M20E - How to get hydraulic flap control cable out?

[Oliver]

We struggle to disconnect the cable for the hydraulic flap control from the small control lever in the cockpit.

There is neither enough space to remove (and more importantly reinstall) the nut and the bolt, that holds the end of the wire nor is the bracket that holds the cable removable without taking much the panel apart.

Is there an easy trick to this?

Oliver

[RLCarter]

I replaced my cable several years back…..seems I had move or remove things to get to it……took several hours IIRC

[Oliver]

12 hours ago, RLCarter said:

I replaced my cable several years back…..seems I had move or remove things to get to it……took several hours IIRC

Thank you for your response. Do you by any chance remember if you had to remove some of the avionic trays and the mixture / prop cables?

Edited January 17, 2022 by Oliver

[RLCarter]

Might of taken the mixture or prop cable loose but didn’t remove them or any trays. My flap cable broke right at the attach point at the pump/valve in the belly….new cable was pricey …. $400? 

[Oliver]

5 hours ago, RLCarter said:

Might of taken the mixture or prop cable loose but didn’t remove them or any trays. My flap cable broke right at the attach point at the pump/valve in the belly….new cable was pricey …. $400? 

OK, thank you for your help! :-)

[DXB]

21 hours ago, Oliver said:

We struggle to disconnect the cable for the hydraulic flap control from the small control lever in the cockpit.

There is neither enough space to remove (and more importantly reinstall) the nut and the bolt, that holds the end of the wire nor is the bracket that holds the cable removable without taking much the panel apart.

Is there an easy trick to this?

Oliver

My cable snapped at the attachment point to the lever.  Passing the new wire from the belly side by the flap pump is the only way.  It is not easy to pass without getting stuck. Lube it up thoroughly - we used motor oil.  Taking out some of the anchor points for the sheath was needed to change its shape enough to pass the wire.  I don't think there was an easy trick to attach new cable to the lever - access was a bitch.  My A&P spent about 2 hours on his back contorting his hands to do it.  After that, reattaching to flap pump is easy.  I strongly suggest just changing the wire, not the whole sheath.

[Oliver]

1 hour ago, DXB said:

My cable snapped at the attachment point to the lever.  Passing the new wire from the belly side by the flap pump is the only way.  It is not easy to pass without getting stuck. Lube it up thoroughly - we used motor oil.  Taking out some of the anchor points for the sheath was needed to change its shape enough to pass the wire.  I don't think there was an easy trick to attach new cable to the lever - access was a bitch.  My A&P spent about 2 hours on his back contorting his hands to do it.  After that, reattaching to flap pump is easy.  I strongly suggest just changing the wire, not the whole sheath.

Thank you! We were planning to only replace the wire, so that's good. 

I figured that if I ask my doctor to amputate two or three of my fingers, I should also be able to re-attach the cable to the lever. 

[Nukemzzz]

Replaced the cable in my 66E early last year.  I didn't have to take anything extra apart.  I think I attached the cable to the lever and then reinstalled the lever, then connected it to the pump last.  I do remember that getting all the shims and nut all back in place was a real challenge.  Requires that the tools all be just the right size, length, etc.  The trick to it was using the correct sequence of curse words. 

Pull the co-pilot seat.... you'll be on you back for a while trying to find the curse word combo.  The flap pump side has it's own challenges.

Sorry I can't remember more precisely.

[Oliver]

6 minutes ago, Nukemzzz said:

Replaced the cable in my 66E early last year.  I didn't have to take anything extra apart.  I think I attached the cable to the lever and then reinstalled the lever, then connected it to the pump last.  I do remember that getting all the shims and nut all back in place was a real challenge.  Requires that the tools all be just the right size, length, etc.  The trick to it was using the correct sequence of curse words. 

Pull the co-pilot seat.... you'll be on you back for a while trying to find the curse word combo.  The flap pump side has it's own challenges.

Sorry I can't remember more precisely.

Haha, that's about what I figured. We already had the lever removed, I then just snipped off the wire on both ends. With the lever out, it is easy to take it apart and to see how it will go back together. The new 0.055" diameter spring steel wire is supposed to arrive today. I will give the housing (if this is the correct term) and good rinse with LPS-1 and then put the new wire in.

The old wire was REALLY stuck in there, decades of old oil pretty much turned into glue. It took all of my strength to get it to move, after the first few inches it however became suddenly very easy.

Anyway, the plan is to push the new wire up from the pump end, connect it to the lever, reinstall the lever and to then connect the pump end. Should be easy peasy, right?    

[Brian E.]

@OliverHow did it go?  Any feedback or advice for anyone having o replace a flap cable soon?