metal clevis and jam nuts
 

Hello, I went through my planes this winter and added jam nuts to the control rods at the clevis. I then applied some Loktite. I never felt the need to do this because with a Z bend, or soldered clevis on the other end it couldn't turn anyway. What I didn't realize was that there is some slop at this point. It will only get worse, and by movement and vibration, the clevis could wear the treads and fail. Not a good thing!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] I realize that to experienced pilots this is a given. I posted this for begginers whose logic may have been the same as mine....lownslo....

Bob

metal clevis and jam nuts
 

I have been flying RC for some years and never found the necessity for jam nuts at the rod ends by the clevises.
The biggest problem is usually the clevis opening and allowing it to come off the control horn. I'm sure you already are aware that the cure for this a small piece of fuel tubing over the clevis to keep it from opening.

metal clevis and jam nuts
 

lownslo, Looking over the fleet during winter sure pays off! I have even gotten out some manuals to review how to fly a certain plane, check throws, and in the process found that (I fly electric) I had put a fuse in the battery end of the circuit instead of the motor end. The fuse protects the Electronic Speed Control in case of overload.
ESCs can run up to $65 for a speed 400 motor, and they can go fast if the prop jams on landing, or motor overheats in the air. With the fuse on the battery side, It would have shut the whole plane down in case of a motor failure (rare but possible). On the motor side, if the fuse blows, there is still control of the plane to glide in for a landing. Beginners have to start somewhere, and it is easier to start together and learn. THANKS![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

metal clevis and jam nuts
 

Ballgunner.I would have said the same thing two years ago. My buddy lost a Super Sportster 1.20 that seamed to spin in from knife edge for no reason. The reason? The rudder clevis was metal with no jam nut. Vibration
from a lot of flying had worn the threads on the clevis and pushrod. When he applied full rudder to knife edge
the threads slipped. When it would not hold the knife edge he rolled back level but the rudder had full deflection.
Once it slipped there was enough pressure that it would not slip back and it spiraled in with a thud 15 feet from where I was standing. Once a landed and cleaned out my draws there wasn't much left of his favorite airplane.
This may never happen again but I have jam nuts on all my stuff. later daveo