ORIGINAL: dwilt72
I am a newbie and building is not one of my strong points. About a month ago, I build a SIG Kadet LT-40 trainer plane. I've been flying it for about a month. Yesterday I was flying with my instructor and it felt like the plane was flying sideways. At first we thought it was the wind, however my instructor landed the plane and realized that the rudder was sticking. It sticks in the last position it was in at take-off...if the rudder wasn't straight on take-off, then it wasn't straight during the flight. We took off the wings and noticed that the servo is working fine. It responds to the transmitter just fine and it is moving well, however the movement of the servo is not causing the same movement of the rudder. My instructor thinks there is a problem with one of the plastic pushrods and has recommended that I replace both pushrods (for the rudder and elevator).
Like I said, building/repairing is not my strong suite. The pushrods were installed at the factory and ripping them out and replacing them scares the hell out of me. I'm afraid I'll either tear things up really bad getting them out or that I won't be able to get the new rods back in!
Anyone have any good tips on how to perform this "surgery"?
Find exactly where the binding is occurring before ripping out your pushrods. Disconnect the rudder pushrod and the nosewheel pushrod (assuming this is a tricycle gear, not a tail dragger) and then move each by hand and see which is binding. If it's the nosewheel, disconnect the pushrod at the front gear and then see what is binding, the pushrod or the nosewheel assembly. If the rudder is binding disconnect the pushrod at the rudder horn and see what is causing that binding. What kind of pushrods are installed in the plane? The nyrod/goldenrod type or wooden?
Edit: Oops! I was writing this while Bruce posted his similar reply above. Jeez, you guys are quick.
