Turn ball off center

[adamsboomer]

I am not sure this is possible however I have noticed after 3 months of owning this plane that my turn ball is off center while parked and in level flight.  It is about a half ball right.  The needle show centered.  It takes a significant amount of rudder to center the ball but then needs aileron to stop left turn.  My assumption is that somehow the entire instrument is possible twisted.  What do you guys think? Is it possible for it to be anything else? I am thinking about getting a small level and holding it against the screw holes to see if it is in fact level.  Any other ideas?

[carusoam]

Any missing acorn nuts on your instrument panel?

Expect that the supports for your instrument panel are drooping...

If the bottom edge of the panel touches the top of the switches, the landing light will get turned off by itself.

The fix is some small dollar hardware and the opportunity to work with your mechanic....

If your panel turns off your landing light... The switch/breaker is ready to be replaced as well. They age ungracefully...

I am a PP, not a mechanic...

Best regards,

-a-

[adamsboomer]

That is a good thought. I will check.

[Andy95W]

Try placing a level on the seat rails to find lateral level. Use a jack under one wing or let some air pressure out of a tire to make the airplane level and re-check the inclinometer. Don't let out so much air you damage the wheel or the gear door, however. While you're at it, you can then check the level of the instrument panel itself along the tops of the instruments or their mounting holes and in that way check for worn shock mounts like Anthony (carusoam) said.

Oftentimes the turn&bank is mounted in slotted screw holes, and you can rotate it slightly to level the instrument.

[Guest]

Try placing a level on the seat rails to find lateral level. Use a jack under one wing or let some air pressure out of a tire to make the airplane level and re-check the inclinometer. Don't let out so much air you damage the wheel or the gear door, however. While you're at it, you can then check the level of the instrument panel itself along the tops of the instruments or their mounting holes and in that way check for worn shock mounts like Anthony (carusoam) said.

Oftentimes the turn&abandoned is mounted in slotted screw holes, and you can rotate it slightly to level the instrument.

After the checks above, I would add that if you're still not sure, tape a 3-4" piece of yarn to the base of your windshield then go flying. The yarn should be straight up the windshield at the same time that the ball is centred.

Clarence

[BigTex]

Why don't you just loosen up the turn coordinator and give it a turn until the ball is centered? You can tell by the seat of your pants if you're coordinated.

[chrisk]

After the checks above, I would add that if you're still not sure, tape a 3-4" piece of yarn to the base of your windshield then go flying. The yarn should be straight up the windshield at the same time that the ball is centred.

Clarence

 

I assume this is on the outside of the window like a glider?

[Super Dave]

After the checks above, I would add that if you're still not sure, tape a 3-4" piece of yarn to the base of your windshield then go flying. The yarn should be straight up the windshield at the same time that the ball is centred.

Clarence

Yaw strings are effective on twins and gliders, but the slipstream from the prop makes them useless on a single. Even when you are flying with zero side slip, the spiraling slipstream from the prop will deflect the yaw string slightly.

[DonMuncy]

I think Gary has a more sensitive "seat" than me. I would have to zero it on the ground with the seat rails level.

[Awful_Charlie]

I had the same concern some time ago, and not being happy with the spirit level method, got a length of clear pipe from the hardware shop, filled it with water and tapep it to the wing tips. a bit of juggling in the hangar (which has a slight ramp at one end) got the water levels the same at both wing tips, and prove dthat my Aspen was correct and the balance ball was about a1/3rd out. Sometime I'll get round to enlarging/slotting the mounting holes for the backup horizon, but in the meantime I just know where it should sit.

[Guest]

Yaw strings are effective on twins and gliders, but the slipstream from the prop makes them useless on a single. Even when you are flying with zero side slip, the spiraling slipstream from the prop will deflect the yaw string slightly.

Worked fine on my RV4, proving the turn and bank required adjustment.

Clarence

[adamsboomer]

Fixed, just needed a twist and panel tightened up.  Now I fly with ball center and no yoke deflection.  Much better thanks folks.