Looking for Flap Cables

[hharney]

Sandy

How did you determine that the cables were not stainless? Are the balance cables you replaced from the flap motor or going to the flap motor? I assume the mid cables are going from inboard bell crank to outboard bell crank?

[sloutitt]

Herb,
the Mechanic just told me they were not stainless, so not sure how he determined that other than visual inspection. Flap actuator inbd
1460100-7 is the part number and description, yes I think they go from motor to the first bell crank on each side. We sent the cables off to a local shop to see if they could make them and the old ones are not back yet so we have not cut them to determine if there are any more broken strands.
Regards,
Sandy

[Kim Geyer]

I just sent a set of cables to Mcfarland Aviation for duplication. Price is @ 70.00 ea. That is a ton better than Cessna's price.

[Ernie Martin]

Kim, galvanized or stainless? And why?

Ernie

[Kim Geyer]

Originally Posted by Ernie Martin

Kim, galvanized or stainless? And why?

Ernie

I went with stainless. I've changed out the cables in all 6 of our 337's and removed galvanized. I had broken stands in most cables with total times ranging from 1800 to 3000 hrs. should able to tell how stainless holds up.

[mhudsonbsme]

One thing to keep in mind when you see one broken strand is not that you have all of the rest of the strands still there for strength, but that all of those strands have been subjected to the same stress as that broken strand indicating that their useful life is almost depleted. It would be interesting to find the manufacturer of the cable and ask what the minimum allowable bend radius is and see if the radius of the bell crank is under that. Depending on the cable manufacturer and the number/diameter of the strands, maybe there is one choice of cable that is better than the rest.

As far as handling of the cable, you should be able to bend a cable within its specified bend radius and it not break. If you take it and kink it, expect to see broken strands after repeated exercising.

Did anyone measure the diameter of a "bad" cable versus a new replacement cable?