Calling All Brittain Experts...

[Echo]

My PC wing leveler is working great in my '65 M20E.  I am doing some "clean up" in my plane.  Pulling some dated avionics I don't need/want and ran into a Brittain "Wing leveler" in the tail cone.  The tubing is pretty cracked and wondering is THIS the wing leveler controller in the '65?  My '66 had the PC on the pilot side below the  hydraullic reservoir.  I pulled an "in-op" Brittain Directional controller from center panel.

Is THIS my controller for PC in tailcone or part of the directional controller?  See photos.  First three in tailcone.  Last is photo of controller I pulled.

Thanks for replies.  Scott

[Echo]

The B6 is an internet photo.  I did NOT have the pitch trim/altitude hold.

[takair]

That is the PC gyro, filters and associated tubing…so, yes, the “brains” of the PC.

[Echo]

Current source for black tubing?

[Shadrach]

11 minutes ago, Echo said:

Current source for black tubing?

LASAR should have it.  I am replacing all of the tubing behind my panel this month.  I’ve never had it fail, but the outer layer deteriorates pretty badly within ~5 years. The controller for the 67 is built into the turn coordinator. I took this image this afternoon lying on my back inside my footwell. It would be easier to deal with in the tail come. The rubber in the image was installed 6 years ago.

[Shadrach]

[Echo]

Sweet Ross!  EXACTLY what I was looking for.  Holy shite, it is flat AMAZING that the system works so well considering that it likely has OEM tubing from 1965.  Just amazing really.  That aft rudder servo must be WAY BACK in tailcone as it is not visible through the side access looking aft...

I will "hit up" Laser for tubing.  Thanks again.  Scott

[Shadrach]

7 minutes ago, Echo said:

Sweet Ross!  EXACTLY what I was looking for.  Holy shite, it is flat AMAZING that the system works so well considering that it likely has OEM tubing from 1965.  Just amazing really.  That aft rudder servo must be WAY BACK in tailcone as it is not visible through the side access looking aft...

I will "hit up" Laser for tubing.  Thanks again.  Scott

I’d bet that it’s not original. After ten years in service, this stuff looks positively horrendous. At 57 years, I think it would be dust. All of the servos should be on rigid (vinyl?) lines (green or red) which seems to last forever.

[DCarlton]

2 hours ago, Echo said:

Current source for black tubing?

I think I have the spec for the tubing in my notes.  If I remember correctly there’s a common replacement.  Will try to look it up.  

[Echo]

8 hours ago, DCarlton said:

I think I have the spec for the tubing in my notes.  If I remember correctly there’s a common replacement.  Will try to look it up.  

Thanks much!   Scott

[DCarlton]

2 hours ago, Echo said:

Thanks much!   Scott

First of all, I'm not an expert, or an A&P, just a '67F owner.  I was told by a former Brittain tech in March 2021, that Gates #27043 Windshield Washer & Vacuum Tubing was a suitable replacement for the 7/32" ID tubing.  It can also be looked up under Gates Product #40404107.  The latex hose sometimes used by Brittain didn't last.  Note:  Recommend you verify your hose ID before ordering; difference hoses may have been used; my TC is under the panel and it's a TC100 EVT.  The turn coordinator air filters are Brittain P/N 123-002-002.  Those were modified Fram G12 fuel filters.  Fram filters have a 5/16" outlet and the hose will fit very tight.  The hose and filters can be purchased on line from an auto parts store. 

[Vance Harral]

For what it's worth, all the localized rubber tubing in our Brittain system was confidently replaced by an A&P with appropriately-sized thick-wall PVC tubing from the PMA section of Home Depot about a decade ago, and has held up great.  The "brand name" version of this stuff is Tygon; but Tygon or not, it's just PVC tubing.  This was in an M20F with the DG in the panel rather than the tail cone, but essentially the same components.  Note that I'm not talking about the rigid tubing that goes out to the servos, just the local, soft lines that run from the vacuum pump to the gyro, filters, and local vacuum breakers; i.e. the "black stuff" the OP refers to.

The A&P in question (now retired) asserted that Tygon/thick-wall PVC was the modern standard of care for vacuum lines.  I'm not sure LASAR would send you anything more "official" than that.  I like the LASAR folks, but arguably not worth the time and trouble of working with them vs. a local supplier.

[takair]

20 hours ago, Echo said:

Sweet Ross!  EXACTLY what I was looking for.  Holy shite, it is flat AMAZING that the system works so well considering that it likely has OEM tubing from 1965.  Just amazing really.  That aft rudder servo must be WAY BACK in tailcone as it is not visible through the side access looking aft...

I will "hit up" Laser for tubing.  Thanks again.  Scott

One rudder servo is hidden under the forward  shelf and the second is just aft of the shelves.  I am aware of at least one aircraft that does not have rudder servos, just aileron….

[takair]

The hard lines in the system are 3/8” poly-flo tubing.  I think is manufactured by Parker.  If you have a Parker store nearby, make sure you tell them it’s for your lawn mower or water filter….don’t wear your favorite Mooney tee shirt…. 

[Echo]

1 hour ago, takair said:

One rudder servo is hidden under the forward  shelf and the second is just aft of the shelves.  I am aware of at least one aircraft that does not have rudder servos, just aileron….

O.K.  Thanks for that.  I only saw one rudder servo in tail, but I was using a flashlight.   

[Shadrach]

19 hours ago, takair said:

One rudder servo is hidden under the forward  shelf and the second is just aft of the shelves.  I am aware of at least one aircraft that does not have rudder servos, just aileron….

That must be unique to certain models and configurations. As I recall, in my bird, both servos are in plain view.

[Echo]

1 hour ago, Shadrach said:

That must be unique to certain models and configurations. As I recall, in my bird, both servos are in plain view.

Dunno. I was out at Hanger today and looked again, and there is no servo underneath the bench. There is only one visible servo in the tail cone of my airplane.

Edited November 2, 2023 by Echo
Sp

[Echo]

Except, of course, the step servo. Just in case, captain literal is reading lol.

[Shadrach]

5 minutes ago, Echo said:

Dunno. I was out at Hanger today and looked again, and there is no servo underneath the bench. There is only one visible servo in the tail cone of my airplane.

Weird. Mine definitely has two. The servos actuate the rudder control tube and are facing each other in sort of “tug o war” configuration.  I don’t see how you get rudder movement in both directions without two servos. 

[Echo]

I am not saying, I don’t have two. I am just saying I only see one in the 65 diagram you showed the second servo is pictured quite a bit farther back in the tail 

[takair]

34 minutes ago, Echo said:

Dunno. I was out at Hanger today and looked again, and there is no servo underneath the bench. There is only one visible servo in the tail cone of my airplane.

Really more under the battery on an E model.  Forward of the front shelf. Hard to see. The gold color servo attached is the altitude hold, the black one is rudder.

[Echo]

That is super clean in there! Now I’m not sharing any pictures of mine. Lol.

[Echo]

Mine was retrofit with the external jump capability through the access door. My battery box is a pretty busy area. I will look again. Of course I put the cover back on now so not happening anytime soon lol.

[Shadrach]

13 minutes ago, Echo said:

I am not saying, I don’t have two. I am just saying I only see one in the 65 diagram you showed the second servo is pictured quite a bit farther back in the tail 

You should probably give it a second look...  The aft rudder servo is plumbed into the line that actuates the right aileron. The forward rudder servo is plumbed into the line that actuates the left aileron. The system works incredibly well given it's simplicity. 

[Hank]

4 hours ago, Shadrach said:

The system works incredibly well given it's simplicity. 

Simple is often best, fewer things to go wrong. Thus the "KISS principle." Keep It Simple, Stupid!