Hi,

How much free play should the rudder be allowed to have when you move it softly from one side to the other till you feel some resistance while doing the 360?

Mine has about 2 inches total, checked another bird and it had around 1 inch only.

Brgds,

Manuel

Having someone hold the rudder neutral in the back and then pushing the rudder pedals one at a time does not reflect play / slopy cables.

Your question is a little confusing. What do you mean “while doing a 360”?

Rudders are usually sloppy from loose cables. Loose cables are usually caused by a broken spring going from rudder pedal bar to the firewall. With someone pressing forward on both pedals is the rudder freeplay gone?

Thanks PARM

Sorry, I just meant to say while doing the walk around.

Indeed, pressing both peddals Will qet rid of the loos travel of the rudder.
There are two short cables in the back, just on top of the stabilizer and they look without tensión, hanging to some extend.
That is the free play I noticed.
The rudder cables in the fuselage had 29 and 24 pouns tensión.
Now, service manual states 30 +- 10 for the 185 and 75+-10 for the 180, wow, 75 sounds high, do you or someone here know why so high and why the substancial difference to the 185?

Brgds

Manuel

Service manual page pic showing the 75 pound (??) tensión for the rudder cables on the C-180 is uploaded to my pictures.

[email protected] wrote:Thanks PARM

Sorry, I just meant to say while doing the walk around.

Indeed, pressing both peddals Will qet rid of the loos travel of the rudder.
There are two short cables in the back, just on top of the stabilizer and they look without tensión, hanging to some extend.
That is the free play I noticed.
The rudder cables in the fuselage had 29 and 24 pouns tensión.
Now, service manual states 30 +- 10 for the 185 and 75+-10 for the 180, wow, 75 sounds high, do you or someone here know why so high and why the substancial difference to the 185?

Brgds

Manuel

Are the springs broken? If you look through the inspection panel on the belly that is between the pedals you will see the springs.

Just figured it out.

Cables from the bellcrank to the tail wheel are too short.
That tensed the long rudder cable to the bellcrank in the fuselaje and loosend the short ones over the stabilizer from the bellcrank to the rudder.