After installing the finished cable adjusters again it was time to make and install th rudder return springs. The plans state these are hooked into the forward holes in the cable adjusters and the holes in the forward firewall attach angles. One problem, no holes drilled in my forward firewall attach angles. Did I miss these when I made the angles? Perhaps, this was years ago now... I went back to the drawing (F14-02) and had a look but no holes were on the plans either. Had a look at the drawing revisions but nothing to be found there also. My plans are very old and perhaps the early Sonex's did not have the springs. I can still drill the holes but I need to know where to drill them. Anyway, time to contact Sonex. I got a response back fairly quickly. The holes are 1/8" and they are located about 17" from the bottom of the angle, 1/8" from the edge (exact position does not matter that much as you can adjust the springs accordingly. They also confirmed the springs actually serve no purpose in flight, they are only there to keep tension on the cables on the ground, but you might as well keep your feet on them. Many fly without the springs, but I wanted them installed.
Drilling the holes was a pain in the ***. Very uncomfortable being ducked under the panel like that. My angle drill with the shortest drill bit I have just fitted between the angle and the rudder pedal. Not an easy job! Anyway, I got that done so then it was time to make the springs. The plans have you make these well over size and after a few tries I ended up with springs almost half the size of what's on the plans before they would tension the cables the way I wanted them to do. Got it all done in the end but this job was far more difficult than expected, mainly because of the missing holes.
