Waiex aft Rudder Cable Tension WIX-C04-02

[jeff0196]

All Waiex pilots,

How do you set and check your WIX-C04-02 Aft rudder cable tension?

-Hand check, feels good
-Tension meter
-Other

If you set it with a meter, what value do you use?

Just to clarify, this is the cable between the WIX-C02-02 mixer assembly and the WIX-T03-01 Rudder. This tension is independent of how hard you push your feet on the pedals.

Due to the mixer assembly design/geometry, the tension also changes as you move the elevator control forward (nose down) and back (nose up).

When I put a tension meter on mine it only takes one turn of the adjustment clevis to make a big change in tension, example:

Stick forward - cables have 22.5 lbs
Stick aft - cables have 27.5 lbs

Then remove bolt, turn one half turn tighter on one cable only

Stick forward - cables have 27 lbs
Stick aft - cables have 35 lbs

Then remove bolt, turn one half turn tighter on one cable only

Stick forward - cables have 30 lbs
Stick aft - cables have 55 lbs

[Bryan Cotton]

I did hand check, feels good.

[N111YX]

"Fairly snug" has worked for me!

[Rynoth]

I also just went with "fairly snug" by hand. I did notice some squeaking at my rudder piano-hinge at one point and discovered the rudder a bit difficult to move (lifted the tail, manually moved the stub-rudder by hand). I loosened the cable tension slightly to relieve pressure on the piano hinge and it moved much better (while maintaining tension in the cables.) Don't over-tighten them.

[N111YX]

In order...
1) loose 2) snug 3) fairly snug 4) tight.

My cables were between loose and snug originally and when I performed the swaged cable SB a few years ago, the new cables were installed "fairly snug". I see no operational difference but I likely have a bit more rudder "response" because there is zero play in the cables from the mixer aft.

I also just went with "fairly snug" by hand. I did notice some squeaking at my rudder piano-hinge at one point and discovered the rudder a bit difficult to move (lifted the tail, manually moved the stub-rudder by hand). I loosened the cable tension slightly to relieve pressure on the piano hinge and it moved much better (while maintaining tension in the cables.) Don't over-tighten them.

[Rynoth]

Indeed, to be clear I probably had them "tight" when I noticed the friction in the piano hinge, backed them off slightly to "fairly snug" and went with that, seems to work well.

[jeff0196]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like the most common thing is to feel by hand. If it helps anyone for reference, none of the numbers I posted when starting this topic feel loose or have any slack, and by the time it gets to 55 lbs it's fairly tight.