Flap Ratchet Binding Against Handle

[twoeightfive]

Recently while flying my PA-18 I noticed when setting flaps to check everything during preflight and popping full flaps on takeoff that the flap handle seems to bind up a bit on the flap ratchet. It happens when pulling from 2nd to 3rd notch. Most of the time it's quite slight and just a little bit of friction that can be felt but occasionally it will bind up enough that if you don't pull harder it won't set. Just kinda drives me nuts since it used to be a very smooth effortless pull. It doesn't seem to be little moving lever that engages and disengages with the push of the flap handle button causing it since I'd think it would cause it throughout the rest of the notches as well. I looked at the flap ratchet and didn't notice any burrs or rough spots on the metal. Also during flight on takeoff I noticed when cleaning up from full flaps going from 3rd to 2nd notch that the handle will come to a rest after I release some of my grip on the handle but then it will drop down about another half inch or so which it never did before.

My flap ratchet has 4 notches and I have 4 settings for flaps. I'm not sure why this has started happening lately. It seems like maybe the flap handle is rubbing against the ratchet on the right side on the channel between the handle? But I'm not 100% certain. Can the ratchet be changed out quite easily? I'm not sure if I should just try filing the ratchet down to see if that helps or just replace it. In terms of airplane parts they seem relatively cheap. Would it be easiest to get the dakota cub ratchet without notches and then put the 4 in. Or can you just notch a univair 3 or 2 notch ratchet with the extra notches?

 

[Steve Pierce]

Have you tried lubricating the ratchet? Take the 3/16" bolt out from the seat, push the button and you can get the ratchet out.

 

[cubdrvr]

Seems I had that issue years ago........bolt was loose and ratchet didn't line up properly.
I have 2 settings on my ratchet 20 and 50.......any more is a nuisance for me.
50 for landing
20 for slow cruise. 2000 RPM @ 60mph.

 

[twoeightfive]

Seems I had that issue years ago........bolt was loose and ratchet didn't line up properly.
I have 2 settings on my ratchet 20 and 50.......any more is a nuisance for me.
50 for landing
20 for slow cruise. 2000 RPM @ 60mph.

I went and looked at like 5 other super cubs on the field and sure enough that's exactly what i found. Seems like maybe having a tiny bit of slack in the flap ratchet is normal but if theres too much it doesn't travel completely straight and it binds against the handle. I tightened mine up and it solved the issue!