Missile Engine Controls

[M016576]

Long story short, I got to the arming area at LMT and commenced with my run up on Saturday to find that the prop cable wouldn't push back in.  It's been a little finicky lately, but not like this.  Anyway, i taxi back and pop the cowling, remove the cable from the governor arm and sure enough, the cable has siezed. (Thankfully it wasn't the governor).

My question:  the missile manual shows "legacy prop cable" in the parts schematics and makes no reference to whether it was replaced with a K model prop cable or they just reused the J model cable.  The cowling is a K model modification, and the motor is an io-550 vice the 360.... So it's 2 cylinders longer.  My question is 2 fold:

 

1)  does anyone know for sure if a missile still uses the J prop cable?

2)  if not, does anyone know if the J prop cable and the K prop cable are the same length?

 

the governor on the io-550 is all the way forward.  The current control cable has a silver button in the middle of the blue handle (vice the all blue handle I had on my previous J... I realize this may just be newer style and not indicative of the model).  I poured through the logs but couldn't find anything mentioning replacement of the engine controls that included a part number or a clue.

thanks!

 

[Seth]

My MSC, Freeway Aviation, is very familiar with the maintenance of my Missile prop cable as it had to be lubricated at one point as per my request.  I wasn't sure if I needed a brand new cable as it was getting harder and hard to operate.  Turns out it just needed to be lubricated.  Give them a call 301-262-6544 ask for Tommy, Chris, or John and they should be able to take care of you.  Bruce retired.

Good luck!

-Seth

Edited September 7, 2015 by Seth

[aviatoreb]

Hi Job,  I know you are talking missile, but .. I had a MP cable that got very stiff a few years ago, so we removed the whole cable assembly and sent it to a specialty cable shop that overhauled it and returned it better than new.  In other words, they overhaul legacy stuff.  I forgot the name of the shop, but I know there are several such specialty shops out there.  The cable shop cost was much smaller than the remove and reinstall price (man hours).

[carusoam]

Factory reman engine (IO550) required a new cable, about three years ago.  I believe it was the prop control cable.

I believe it is worth digging up the requirement for clarification...

 

Other aged memories... I believe a Canadian long body wrote his experience regarding a stuck cable during a flight four years or so ago....returned back home successfully for MX...

 

best regards,

-a-

[M016576]

Thanks for the advice, all-

i'm going to call rocket and LASAR (home field (coast) advantage) first thing in the AM and try to get this doped out.  With a little luck I can find whatever cable I'm looking for and have it overnighted... I'm supposed to be taking a trip this coming weekend and I'd much rather make a 2hr flight than a 12 hour drive...  Either way, I'll post what I find out about the cable.  Thanks!

[M016576]

The answer is that the missile requires a M20K prop condition cable, despite no mention of this in the STC paper work.  The standard J model cables are too short.  

[Seth]

Good to know and thank you!

[jetdriven]

We've got yet another Missile here now at GAI.  And the prop cable jams when you pull it more than halfway back.  Seems that mcFarlane can make a real prop governor cable but its expensive and its 2 months.  Im frankly surprised the factroy cable is not a lined cable with a jacket.

[jlunseth]

Just a cautionary tale to all. One of the flight schools in our area had a J that did not fly a lot and did not get the best maintenance. The Chief Pilot at the time, a real classy woman who sometimes flew in heels, took another instructor out to check him out in a J. It was December I think (so snow on the ground). The MP cable jammed at low power, could not be moved. They were forced to make an off-field. She had to walk for help through the snow in her heels. No injuries, no damage. Lots of reports to the NTSB and FAA though, in the aftermath.

[EricJ]

56 minutes ago, jlunseth said:

Just a cautionary tale to all. One of the flight schools in our area had a J that did not fly a lot and did not get the best maintenance. The Chief Pilot at the time, a real classy woman who sometimes flew in heels, took another instructor out to check him out in a J. It was December I think (so snow on the ground). The MP cable jammed at low power, could not be moved. They were forced to make an off-field. She had to walk for help through the snow in her heels. No injuries, no damage. Lots of reports to the NTSB and FAA though, in the aftermath.

What's an MP cable?

 

[LANCECASPER]

4 minutes ago, EricJ said:

What's an MP cable?

 

I'm guessing Manifold Pressure (throttle)

[jlunseth]

Manifold Pressure. Throttle. If stuck at low power, well, the aircraft cannot stay in the air.  

[Fly Boomer]

21 hours ago, jetdriven said:

We've got yet another Missile here now at GAI.  And the prop cable jams when you pull it more than halfway back.  Seems that mcFarlane can make a real prop governor cable but its expensive and its 2 months.  Im frankly surprised the factroy cable is not a lined cable with a jacket.

I would bet that when that engine was hung by Rocket, it had an appropriate cable.  Is Rocket unable to source that cable?