Advice needed for replacing the flap servo on my FLRC Spitfire

[dkalwishky]

The flap servo on one of my flaps is acting jittery and generally not working. I've only got 10 - 15 flights on it and now I need to replace the servo.

What advice do you have for lifting up the tape that covers the wire trough so I can put it back down after the new servo is install.

Any advice on pulling the servo wire through the trough and under the air scoop?

One thought is to remove the bad servo and cut the wires as close to it as I can and then cut down the wire from the new servo and splice the wire together without having to remove the existing wire.

The attached photo shows a black line where the wire runs.

[OV10]

DK,
I'm sure that you've been doing these foamies long enough that you get matching touch up paint for any new bird you acquire as regular SOP for repairs. If so, don't even try to save the trough tape because it usually wont stick very well when laid back down and it usually pulls paint chips up when removed which also means touch up. When you get the servo wire retroughed, just use 3M 3/4" or 1" masking tape and paint. It holds ALOT better than the stuff you will remove. As far as getting the wire under the air scoop, just remove the pins from the servo connector and pull through the trough under the scoop.
The majority of my fleet has had the trough tape replaced with 3M with no issues.
Best regards,

[WintrSol]

You can give this a try: remove the contacts from the servo connector, and tie a length of string or dental floss to them, so that they are gathered up. Gently tug the cable at the servo end, attempting to pull the cable, with string attached, through the trough. If it works, all you need do is tie the string to the contacts of the new servo and fish the wire through, then finish up by inserting the contacts into the connector shell. If not, then back to the other way.

[dkalwishky]

Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it.

I don't have any touch up paint for anything right now, I tried to local hardware stores, Menards and Lowes and they would not mix it in the small sample size, they wanted the bigger size which is way more than I'd ever need. I think I've read in one of the forums here that Home Depot will do it so I'll try them next.

I've seen a video or two where guys remove the connector from the servo wires, I've got a dead servo in my parts bin I'll practice on that to make sure I can do it. :)

[dkalwishky]

Today was a success. I had a spare servo in my parts box (I keep several Freewing servo's on hand, normal and reverse) so I tackled this little project today.

I removed the tape over the trough and then removed the bad servo.

I used a piece of safety wire to run through the trough to pull the servo wire after I removed the connector (which was easy to do with the tip of an xacto knife). I made a little hook on one end of the wire and then wrapped the servo wires onto the safety wire and then used electric tape to secure it. I took these pictures after I was done but it worked really well.





I reattached the connector and even saved and reused the Flap label that was on the old servo. :)


The completed job, I just need to get some 3/4" masking tape to cover the trough and some matching paint to paint it and it'll be good as new.


It was a fun little project, I enjoyed doing this.

[Alpha]

That's a very tidy job, dkalwishky, well done! Thanks for posting a guide, I'm sure this will benefit others who ever need to replace servos on foam wings that use this similar installation style (almost all warbirds from many manufacturers).

[StormyDog1962]

A true Hobbyists!

[dkalwishky]

I got the idea of using the wire to pull the servo wire from building the MIG-21. Simple idea that works really well.

[PappaBear]

The use of masking tape to cover the wires after replacing a servo is by far one of the best ways. Simply paint with a matching color and the job is done. The fact that masking tape has tiny ridges imbedded in it adds a touch of realism to the finished model.

[Grossman56]

Hey DK, Ace Hardware will make sample size paint for touch ups for you, I get all mine from there.

Grossman56

[dkalwishky]

We happen to have an ACE close by and we know the owner, I'll see him for the paint!