Hatz Biplane Association

Good evening gents,

I'm just planning out my Cabanes, and the plans call for these crazy custom threaded fork terminals, like the fork end of a turnbuckle. So I found some turnbuckle parts on ACS&S. Has anybody tried these? TURNBUCKLE FORK AN161-46RL Seems like they should do the right job.

Thoughts appreciated.

Nick

Hi Nick,
I believe about a year ago Hans and Sam (Stearmoth) mentioned in the forum that they had a source or could make the strut forks. The AN parts from Aircraft
Spruce only have about 3/4 inch of threads on them. Not much thread contact and almost no adjustment.
John

Hi John,

I checked with Hans & Sam. They managed to sell or use all 7 sets they had made up, and don't plan to make more, unfortunately. The turnbuckle fork comes in both long and short versions. Do you know which one has the 3/4" thread? I might order one just to have a look at it.

John, what did you use for this part? Did you fabricate your own?

Nick

That's too bad. I passed on my chance to buy them previously, but now am looking for a set. Maybe we can get enough folks together to make it worth their while?

Hans / Sam, how about it? How may sets would it take to get another production run?

Just food for thought...

As an alternative to the custom made male forks, why not use AN665-46R female terminals like on the CB-1? This is what I am planning to use, along with AN490 threaded rod ends. My AN665 terminals are cadmium plated but if you want stainless, Steen Aero has them for a few dollars more.

-Scott

Hey Scott,

That's for sure a good way to go. Personally, I just prefer the other look, so I'm snooping around to see if there is a reasonably priced way to do it. Might just end up going that route, though.

Nick

Hi Hatzers!

If we would have the machinery to make ^those forks ourselfes, we would of course offer those. However, we had a supplier made 7 sets for us (on our own risk) and sold all but the one for us. In fact the last one we sent to the USA was lost or at least the customer received an empty damaged box. So one set must lay around somewhere in the US.....
However, if this forum would generate more interest for those forks than it does for our newly available light weight stainless 1/8" square drag/antidrag wires, we could ask our supplier for a quote for a new run based on concrete orders.

All the best,
Hans and Sam, H.C.#78, Switzerland

May you should start a poll (survey) to see how much interest there would be? You can count me in for a set.

I found a company called Midwest Control Products. They market a lot of different end fittings This is the closest example I could find to the one pictured in the Hatz Classic plans. http://www.midwestcontrol.com/series.php?id=125 It is very close in all but one dimension. Instead of 0.406" from hole to bottom of slot, it's 0.750" I'm an A&P but not an engineer so I can't tell if this particular fitting would work as a substitute. Look into the strength of this before committing it to a project. If it is suitable, I'd like to know.

It would take a micrometer to tell the difference between the item shown and what Hans and Sam had machined for several of us. It is has all the appearance of exceeding the strength of the smaller Aeronca fittings offered by ACS. Looks to be a good piece for the job.

John