Steve Campbell Elite Veteran Location: Baton Rouge, LA
| Another good move, if you don't want to do the torque tube option that Blair mentioned, would be to install the 2mm tail drive wire and guides of the SR/SR-X. The Empire still has these parts. Another important longevity "upgrade" would be to replace the tail rotor bushings with bearings. The SR-T was designed to be a inexpensive trainer, and they cut a lot of corners on it. It comes with a 1.6mm tail drive wire and only two guides inside the boom. At least three are needed to stabilize the wire, regardless of size. You wouldn't think that .4mm makes that much of a difference, but it does. If you hear a rattling noise coming from inside the boom, those guides have wallowed out and are allowing the wire to "whip" around in there. Failure will follow shortly.
You will have to replace the coupler on the counter gear lay shaft as well as the input coupler at the tail box if you go to the 2mm wire. This is something to do during the next re-build, or if you hear that rattling noise.
These are great old ships. Blair is on the money regarding pedigree; I've had a half-dozen of these delightful machines and am in the process of restoring an SR. Call it nostalgia, second child-hood, whatever; I'm having a ball restoring this old junker and can't wait to fly it.
The Empire has most Concept 30 parts still in stock. They have everything you need to bring your SR-T up to SR standards. The SR and SX are my favorites of the breed. The SR-X was okay, but came with Z-bend pushrods and was produced in China. To me, anyway, there is a marked difference in quality between the kits made in Japan and the ones made in China.
Enjoy...
Steve |