MGL Avionics User Forum

My airplane has 3 MGL servos installed, converted to capstan. All 3 servos have significant resistance when not powered. When doing a flight control check on the ground the controls feel heavier. In the air the control forces are pretty bad. I disconnected the servo cables and the airplane flies nice and light on the controls. I can barely move the mgl servo drum by hand without servo cables installed and no power applied to the servo. When removing the drum it is impossible to turn the output shaft and collar. Am I correct to assume there should be little resistance on the servo when not powered? There also seems to be a dead spot on all the servos where it is not possible to continue turning the shaft. Is there anything I can check to see whats going on? I find it curious that all 3 servos have the same issue. What can this be caused by? I did not do the original install. When I got the airplane the servo cables were disconnected.

It sounds like someone may have really messed up in the implementation of the servos. The only thing you should feel when moving them is just the slightest of "clicks" as the stepper motor rotates from hand movement.

Thanks for the reply Adam. I removed one servo from the aircraft. The resistance is caused by the stepper motor. The magnetic rotor is touching the stator causing the increased residual torque. All the bearings and spur gear are fine. I guess I have to send them in to get fixed.