touchy elevator
 

I just flew my piper cheokee for the first time yesterday and was lucky enough to have one of the better
flyers at the field there also the first flight was short dew to the cg being off. I had checked the cg wrong
did'nt know it was done different on a low wing then a high wing? any way moved batt rX. came out still
a little nose heavy.but not all that bad [i think]. the only problem seems is that the elev is wow touchy as
heck you give it alittle down and wham mister your diving give it up its quick also. every thing is set at low rates
for this plane and all other controls are great. is the nose being alittle heavy cause this to happen. or i could it be
this is my first low wing and its just that they act alot more reponsive than my high wing [trainer] its only with the rudder. some help would be app ...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

touchy elevator
 

A nose heavy plane will be less touchy on elevator . I would double check the cg . A tail heavy plane is very touchy on elevator . I am not familiar with this plane so it could be more sensitive to controll in puts . You could move the cg forward or give the elevator less throw .
Ron

touchy elevator
 

A forward cg will make the airplane pitch more with changes in power setting, but should not make it more sensitive to elevator input. I would first balance the airplane as close as possible to the position shown on the plans. Then be sure that the control throw with the transmitter on high rate is equal to or a little less than called for on the plan.
If it’s not, reduce elevator travel by moving the pushrod to the outermost hole on the horn at the elevator, and/or moving the pushrod to a hole closer to the center at the servo. Then when you put the transmitter on low rate the elevator should be a lot tamer. There is nothing inherent about a low wing that makes it more sensitive to elevator input. Although I haven’t flown the Cherokee, it is a sport model with a conventional setup and should be about as easy to fly as your trainer. The main difference would be lateral control. The wing is flat (no dihedral, I'm assuming you have the Hangar 9 Cherokee) and you will have to constantly control bank with the ailerons. This will keep you busy at first, but you’ll quickly adjust.

touchy elevator
 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Thanks guys for the info on my elev problem i have done every thing that you have mentioned
before i wrote the post except move the pushrod closer to the servo.
moved it in to the closest hole[ only two holes to work with. hopefully i can give it a try in the next day or two
little windy last couple of days for my skills[lol] will let you know if it was GO or OH NO.
pRoP-wAsH!!!!!!!

touchy elevator
 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img] NO! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

Moving the pushrod to the hole closer to the controls surface INCREASES throw. move it OUT, get a longer control horn. If the pane is already overly sensitive on elevator... moving the pushrod in at the elevator will be a BAD mistake.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

CG too far back makes the elevator sensitive...
CG check on a low wing IS the same as for a high wing, except you have the plane upside down when balancing it on your fingertips. The wing still works the same and appx 27% MAC is where you start test flying. Noseheavy flys sluggishly and makes you have to land a bit fast. Tailheavy flys erraticly and leaves you bringing home a bag of toothpicks instead of a model. You CERTAINLY aren't noseheavy if the elevator is excessively sensitive.

Go to http://www.nsrca.org/ read thier info on how to trim an aircraft. I bet there's an incidence problem. a couple of the tests may NEVER pass on a scale model... it wasn't designed to hold a straight line forever upside down for instance.

touchy elevator
 

Prop Wash. You have it right. Move in on the servo will decrease the throw.Hubber misunderstood
what you said. Does the radio in that plane have any way to adjust travel? What kind of radio is it?
later daveo

touchy elevator
 

use some expodential.

touchy elevator
 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] The radio is a JR-XF421EX 5channel milti-data com. i have SB-TRIM AT [-17]TRV ADJ[-150%] These are what i have now set in the radio??????.
















thanks

touchy elevator
 

Turn down the travel adjustment to decrease throw. If it's like my JR pulling back on the stick while changing the TA will only change that side of the stick. Then push up and adjust the down elevator.
later daveo

touchy elevator
 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] hey thanks for the great info did every thing mentioned took the plane out to the field this morn
and man did this thing fly great no problems with the elev just has smooth as glass. boy it seems great
to go flying and bring every thing back in one piece. well i did bend the nose gear a bit on my last landing
but hey after bring home multiple bags of balsa and parts straighting the nose gear is a pure joy[lol
one more question what is a good way to prime the engine beforethe first flight i have a cowl on the
cherokee so i can't put my thumb over the carb to prime it. i have been taking the glow plug out and
shooting a little fuel in the cyl then firing it up it takes a while[to long] once its fired and runs its good for the day
i use a fuel filler to fill tank because of the cowl. is it a problem with the fuel line being longer then normal?
I noticedthat fuel was'nt go to the carb when i tryed to prime it with the cowl attached, took it off and put thumb over and it primed good and started right up and ran good[ motor is new and on the rich side OSFX46]!!!!


THANX- pRoP-wAsH

touchy elevator
 

If you have a pressure line from the muffler to the tank, the easiest way to prime the engine is to just put your finger over the exhaust port (block it off) and turn the engine over by hand a few turns, fuel will be forced into the carb. Works even better than putting your finger over the carb intake.

touchy elevator
 

DO NOT prime the engine with the glow ignitor on the plug. I had a finger cut to the bone by a .35 kicking back while I was priming the engine. (Yes I did have a good grip on the prop) Doesn't matter if you are closing off the carb or the exhaust... remove the glow while you prime it.

Don't try to prime at 0 throttle... it just don't work. The carb barrel needs to be visibly open. (Full trim and 0 stick is where I prime mine... I don't have digital trims)

If you use an electric starter when you cover the exhaust... you will flood the engine and may break the con rod.

touchy elevator
 

Huber is right, take that hot shot off!! urrrrrr that could leave a mark! I use an electric starter and prime mine with my finger over the exhaust. (sorry this is not about an elevator)

touchy elevator
 

Thanks for the info.I think you misunderstood me on the priming I don't attach the hot shot while priming I take
the gpug out and squirt a little fuel in the cyl THEN i insert the plug , hot shot and try and get it to run hoping
to suck in the fuel to carb. i tryed the plugging the pressureline to the muffler this morning with no luck. I took
off the cowl and put my fingerover the carb flipped over 3-4 times seen the fuel come up the line to the carb
started right up and didn't have a problem rest of the morn its just doesn't want to suck up the fuel when you
first start it for the day. i guess the cowl will have to be removed first thing and primed in this matter. not really
a big thing just a bit of a pain in the behind

touchy elevator
 

You don't plug the pressure line, you plug the exhaust to prime. Pluging the pressure line would have the opposite effect-inhibit priming.

touchy elevator
 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] OK- I understand now. boy I sure feel a little dumb I use these little caps to glug the exhaust pipes.
[pitts style] - and the first time I started the OS I forgot to take the caps off flipped the prop over a few
times and I had fuel comming out of every where[LOL]. so i stopped using them just thought it would keep
any dust or unwanted crap out of the engine also had one for the carb but due to the cowl on the cherokee
i don't bother with it . YEP seen all that fuel running out and didn't even get a clue of priming that way.
have a great day!!!!!! pRoPwAsH