ORIGINAL: gaRCfield
I just got my Dolphin today. Has wood push rods. I also have the rods left over from the Nexstar, and am wondering if I should change them out. Is there any benefit of wood push rods?
Thanks.
Benefit? Not that I know of. OTOH they work however I have not used one since 1972.
If you use one, be certain the wire connectors are supported between the wood/carbon and the horns, plus another support at ever 18" minimum. Just some wood strips every 18" or so will suffice. Like the # sign and can be just as leaning. What you want is to stop any sway in any direction caused by G-Loads. In addition, stopping any fluctuations (flutter) created by vibrations and/or g-loads.
These fluctuations are like control flutter which they can well initiate, and can play havoc on a servo's insides. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
The best long distance push
rod is a wire 1/16 to 3/32 in a well supported plastic / glass tube.
Back in the early '70s I knew a young fellow well on his way to the top of Pattern that was losing more than his share of models, mostly due to servo failure. I looked over one with dowel pushrods, explained my thesis, he revamped his wooden pushrods with the supports, and 2 years later he had not lost an airplane. He flew in the early
Tournament of Champions but we lost touch so I don't know where he went to as I soon returned to the Republic.