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  #41  
Old 09-23-2013, 02:11 PM
jrs14855 jrs14855 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ
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Default HINGES

Two things I haven't seen addressed:
Lateral alignment of hinges-does the channel portion align perfectly with the rod end. If one part is slightly misaligned with the mating part in an inboard -outboard orientation, if the parts must be forced together for elevator installation, this is not acceptable.
Channel fit on rod end inner race: if the rod end bearing is not a perfect fit in the channel, shim washers should be used to obtain a snug fit.

Regarding the post about Cessna's, on nearly ALL twin Cessna's the elevators can be moved in opposite directions at the trailing edge.
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  #42  
Old 09-23-2013, 03:10 PM
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LettersFromFlyoverCountry LettersFromFlyoverCountry is offline
 
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Location: St. Paul, MN.
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jrs14855 View Post
Two things I haven't seen addressed:
Lateral alignment of hinges-does the channel portion align perfectly with the rod end. If one part is slightly misaligned with the mating part in an inboard -outboard orientation, if the parts must be forced together for elevator installation, this is not acceptable.
Channel fit on rod end inner race: if the rod end bearing is not a perfect fit in the channel, shim washers should be used to obtain a snug fit.

Regarding the post about Cessna's, on nearly ALL twin Cessna's the elevators can be moved in opposite directions at the trailing edge.
It's been a long time since I've built the HS, but aren't these prepunched holes?
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  #43  
Old 09-23-2013, 05:10 PM
jrs14855 jrs14855 is offline
 
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Location: Lake Havasu City AZ
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Default Holes

My understanding of the RV7 is that the holes are pre punched, but this does not absolutely eliminate the possibility of hinge misalignment, especially if there is damage history.
Also if the pre punched holes are so error proof, why has there been so much discussion about hinge alignment problems??
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  #44  
Old 09-23-2013, 05:28 PM
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miyu1975 miyu1975 is offline
 
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Default

Checked mine tonight. No cracks. But all four jam nuts on the elevators needed about 1/2 turn...
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  #45  
Old 09-23-2013, 07:16 PM
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Walt Walt is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanH View Post
Good call Scott.

Walt (and others who do a lot of RV condition inspections), are you seeing many cases of hinge misalignment? I recall you have written about poor center bearing shimming.
There is no way to check for hinge misalignment without removing the attach bolts which I do not nomally do. If I find a stiff surface I always dig until I find out why and in a few cases I did have to remove an elevator/rudder and readjust the rod ends to get things right.

Improper shimming of the center bearing is common and easily deterimined. If the hinge bolts are not torqued and torquing them up locks up the elevator then the center bearing is not shimmed properly.
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  #46  
Old 09-23-2013, 07:30 PM
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Mike S Mike S is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt View Post
Improper shimming of the center bearing is common and easily determined. If the hinge bolts are not torqued and torquing them up locks up the elevator then the center bearing is not shimmed properly.
Also, if the hinge bolts are torqued, and you force control horns together with the pushrod bolt just a little bit, it can make the elevator drag and not move freely. Happened to me after re-assembly when the plane was painted.

Bottom line here is check, and double check.
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Last edited by Mike S : 09-23-2013 at 09:30 PM.
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  #47  
Old 09-23-2013, 07:38 PM
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Walt Walt is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike S View Post
Also, if the hinge bolts are torqued, and you force control horns together with the pushrod bolt just a little bit, it can make the elevator drag and not move freely. Happened to me after re-assembly when the plane was painted.

Bottom line here is check, and double check.
Agree Mike, without proper spacers in between the horns, tightening the bolts will apply a bending force to the horns also causing binding. This problem doesn't seem to be as common as center bearing binding probably because it's not quite as critical and its relatively easy access compared to the center bearing.
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EXP Aircraft Services LLC
Specializing in RV Condition Inspections, Maintenance, Avionics Upgrades
Dynamic Prop Balancing, Pitot-Static Altmeter/Transponder Certification
FAA Certified Repair Station, AP/IA/FCC GROL, EAA Technical Counselor
Authorized Garmin G3X Dealer/Installer
RV7A built 2004, 1700+ hrs, New Titan IO-370, Bendix Mags
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Last edited by Mike S : 09-23-2013 at 09:31 PM.
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  #48  
Old 09-23-2013, 09:36 PM
David Paule David Paule is offline
 
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Location: Boulder, CO
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miyu1975 View Post
Checked mine tonight. No cracks. But all four jam nuts on the elevators needed about 1/2 turn...
Since this seems to occur once in a while, and maybe more often than that, are these things loosening in flight?

I noticed on my RV-3B that the nuts aren't self-locking and they aren't drilled for safety wiring. Should we be using Loctite or something?

Dave
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  #49  
Old 09-23-2013, 11:07 PM
alpinelakespilot2000 alpinelakespilot2000 is offline
 
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Paule View Post
Since this seems to occur once in a while, and maybe more often than that, are these things loosening in flight?

I noticed on my RV-3B that the nuts aren't self-locking and they aren't drilled for safety wiring. Should we be using Loctite or something?

Dave
I used blue loctite on mine plus some torque seal. No apparent movement in 100 hours.
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  #50  
Old 09-24-2013, 12:14 AM
acroflyrgirl acroflyrgirl is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Default Inspecting

So Walt, may I come by your hangar this week, Thurs early before I go to work and take some pictures of what I should be looking for exactly. My plane is in Tucson and I'd like to look at it closely when I get back home Friday.

I would sure appreciate you showing me on another RV.
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