34-04: Alternate Flap Motor

The Van's flap motor has worked on many aircraft so far, however it has a number of drawbacks:

1. It does not have any position sensing (you need to install a rather dodgy looking external sensor). 
2. The rod end can back out and needs to be safe-tied. 
3. The motor has had a number of failures in the past. 
4. The motor has been replaced on the RV10 due to supply issues - it's only a matter of time surely before this happens on the -14. 

To solve these problems, Pat Hatch, at PH Aviation used a Precision Automations linear actuator on a friends aeroplane, and now sells them. They are slightly longer than the stock motor, so some modification of the Van's stock brackets is required. The actuator is called the RV Max Flap Actuator. 

Here are the installation instructions for the PH Aviation motor in the RV14

Pat has been selling these for some time and it was an obvious upgrade to the stock motor. The only curveball, is Van's have recently released a retrofit flap motor for the RV10, which looks very suspiciously similar to the PH Aviation Motor. 

Here is OP64 for the RV10 - Flap Motor retrofit

Pat addressed this in a recent VAF Forums post where he is pretty sure the Van's motor is the same type as he uses - however is not threaded on the end. Pat sells his motor for $349 and Van's sells theirs for $250. That is a very large price difference, however i need to make sure the Van's motor will fit the RV-14 (or at least be the same as the PH motor). 

Now, the PH Motor is designed to fit the RV10. So is the new Van's motor. So i think i am good with the size of the motor. I just need to work out what hardware i need. 

Bottom End Installation (flap crank arm end)

Looking at the plans for OP64, it is clear that the end has been threaded to accept a CM-4M rod end (and AN316-4R jam nut). So i can use the hardware called out in OP64 instructions:

In my kit i already have the following parts:

1 x AN4-12A - bolt

1 x NAS1149F0463P - washer 

1 x MS21042-4 - nut

So i just need to order the following bushings: 2 x BUSH AL.252X.312X.173

Top End Installation (flap motor end)

For the top end installation, i am assuming the motor is identical to the PH Aviation unit. I can therefore use the hardware called out in the PH Aviation Instructions, namely:

1 x AN5-13 - top mount bolt 

1 x AN310-5 - castle nut

2 x MS24665-208 - cotter pin 

4 x NAS1149F0532P washers (AN960-516L)

2 x NAS1149F0563P washers (AN960-516)

This is almost identical to the hardware called out in the Van's OP64 instructions - except a different bolt length:

Other Considerations

As mentioned, if i assume the Van's motor and the PH Aviation motor as the same part, then i can simply use the PH Aviation instructions to modify the 2 x F-01466 parts. These are installed into the fuselage during the build for the stock flap motor to mount on. 

I am hoping before i get to this section, that Van's will release new parts which are designed to fit with their RV10 flap motor! Fingers crossed. If not, i will check with support when i get to that section (they are installed in Section 32 - Baggage Area), and then modify the F-01466 parts using some 1" x 1" x 0.063" angle which i already have on hand. 

So, to do this modification all i would need in addition was 6 x CR3213-4-2 - cherry rivets

Order List

I will order the following parts from Van's, which should save me around $100 USD ($155 AUD!)

ES-FA-PA-450-12-5 - flap motor

CM-4M - rod end

AN316-4R - jam nut

 

 Top mounting:

1 x AN5-13 - top mount bolt 

1 x AN310-5 - castle nut

2 x MS24665-208 - cotter pin 

4 x NAS1149F0532P washers (AN960-516L)

2 x NAS1149F0563P washers (AN960-516)

Bottom Mounting:

2 x BUSH AL.252X.312X.173

 

Bracket Modification:

6 x CR3213-4-2 - cherry rivets to mount the original mount brackets 

I will place this order with Van's and fingers crossed by the time i get to Section 32, they have released some re-designed brackets. 

UPDATE:

I ended up doing a trip to the US right after i made this order, so was able to get my hands on the flap motor early. 

For anyone interested, the flap motor is a Progressive Automations PA-09P-VANS. I assume the 'Van's' is the modification to the actuator end where it is threaded to 1/4 - 28.  To allow the CM-4M bearing to thread into the unit.