Inboard aileron hinge play: concern?

[grayforge]

Hi folks,

I'll be sending an email to Vans as well, but thought I'd check opinions here too.

I have a tiny bit of play in the inboard aileron hinge/bearing. I imagine it's the bearing shifting slightly in the sandwiched aluminum sheets that form the hinge. The movement isn't a lot, but you can just see and hear it (so maybe 1/64 or so). Photo below.

One thought I had was to drill out the 2 rivets holding the top of the hinge plates together, pry apart slightly and drip some Loc-Tite onto the bearing to fill the space (trying not to get it in the bearing).

Thoughts on if this is anything to worry about and if so, fixes?

I wish I had noticed this when I first built the hinge. Now the fix (if needed) will be a lot more involved.

Thanks!
Russ

The offending hinge:

[crabandy]

AN960-316L washer between bearing and hinge bracket?

[grayforge]

It's the bearing shifting in the cavity of the sandwiched aluminum sheet hinge bracket, not the steel hinge bracket that's part of the aileron.

In retrospect, I may not have been clear enough, the play is up & down, not side to side.

Thanks,
Russ

[cln1owner]

I'm interested in what Vans will say.

IF Vans thinks Loctite could work to fill the void and lock the bearing in place, you might consider drilling a very small hole at the seam of the two halves into the void and forcing the loctite into the area. I don't know that you could pry the two halves apart without doing damage.

Is the bearing actually moving inside the plates, or is there play in the bearing itself?

[grayforge]

Nate, a buddy of mine had the exact same idea. Great minds... I imagine Vans has heard this one before and has a standard solution.

I think the bearing is moving in the plates, but I'll go out and confirm.

Thanks,
Russ

[Pmerems]

When I was building up my hinge bracket I had an issue.

I chose to back rivet the two plates together. I wasn't careful and didn't see the at the spherical bearing protrudes past the flush side of the plate. When I back riveted it I realized I may have damaged the bearing creating additional play within the bearing. I replace the spherical bearing just in case.

If you back riveted the two plates and did what I wished I hadn't then you might have internal play in the bearing not external.

Just thought I would mention it.

[grayforge]

When I riveted my hinge bracket together, I used a rivet squeezer, so no undue stress on the bearing.

I just got back in from the garage. I put a bolt through the bearing and applied up & down force. The bearing is, in fact, moving in the hinge bracket. No play in the bearing itself.

Thanks,
Russ

[GeneL]

Looks like you primed one of the bearing mount sides, this will create space for the bearing instead of preload.

[grayforge]

Hmmm... good point. Maybe this is an area where one should not prime mating surfaces?

Thanks,
Russ

[cguarino]

I had this same problem on my -4. There is a special Loctite made just for this application. I think the one you want is 603 but don't hold me to that. I know it was green. I made that repair at least 350 flight hours ago and it is still going strong.