Steve,
Have a look at the posting from Nigel Graham on Jul 22, 1999, which I will
repeat here if you do not have access back that far...
QUOTE:
I too had grave concerns about the flimsy method of attaching these
vital bushes into the tail plane. These concerns have subsequently
proved to be well founded. I incorporated both bushes into a strong
but lightweight (48 grams each) tube that bonds the entire bush
surface area and prevents either of them going anywhere should the
glass/steel bond fail. It also significantly simplifies the build
process. I've enclosed a Word Document that describes the technique.
This will only be of interest to those of you building the tail plane
from scratch and cannot be retrofitted to completed tail planes.
All mods should of course be carried out with the approval of the
appropriate authority.
Hope this helps
Nigel
END QUOTE
The posting was in response to a concern much like yours from another
builder--and I also had had concerns, so I was glad someone had "blazed the
trail." Both the other builder and I have now completed the mod, and in my
case, that is just where I have gotten to in the build. (I floxed the tubes in
place in the stbd and port TP2s last week.) My own bushing tubes each added
about 70 grams rather than the 48 grams mentioned by Nigel... hope that doesn't
mean I am a "heavy builder," but whatever, I will try to do things lighter in
the future. The tubes work like a charm, and the torque tube slides in
straightaway and smoothly, without the chance of (1) the individual bushings
being misaligned or knocked out of kilter, and (2) practically no chance of
damaging the foam that is otherwise right alongside the torque tube as it is
inserted. The entire assembly seems now to be much more soundly attached than it
would have been otherwise, with not that much weight added. I feel very good
about the mod.
Would be happy to elaborate if you wish--just contact me directly. Or others on
the net may have similar (or related?) experiences.
Regards,
Jim Graham
A-101 TriGear going slowly, but going...
HAGARGS@aol.com wrote:
> I have gotten the tailplane bushings all roughed up nicely on the outside
> surface with a die grinder. Now this question has probably been asked a
> dozen times by now, though I haven't see any mention in the Europa flyers I
> have.
>
> When trial fitting the bushings in the talplanes, the fit, as expected, is
> very loose in the tail plane and very tight on the torque tube. I envision
> much fumbling occurring when slathering 5 minute on the outside of the
> bushings, then pushing a very tight torque tube into the tailplane through
> the bushings while trying to keep the slugs positioned at the proper position
> extending out from the surfaces. Not to mention aligning the axis of the
> tube to the axis of the tailplane while the curing occurs.
>
> I would like some comments on the following sceneario:
>
> My first thoughts are to make some sort of collet fixturing to hold the out
> board bushing in place and positioned securly while shoving the torque tube
> in. Once the tube sufficiently inserted the angled inboard busing can be
> tapped in over the end of the tube and held in place till setting occurs. The
> torque tube to be sprayed with silicone to minimize the epoxy adhering to it.
>
> Has any one developed a routine to accomplish this task giving satisfactory
> results? I envision spending a day or so of making some sort of fixture to
> do this 20 minute job. Fill me in, do I need to be meticulous here or does
> the final result come out in the wash later in the build with further work?
>
> Thanks for any consideration
>
> Steve Hagar
> A143
> Mesa, AZ
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