Phenolic Pivot Blocks for Rudder pedals

[pfhoeycfi]

My first glance at this I thought it would be simple. Now I'm a little stuck where to start. My current thinking is that I need to make the each pivot block top and bottom halves separately, then bolt the halves together, and then drill the two one inch holes at the seam. Does that seem right or is there a better way? Also, what's the best way(best bit) to drill out the 1" holes?
Peter

[Bryan Cotton]

Pete,
That is right. I used a holesaw.

[WesRagle]

Also, what's the best way(best bit) to drill out the 1" holes?
Peter

Hi Peter,

Forstner Drill Bits work great on phenolic.

Wes

[Rynoth]

I also used Forstener bits on the phenolic. If I needed to enlarge the hole slightly after for proper fitment, I used a cheap brake hone, somebody on here recommended that awhile back and it worked.

[pfhoeycfi]

ok great...
I guess a band saw will work fine on the straight cuts?

thank for the info!

peter

[RCfly46]

Yep, worked for me.

Joe
Waiex 181
SE Mich.

[Spaceman]

Another vote for cutting the blocks out, bolting them together, and drilling the big hole at the seam. I also used a forstner bit and it worked great. The brake caliper hone thing works well, and I also found that you can wrap sandpaper around it if you need to remove more than a tiny amount.

ALSO, I noticed that I had to put a pretty big chamfer on the edge of the large hole to clear the welds on the rudder pedal tubes. I just used coarse sandpaper to round off the edge and that did the trick.

[Bryan Cotton]

I also belt sanded mine to final shape after they were pinned together and the big hole was bored out. Make sure you mark mating parts, including how they orient to each other. The last comment does not apply if you are secretly a Terminator just passing time until skynet orders come along.

[pfhoeycfi]

Curious what type of lube, if any, should be used on the phenolic bearings?

peter

[Rynoth]

Curious what type of lube, if any, should be used on the phenolic bearings?

peter

You should definitely have lube on them, particularly to protect the bare steel that's exposed when you remove the powder coat from corrosion. I used heavy (wheel bearing) grease. Same for the flap phenolic bearing.