Further suggestions on the FAJ (ferociously awkward job). The instructions
are a but terse - they read like a car manual - release x, remove y etc. and
are meant to test us ! Contrary to the current instructions we suggest ....
1) first remove the stb. aileron crank nut (leaving the drive rod on it ) and
drop it down to the bottom of the aperture to let your hand in. Unless you
have child size hands it will be pretty well impossible to undo the end
bearing bolt that side without.
2) don't release the CS09 brackets first. It might appear that you would be
able to lift the tube up into better view to get at those end bolts, but it's
precious little and the tube falls down much more. With the brackets in place
it is easy to rack the stick back and forth keeping a ratchet socket on the
head of the bolt, and get it out in a minute. Otherwise you can only move the
thing about one click at a time and it takes ages.
2) If the wooden tank support is a good fit, it can only slide about when
unbolted and has to be moved into the tunnel to remove it. Unfortunately
there is a lip there where the tunnel is glassed to the cockpit module. There
seems to be no alternative to being a bit brutal with it and knock it there,
but it WILL come out without disconnecting the flap actuating arm. So will
everything else.
3) Heat alone will not release the old cups - you need a lot of force (indeed
the rivets seem almost superfluous). If a bolt is replaced through the cup
anchor nut and its head clamped in a vice, with the tube ends up against the
jaws it is possible to exert enormous force where you want it. Throw the bolt
away - if your head had been in a vice (and it might feel like it after this
job) you wouldn't feel so good.
But take heart Carl -- no hole cutting, and as others have said -it's not
that difficult.
Final tip - a good helper pays dividends - thanks Ted.
Now if only the new parts had arrived !
Graham C. G-EMIN
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