Wingtips move, hinge method

[rocketbob]

https://vansairforce.net/community/s...ad.php?t=74890

If the hinges are already riveted, you can drill out/cut a short piece of hinge on the bottom of the wing, offset a few thousandths and re-rivet to take the play out.

[KeithB]

One snug - maybe 1/16” play, one a bit looser with 1/8 to 1/4”. I can usually remove pins with fingers - sometimes vise grips on snug side. 850 hours with no sign of wear.

[SeanB]

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I decided to try adding more hinge material to the lower left wingtip. Got it forward enough that I could barely drive the pin, with a drill. Result....No joy! Still about the same amount of movement at the trailing edge of the tip. Next move will be to extend the top hinge forward as well. Thinking to about to the yellow line. It seems to me this hinge will introduce more "resistance" to movement because of the increased amount of arc compared to the bottom one.

• Thoughts about the yellow line? Forward enough?
• Maybe extend the bottom hinge even one more eyelet forward of the red line?

I will eventually bridge the added hinge sections together with a doubler.

[wirejock]

I don't think adding that much forward will help movement at the aft side. Plus, getting that pin in is going to be a challange. How far aft is the hinge?

[clam]

Are you using the correct diameter pin for these eyelets? ie, you didn't swap the pin for a smaller diameter?

[SeanB]

Larry,
Hinge material stops at the edge of the wingskins going aft. The wingtip support rib begins immediately aft. Pic in Post 1.

Jeff,
Hinge pin is what came with the hinges, I believe 0.090". Will check again though.

[SeanB]

Well,
After Jeff's comment about the pin...I'm concerned. I see in a few of my photos, the hinge material is stamped, "MS20257-4 and -3". This may be hinge material referred to as P3 and P4 on Van's Order Form??? If so, it may come with 0.090 pins. Seems mine did. This could be the material intended for the upper engine cowl to get around curves better. Will call tech support later.

Now I'm wondering if 0.120 pins may be swapped into this hinge material.

[wirejock]

Originally Posted by SeanB

Larry,
Hinge material stops at the edge of the wingskins going aft. The wingtip support rib begins immediately aft. Pic in Post 1.

Jeff,
Hinge pin is what came with the hinges, I believe 0.090". Will check again though.

Yep. That's same as mine. I used P4 hinge material.
Hope you find the fix. Keep us posted.

[SeanB]

Update…I added hinge material forward of the existing on both top and bottom runs. I got well into the curve of the leading edge with hopes of arresting play between the eyelets. Had to bevel a few eyelets to get them to interlace. It was quite a bit of extra work. Result? Right wingtip is still moving, but not as much. Maybe 1/8” up and down at trailing edge. Tighter than it was. Left one is about the same as before. Maybe 3/16” movement, but firm. Not sure if it was worth all the effort. In all other aspects, the tips are very solid.

[wcalvert]

Sean, your setup is now almost exactly like mine with about the same amount of play.

The one thought I had a while back was to squeeze the barrels on the hinges slightly to tighten things up, but the fear is that they would not be uniform and would cause issues when reinstalling. For now, they fly like they are and get checked before every flight ...

Hopefully you're craftier than I and come up with a solution. Fly on!

Cheers