more secure than the EZ connectors. With the quick connectors, you make an L bend in the wire, and push the L into the control horn. Then, the connector has a hole in it that the wire goes through as well, and then the connector snaps back on the wire itself.
Here is a link to the quick connector I'm talking about. Not as secure as a Z bend, but much more secure than an EZ connector--I've never had one of these give way.

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 11:07:57 PM   
RCKen



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From: Lawton, OK, USA
Status: online 		Chad,
If you look back at post #22 of this thread I also included directions for bending z-bends without a bending tool. It only takes about a minute or less to make a z-bend. Otherwise, from what I can see it looks good.

Ken

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 11:30:00 PM   
oldtyme


 

Posts: 327
Joined: 9/16/2003
From: Bend, OR, USA
Status: offline 		Hi All,

I had to jump in here and do not want to be considered argumentative so please take this as just a bit of commentary on the EZ connector thing. I've been flying RC since around 1980 and I think on my second plane, a Midwest SweetStik, I started using EZ connectors because I've never thought that you
could get the accuracy of adjustment needed with Z-bends or L-Bends. I've never had a failure with
the EZ connectors and I've used them in a lot of planes and I plan on using them in my scale planes
as well. Of course, as a hard and fast rule, at the field before I fly anything I do a thorough pre-flight to make sure that everything is as it should be........just like I do when I fly full scale. I'm sure now that I've said this, I will experience a failure but I just wanted to comment on this subject

Warmest regards to all,
Andy

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 11:38:26 PM   
Pilot Chad


 

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From: Madison, AL, USA
Status: offline 		for the first flight, i will locktite. them all.

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 11:40:42 PM   
2slow2matter


 

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Joined: 8/25/2004
From: Springtown, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Andy, I once believed as you do. But, I've had enough advice from people who've done this a whole lot longer than I have to realize that it's just one more component to fail. You may well never have a problem, but I think all people would agree that a Z or L bend is much more secure. The downside, as you pointed out, is ease of setup. However, there is usually a threaded clevise at the other end that allows for fine adjustments. I do use the EZ connectors on such things as throttle and most recently the air valve on my pneumatic retracts, but I don't think I'll ever trust them on such an important control surface as elevator or aileron (and probably not even rudder).

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/15/2005 11:46:13 PM   
RCKen



Posts: 15127
Joined: 7/10/2002
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Status: online 		I have seen locktited ez connectors fail. I know for a fact that they can fail in flight because this has happened to me. As 2slow2matter said, why take the chance when the alternative is so easy to do. You can tighten the screws, you can locktite them and they can still come lose. But a z-bend will not come lose. As I said earlier, it only takes a few minutes to make a z-bend. Why not convert them over and not have to worry about them?

Ken

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/16/2005 12:20:47 AM   
Lightfoot



Posts: 3252
Status: offline 		There is one way that the bite of the EZ connector can be improved. You can tin the wire like you are going to solder it in the area of the connector. The screw will get a better bite in the solder than the hard music wire. This will reduce the chance of failure.

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/16/2005 3:55:54 AM   
Pilot Chad


 

Posts: 2140
Joined: 1/22/2005
From: Madison, AL, USA
Status: offline 		ok i don't have ANYTHING to do tommorow except mow the yard, i will do the Zbends. I don't want to lose my plane...

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/16/2005 3:59:40 AM   
RCKen



Posts: 15127
Joined: 7/10/2002
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Status: online 		Chad,
Take a scrap piece and practice a few bends first before you do the ones on your plane.

Ken

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RE: Ugly stik and trainer.. Whats different? - 6/16/2005 4:01:59 AM   
Pilot Chad


 

Posts: 2140
Joined: 1/22/2005
From: Madison, AL, USA
Status: offline 		Ok. I have some scrap pieced from the pushrods that came from the fourstar. I have one connector for an l bend, so i will do one of those.

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