par Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 While messing the flaps the other day, I ended up pulling out the small round push button that is in the center of the flap retract knob(located between the mixture and prop control knobs in the picture below). Anyone know how this button is actually secured and the implication of me being able to completely pull it out? Also, sorry about the inverted image...don't know why it happened or how to fix it. Quote
carusoam Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 The image is right side up when you click on it... Are you asking how the locking mechanism works? Or are you asking if it is ok that the whole flap mechanism doesn't work that well...? A few years later the flaps were set in a position and eliminated the movement... Best regards, -a- Quote
par Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Posted January 21, 2015 The image is right side up when you click on it... you are asking how the locking mechanism works? Best regards, -a- Being a 63 C, the pull out knob retracts the flaps. The push button in the center allows you to pull out the knob. Quote
carusoam Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 I fixed what I was trying to write... Par, if you can... See if my updated question makes better sense. My 65 C had it's flaps set seasonally.... Best regards, -a- Quote
Hank Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 Anthony, My 1970 C repositions the flaps for every landing, and during the rollout; sometimes I go hog wild and reposition them before and after a takeoff, too. They're electric, and the push button is on the bottom right edge of the throttle quadrant. My cowl flaps, however, are fixed. Judging by its position, your answer is correct, as this is a more logical position for cowl flaps. Aren't the flaps hydraulic, with a pumping action to lower them? (somewhere right / below the mixture?) Quote
carusoam Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 Yep... My current ride doesn't have even fixed flaps. Best regards, -a- Quote
par Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Posted January 21, 2015 The image is right side up when you click on it... Are you asking how the locking mechanism works? Or are you asking if it is ok that the whole flap mechanism doesn't work that well...? A few years later the flaps were set in a position and eliminated the movement... Best regards, -a- It is difficult to explain the problem without a video here so let me see if I can succeed this time. If you reference the picture, I am looking at the silver colored knob between the prop and mixture knobs. In the center of that silver knob, you can see a smaller button that looks to be depressed in the picture. While I was getting familiar with the plane, I managed to actually pull that button completely out of the larger portion that surrounds it. I would say it is about the circumference of a pencil and about 3-4 inches in length. After removing it, I was able to place it right back inside and it has been there ever since. The flaps were just serviced today and the shop tells me they are working fine. What I'd like to know is, do I need to address the issue of that center button coming completely out of the larger knob? Should the button shaft be retained somehow inside the larger knob to where you should not be able to pull it out? Quote
Hank Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 Aah, I thought the one to the left of the throttle. This looks to be the Flaps Up button, dumping hydraulic pressure to raise the flaps. All I can say is, please do not pull on the push button! Pushing it should unlock the knob for movement, while pulling on it obviously makes it come off. Just like the little "Push to Test" button at the top of the panel, which also comes off if pulled. Quote
carusoam Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 I've added enough confusion for all of us... I was referencing mechanical cowl flaps. My 65C had a button in the knob like the one on the left side of the picture... For the other flaps... Hydraulic wing flaps were pump activated for extension and valve activated for flap raising. The valve "knob" in 65 was the shape of an airfoil. It moved up and down... The airfoil shaped knob made it easier to not confuse flaps with the Jbar gear actuator. Quote
47U Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 You're probably missing the little ball bearing that provides the lock and unlock friction the push button is supposed to actuate. It works just like the carb heat cable. It's really small, maybe 1mm or less. If your A&P isn't concerned I wouldn't worry about it. I know of an early C that the center button has been missing for 40+ years. If you want to try to fix it, ask Dan at LASAR if he might have the little ball bearing. If the button is stuck in, you might be missing a spring, too. He came up with a ball bearing for my carb heat cable when they soldered a new wire on it four or five years ago. The flap retract cable changed to a lever a year or two later so there's probably not that many of the '63 style in salvage. But, who knows? Someone on the board might have one. Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 The ball is 1/8 inch. There should be a spring under the button also. To replace the ball you will have to disconnect the far end of the cable so you can pull the knob out of the panel. Place the ball back in position and push the knob back in. If your mechanic was working on this recently, make him fix it for free. He lost the ball. The best place to get new balls is McMaster Carr. 1 Quote
HRM Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 If your mechanic was working on this recently, make him fix it for free. He lost the ball. The best place to get new balls is McMaster Carr. Wow! That really sucks when you lose...oh, I best not go there. 2 Quote
Marauder Posted January 21, 2015 Report Posted January 21, 2015 Wow! That really sucks when you lose...oh, I best not go there. Especially since we are talking about really small ones. 1 Quote
Hank Posted January 22, 2015 Report Posted January 22, 2015 It's okay, guys. He's just telling you where to get new ones, in case your old ones aren't there anymore . . . Quote
Bigpunch8 Posted October 24, 2020 Report Posted October 24, 2020 On 1/21/2015 at 4:29 AM, N201MKTurbo said: The ball is 1/8 inch. There should be a spring under the button also. To replace the ball you will have to disconnect the far end of the cable so you can pull the knob out of the panel. Place the ball back in position and push the knob back in. If your mechanic was working on this recently, make him fix it for free. He lost the ball. The best place to get new balls is McMaster Carr. My little ball on my mixture control came out. Is there instructions some where on how I can reinstall it? Doesn’t seem like a hard task, but just want to make sure I’m doing it right, and where it goes. Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted October 24, 2020 Report Posted October 24, 2020 8 hours ago, Bigpunch8 said: My little ball on my mixture control came out. Is there instructions some where on how I can reinstall it? Doesn’t seem like a hard task, but just want to make sure I’m doing it right, and where it goes. It will be obvious when you pull the cable out. Your cable is different then the ones they are talking about here, but they are not rocket science. Quote
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