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08-25-2015, 02:45 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: St.Louis, Missouri
Posts: 8
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Replacing one wing on a RV-6
I am a Wittman Tailwind owner with no RV building experience and have an opportunity to buy a ground looped RV-6. The damage to the airframe includes a wing which most likely has a bent spar. I have purchased the plans CD and thought that I could buy a used wing or a wing kit which someone had not finished to replace the bent spar wing. As I have searched this forum for info on the RV-6 wing removal it became clear that the wings were going to be difficult to remove due to the close tolerance bolts. I also understand that the spars and center section are all match predrilled together at the factory. I am starting to wonder if it will be possible to install a different wing in place of the bent spar wing. Can any of you give me any experiences you have had with this issue? Is it possible to just replace one wing? Is the only fix to install two new wings with a match drilled center section? Any light you can shed on this to keep me from making a mistake is greatly appreciated.
Dave
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08-25-2015, 03:34 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3,778
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Dave,
You will need a little more info. Not all RV6's were pre-punched/match drilled. An original Builder #, might be the Serial # in some cases could shed some light on this by calling Van's. The original builder name could work too.  Changing one wing has been done many times. I have a contact on my airfield that has performed this on his RV6 with the right wing due to an engine mount/gear leg failure. PM me if you would like his contact info.
__________________
Reiley
Retired N622DR - Serial #V7A1467
VAF# 671
Repeat Offender / Race 007
Friend of the RV-1
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08-25-2015, 04:13 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pacer18a
I am a Wittman Tailwind owner with no RV building experience and have an opportunity to buy a ground looped RV-6. The damage to the airframe includes a wing which most likely has a bent spar. Is the only fix to install two new wings with a match drilled center section? Any light you can shed on this to keep me from making a mistake is greatly appreciated.
Dave
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As a Tailwind owner and RV owner with experience removing and replacing RV-6 wings, I think Reiley is correct. Find your serial number and see if it is real early kit- Most spars where pre-drilled at the factory. This should make a replacement wing a minor issue in the match id you are close in serial numbers. Also find a wing without the rear spar already drilled. You need to set up this new wing with your fuse. The RV-6 wing carry through fuselage spars are built like the Brooklyn bridge with the metal attach plates the crucial link. search for other info on this site. I think it's very do-able.
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08-25-2015, 04:28 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3,778
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Replied to PM...
__________________
Reiley
Retired N622DR - Serial #V7A1467
VAF# 671
Repeat Offender / Race 007
Friend of the RV-1
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08-26-2015, 09:05 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: St.Louis, Missouri
Posts: 8
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Thanks for the info so far. I have talked with an owner/builder who had the exact damage to repair and was able to successfully replace just one wing.
I would like to hear from others who may have similar knowledge.
Is the gear to engine mount failure a common issue with RV6's?
AZtailwind would you mind telling me more about your experiences with removing and replacing RV6 wings. I have read that removing the close tolerance bolts is normally a pain and a time consuming process. Any lessons learned would be appreciated.
Dave
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08-26-2015, 09:12 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3,778
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Hi Dave,
The original engine mount did not have the support gussets welded in for the gear leg socket on the RV6. There is a fix for this out there. Van's knows about the issue. Many have come before this one resulting in a failure.
__________________
Reiley
Retired N622DR - Serial #V7A1467
VAF# 671
Repeat Offender / Race 007
Friend of the RV-1
Last edited by LifeofReiley : 08-26-2015 at 09:16 AM.
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08-26-2015, 09:17 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Round Rock, TX
Posts: 3,778
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__________________
Reiley
Retired N622DR - Serial #V7A1467
VAF# 671
Repeat Offender / Race 007
Friend of the RV-1
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08-26-2015, 10:02 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pacer18a
AZtailwind would you mind telling me more about your experiences with removing and replacing RV6 wings. I have read that removing the close tolerance bolts is normally a pain and a time consuming process. Any lessons learned would be appreciated.
Dave
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PM sent- One thing I failed to mention is while removing all the bolts- there are a lot of them- save the difficult ones for last. Some close tolerance bolts have a closer tolerance than others. Clean the spar holes. If you don't have to take off the other wing-then don't. I used WD-40 to take them out and boelube to put them in. Good luck
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08-26-2015, 10:21 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Battleground
Posts: 4,348
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Wayne with Phlogiston is the expert on replacing the older matched drilled wing components. It is very likely he drilled the originals as he was doing that for Van's kit's in the day....
He has done many replacements.
__________________
Smart People do Stupid things all the time. I know, I've seen me do'em.
RV6 - Builder/Flying
Bucker Jungmann
Fiat G.46 -(restoration in progress, if I have enough life left in me)
RV1 - Proud Pilot.
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08-26-2015, 10:49 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JonJay
Wayne with Phlogiston is the expert on replacing the older matched drilled wing components. It is very likely he drilled the originals as he was doing that for Van's kit's in the day....
He has done many replacements.
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I agree, I recommend you call Wayne.
If you give him the spar serial # he might even have a record of details.
There are a lot of different factors that can come in to play when replacing an RV-6 wing.... it is not a plug it in and install the bolts type of repair.
__________________
Opinions, information and comments are my own unless stated otherwise. They do not necessarily represent the direction/opinions of my employer.
Scott McDaniels
Van's Aircraft Engineering Prototype Shop Manager
Hubbard, Oregon
RV-6A (aka "Junkyard Special ")
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