Hi all, The control rods have a lot of friction in the tubes of a Venus I've got. Is there anything I can lube the rods with? I don't want them to collect dirt. Maybe I am being to anal with this .
Thanks, Mike

Graphite powder works the best.

Thanks Pauly, I'll try to find some. Mike

I get mine at the local ACE Hardware, and I have seen it a Lowe's. Good luck!

Some of the nylon push rods supplied with ARF's are less than desirable. If the nylon tubes are pre-installed, you can usually replace the nylon push rods with 2-56 rod. Gets rid of the friction problem for good.

It has the tubes in the fuse and metal rods for the controls. It uses two for the elevator.
This is part of the reason I've never built an ARF before this one. I feel like I need to fix something, when the problem could have been taken care of easily in the design or initial build. I'm probably too picky.I have to fix all the problems I create, I don't want more. On the other hand, this will be in the air much sooner than any of my others.
Thanks for the help, Mike

Welcome to the world of ARF's. I don't think there is an ARF made that doesn't need a little redesigning and tweaking here and there. That's part of the process. I agree that some of the issues could have easily been corrected during manufacturing but you have to consider how cheap they are overall. The better ARF's are a bargain any way you look at it. If your plane has steel push rods in nylon tubes and they are binding, I'd look for the cause before trying to lube them.

I think the tubes have a slight bend and the rods are thick and stiff. I would say this is 'normal'. The servo moves them and brings them back to center. The instructions for my radio said the digital servos can burn out it they are fighting too much friction. I don't like the amount of friction in them
I've tried Sullivan Golden Rods in another plane, they are supposed to be tolerant of temp changes. I find I have to trim my plane every time I fly it. I might get the new Carbon type from Sullivan and replace the steel rods. I don't know how to run two off one servo though. As I type this I see this as my only satisfactory option. How do I run two pushrods off one servo?
Thanks for the help, Mike

I'm not familiar with how the elevator push rod splits into two on that particular plane. Is there a way to replace the steel rods with something a little more flexible? Maybe a smaller diameter music wire. Again, I don't know how your's are joined.

OK, the sun is beaming now. I used the Sullivan carbon rod on the rudder with the original tube. The friction is mucho less. The two elevator tubes are side by side near the servo. I am going to do the same with the elevator tomorrow. Since the carbon rods get 2-56 rod screwed into them, I can solder the two together. The carbon rods are a little lighter than the steel it is replacing.
I've got the radio programmed, just need to get the charge jack/switch installed and this will be ready for the air!
Thanks for all the help, Mike