Section: 56
Hours: 5

I installed the Garmin autopilot servos today. I found it was easiest to remove the servo bracket from the wing and install the servo on the bench.

I was going to remove the elevator servo bracket but realized that I would not be able to get several of the screws at the back in place once the servo was mounted. So I mounted the servo in place.

 I had to add some washers to space the end bearing a little further away from the crank arm because the jamb nut was rubbing on the crank arm.

Section: 56
Hours: 6

The installation kit for the Garmin autopilot servos has a couple aluminum tubes that must be threaded on both ends to accept threaded bearings. I started out using a tap from my inexpensive (cheap) Harbor Freight tap and die set and had a hard time cutting threads to the required depth. I ordered a more expensive tap and the job became much easier. Good quality HSS tools make a huge difference for jobs like this.

 I used the drill press for this tap job. I chucked up the aluminum tubing in the drill and made a fixture to hold the tap chuck on the bed of the drill press.

 Bottom side of the tap chuck fixture.

 Here are the finished connecting rods with the better quality tap from Vermont tools.