Inspect those cables. The traditional method is to rub a rag the length of the cable...if the rag snags on a loose wire, replace the cable. But really, ALL the cables on the entire airplane can be replaced for less than $100 and a bit of your own labor. So why not treat the old girl to a new set of control cables?!
The tools required are modest (Photo 2). A cable cutter, some thimbles, nicopress sleeves, and a swedge-it tool. The swedge-it tool comes with a go/no-go gage or you can use a calipers to check the finished swedge. Order enough cable, plus a little extra. The Taylorcraft uses all 1/8" 7X19 galvanized cable...about 150 feet total. You can buy genuine aircraft cable for about the same price as the hardware store stuff, so don't cheap out on the cable quality!
First cut off the old fittings. (Photo 3) shows a bushing being cut off with a hacksaw. Then tape the old cable side by side to the new cable. Keeping the old and new cables taped together (Photo 4) until the terminations are complete will ensure that the new cable will come out exactly the same length as the old cable.
Wrapping the cut point with a couple turns of masking tape will keep the cable strands from spraying out when cut with the cable cutter (Photo 5)
Run the cable through the nicopress sleeve, around the thimble, through the turnbuckle end (if used!), and then back through the nicopress sleeve. Allow 1/8 to 1/4 inch of the cut end to protrude through the sleeve. (photo 6) The sleeve expands lengthwise as it is swedged, so it will tighten the cable around the thimble and reduce the length of cable end protruding out of the sleeve.
Then insert the thimble, end, sleeve, cable assembly into the swedge-it tool (Photo 7) and complete the swedge following the directions that came with the tool or from AC43.13.
Finally, check the completed swedge with the go/no-go gage (Photo 8)
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