Quick-Disconnect Strut Attachment

[killioughtta]

I saw this MOD on a SC for sale at WattFlyer. I've never seen anyone do this most excellent MOD:



That looks surprisingly simple to do and I bet it works great! If I had a use for struts and cared for scale looks this is what I'd do.

I've been flying without struts for a year since I put in that CF rod in the wing. Same wing used in 2 Super Cubs and same MOD in a Pitts.

For-Sale thread:
www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53644

[milcopk9]

It looks like a plastic coated paper clip

[jbess]

Apr 25, 2010 3:39:24 GMT 1 milcopk9 said:

It looks like a plastic coated paper clip

That's cause it is. Two of them, actually.

[pauliepilot]

Hey guys looks good but i copyed a blog that i seen bout a month bk cant remember where!
Use two loops"as in hook and loops" the ones that screw into the wire that holds nets up in windows!
With me?
Drill two small holes just behind the original screws for the stuts,screw in the loops haypresto line up the struts push pn and turn to lock easy iv been useing this mod since i saw it and its not failed yet...i was sick of unscrewing screwing on and on on on.
So needless to say loops all the way!!

[leisureshoot]

I've been using that style for some time. I use ceiling grid wire, as it is flexible. It saved my wing/struts several times when I was still crashing as I learned. I'll put up a pic when I get home, as photobucket is blocked at work.

[starboy]

Dec 1, 2010 17:16:18 GMT 1 leisureshoot said:

I've been using that style for some time. I use ceiling grid wire, as it is flexible. It saved my wing/struts several times when I was still crashing as I learned. I'll put up a pic when I get home, as photobucket is blocked at work.

I've been using the same method for awhile too, and it does the job just fine, but it still seemed like too much trouble to undo (that's how lazy I am), so this is what I came up with about a week ago.

For removal, the struts slip over the single screw very easily by pulling them towards each other, but they stay in place while under normal tension.

Note, my method requires an additional mounting platform at the rear of the battery hatch in which to locate the screw. You could probably use the latch screw itself if you added a spacer of some kind, but I already had the rear platform for the purpose of strengthening the battery compartment.

[gregstone]

I really like this and did it to my Cub - with luck I'll get to try it in the air tomorrow. Of course I got fancy and used red and green clips for starboard and port

[jklong03]

I can't take credit for this one, saw it in another thread but didn't see it in this one. This is the simplest, slickest way I have seen. They are just eye-hole screws I bought at Lowes (home improvement chain here in the us, I'm sure there are similar big-box stores in your area). Quarter turn and the struts slip right off, to put on just slip the strut over and then turn to right angle to strut!

[Crazy Horse]

That's what I like, simple, effective and almost free. Thank you.

[renard80]

Yes, that's a classic, well tried and effective mod, jk.

Two difficulties are: (1) finding a screw-eye small enough to slip through the strut slot, and (2) finding a screw-eye with the correct thread. Often the two are incompatible - if the screw-eye is small enough, its thread can be too small and sloppy for the SC.

I found a screw-eye with a thread large enough to make a sound connection into the fuselage. But its eye was too large for the strut slot. So, using pliers I opened the eye and shaped it into a right angle. Then I cut the horizontal leg with my Dremel so that it slips nicely through the strut slot.

This has provided a really solid and substantial fixing - no sloppy thread.

[hghost]

I did the eye screw Mod on mine, it is easier to do.

[dheaton]

I like the Eye screw. Great idea.
Any thought on how to fix a broken strut on the wing side? I had an oops and didnt' know if I just need to order a new set of struts or make something. Any ideas?

[renard80]

Jul 22, 2013 21:01:49 GMT 1 dheaton said:

Any thought on how to fix a broken strut on the wing side? I had an oops and didnt' know if I just need to order a new set of struts or make something. Any ideas?

This thread deals with quick-disconnect strut attachments at the fuselage.

To keep things tidy on this board, and to help others who do searches in the future, it would help if you either started a new thread for your query or relied upon your current post under Strut Clip Help (to which, incidentally, I have responded.)

[ninjasword71]

I have long done the eye screw too but was easier because popsicle sticks are the battery box support. I had to cut the strut slot slightly for the eye. It works great by the way. Sorry for the huge pic.

[coupe1942]

I looked at all of these various mods for the struts, but chose to start with this one for myself. I used some dark colored barrel swivels that I purchased at WalMart cheaply. They come a dozen to a package and are a #5 in size, Eagle Claw product. I will likely leave the snaps unhooked/unlocked when in flight, but the criss-cross use of them seemed to fit well at present. I hope they work okay for me, but we shall see...