Those small golden coloured things with the set scew you hook the control rods to your servo called?

They're called Trouble

They're called E/Z connectors. I'm just a newbie but I have learned the hard way that these connectors need to be checked very frequently to make sure they are tight. You can start a war by talking about the "best" conenctors for pushrods but clevises or ball links and Z-bends seem to be working better for me.

Mark

I'm a newbie too trying to finish the mess he made of building an Great Planes Extra 300.. LOL I know if I try to bend the rods Ill screw somthing up even more.. so thats why I want to use these

I have been using EZ connectors for many many planes, it only failed me once, it was my fault for not using Locktite. To be honest, try not to use EZ for the elevator, planes do not last long in the air without elevator control!!!

Screw-Lock Connectors

[link]http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXK099&P=0[/link]

They're good for throttles but I wouldn't go putting them on anything else if you're building a plan .25 or larger.

I agree that E/Z connectors should be avoided if possible. What I do is use a Z bend on the servo side of the push rod, and a standard screw on clevis on the other end. This is a very easy method, and much more secure than E/Z connectors IMHO.

I was just quietly using EZ connectors and ignoring the constant denouncement of them here online. Then I read Gordon Banks' column in RC report, a few years ago, and it explained why I had no failures and some others do have failures.

The EZ connector's screw will bite into ordinary, soft, threaded pushrod wire. It won't bite into Music wire, which is heat treated to be hard.

So, if you know the difference between music wire and soft pushrod wire, or you can figure out how to check & see if the screw bites into the wire, go ahead and use the EZ connectors you're talking about. If you still have questions, probably better go with Z-bends or clevises.

Good luck,
Dave Olson

I agree that they are good mainly for throttle. A z bend is easy to do and doesnt cost you anything.

That makes sense and explains, I believe, my bad luck with these connectors. They were used on an older ARF that used thin music wire for pushrods. The problems were probably a) hard music wire and b) thin wire that didn't leave much surface area for contact. Thanks for the info!

Mark

I've started using one of the Z bend tools that has a pin on the head to let you get the bend in the almost perfect position.
As far as the EZ connectors, I bought a couple bags of cup point set screws in 2-56 and 3-48 sizes some years ago. with a little bit of locktite, the cup point actually lightly cuts into the wire, making the juncture much more secure. I haven't had one let go since I started replacing the regular screws these things use.

Can you tell me where you got the Z bend tool with the pin on the head? I have a Z bender but bent the handle trying to put a Z bend in steel wire.

I think I got it from Tower for about 19.95.

Two things in this post DO NOT MIX WELL "newbie" and "Great Planes Extra 300" it might get one flight, The first one but highly doughtful there will be enough left for flight #2. Those connectors will not take th stress the control surfaces will have and failure is a bad thing. The only thing I use them on is the throttle for easy adjustments. The extra will make most a nice third plane or a second if your real good with the first plane so be carful because it's a great plane.

Dauntae