How your electric flaps work

SixPapaCharlie

SixPapaCharlie

May the force be with you
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I had a weird anomaly where I was putting around the pattern and my flaps got stuck 1/2 way out.
Fuse was good, switch was good, but no movement on the flaps.

So I decided to set the plane on fire.

I went out there today with a gas can and some matches and suddenly it was working fine again. Weird.

At any rate here is what your electric flap system looks like (mine anyway).
Little motor, and a Jack Screw. In my plane, i wish it was faster. it feels like forever to deploy the flaps.

Anyway. Your moment of zen.

 
I am.........flapaghasted! :confused:
 
Last edited:
SixPapaCharlie said:
I had a weird anomaly where I was putting around the pattern and my flaps got stuck 1/2 way out.
Fuse was good, switch was good, but no movement on the flaps.

So I decided to set the plane on fire.

I went out there today with a gas can and some matches and suddenly it was working fine again. Weird.

At any rate here is what your electric flap system looks like (mine anyway).
Little motor, and a Jack Screw. In my plane, i wish it was faster. it feels like forever to deploy the flaps.

Anyway. Your moment of zen.
Click to expand...

Replace the alternator, voltage regulator, and battery with 28 volt units. The flap motor will be faster while it lasts...and you might get the fire...
 
I wonder if your plane has limit switches? On my 182 one of my switches was out of adjustment and flaps would not retract.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
In my plane, i wish it was faster. it feels like forever to deploy the flaps.
Click to expand...

How slow is it? On the Grumman I flew, it was 2 Mississippi's on descent from downwind, 2 Mississippi's on base and 2 Mississippi's on final.
 
So that's what it looks like to get screwed.
 
If you had a screw loose, you’d be unflappable.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I went out there today with a gas can and some matches and suddenly it was working fine again. Weird.
Click to expand...
Not weird at all. Threats of violence often get the job done. I find it is often effective to just walk up to the recalcitrant equipment with a large hammer in hand.
 
You won’t need the matches,if you pour the gas on the motor,and activate the flaps.
 
My '63 172D was the last year Cessna had Johnson Bar actuated manual flaps, and I have no idea why they went electric. Manual flaps are simple, lightweight, relatively maintenance-free, don't require electrical power, and are as fast or slow to deploy and retract as you want.

As far as deployment speed is concerned, on a soft field you can literally make the airplane jump into the air by quickly pulling on the Johnson Bar, then slowly retract as you pick up airspeed.

KISS.
 
That's good info. I always wondered what happened when I pulled up on the flap lever on the floor of my old 182. Mine seem really fast though?
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I had a weird anomaly where I was putting around the pattern and my flaps got stuck 1/2 way out.
Fuse was good, switch was good, but no movement on the flaps.

So I decided to set the plane on fire.

I went out there today with a gas can and some matches and suddenly it was working fine again. Weird.

At any rate here is what your electric flap system looks like (mine anyway).
Little motor, and a Jack Screw. In my plane, i wish it was faster. it feels like forever to deploy the flaps.

Anyway. Your moment of zen.

Click to expand...

Wow! How many different airplane manufacturers use that manufacturer's actuator? Mooney & Piper Comanche gear actuators, and just about all high wing cessna flap actuators? Didn't know they were in some Grummans too.
 
SkyDog58 said:
Well then, I believe zucchini is next followed by rutabaga. After that I don’t know. I’ve never had to go beyond that.
Click to expand...
All those veggies...don’t they spoil? Or does 6pc make lots of soup?
 
Stan Cooper said:
My '63 172D was the last year Cessna had Johnson Bar actuated manual flaps, and I have no idea why they went electric. Manual flaps are simple, lightweight, relatively maintenance-free, don't require electrical power, and are as fast or slow to deploy and retract as you want.

As far as deployment speed is concerned, on a soft field you can literally make the airplane jump into the air by quickly pulling on the Johnson Bar, then slowly retract as you pick up airspeed.

KISS.
Click to expand...

Indeed!!!

I love pulling on my Johnson!


...
 
SkyDog58 said:
Well then, I believe zucchini is next followed by rutabaga. After that I don’t know. I’ve never had to go beyond that.
Click to expand...

All this stuff is grown year round in places like south FL, south TX, and CA is it not?
 
sourdough44 said:
My favorite flap system is the Piper method, simple, little to go wrong.
Click to expand...
Indeed, but when I was a primary student, flaps retracted themselves on a 1968 Cherokee once. The slam was loud, and the airplane immediately settled. I was smart enough not to yank the yoke, but I almost had a heart attack - it was so unexpected. Never had electric flaps fail (yet). And I do suspect that I didn't latch the Johnson bar properly. But still, things can happen!
 
Had my flaps fail last summer in my 91 Tiger in the full down position at my home drome right after landing. There are limit switches which in my case all turned out to be good. Ended up have a frozen flap motor. Since you can’t buy a new motor or have one rebuilt (24v), I had to buy a used motor. Still, all in was less than $1AMU. Never had that happen before.

The Tiger maintenance manual has the steps to check the limit switches and the flap switch itself and I would assume the Traveller manual does as well. If you can run a volt/ohm meter, you should be able to get a good idea on what is happening. And if you are a member of AYA, there is a back issue that gives a 2 page procedure with pictures on how to troubleshoot the flap system.
 
jkaduk said:
Who cares how fast they go? They don't hardly do anything anyway.
Click to expand...

Compared to the flaps on the AA1s, they are quite effective. I once took off with the flaps down, neither I nor the instructor noticed until we were at cruise and were a few mph slow. For all they did on that airplane, they could have just installed the switch and indicator, and not bothered with the actual flaps.
 
So what was the purpose in putting electric flaps on light singles? I assume there had to be some advantage to it besides “oooh it’s electric”
 
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