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09-23-2013, 02:11 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ
Posts: 2,393
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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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09-23-2013, 03:10 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: St. Paul, MN.
Posts: 4,792
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jrs14855
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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It's been a long time since I've built the HS, but aren't these prepunched holes?
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09-23-2013, 05:10 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ
Posts: 2,393
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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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09-23-2013, 05:28 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 1,069
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Checked mine tonight. No cracks. But all four jam nuts on the elevators needed about 1/2 turn...
__________________
Ryan Allen, CFII
RV7 N612RA, flying since july 2012
E-170/175
RV10 Tail Kit complete, Wings 90%, fuse on order
Acro Sport 2, building
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09-23-2013, 07:16 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,686
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanH
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.
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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.
__________________
Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)
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
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154
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09-23-2013, 07:30 PM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walt
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.
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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.
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
Last edited by Mike S : 09-23-2013 at 09:30 PM.
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09-23-2013, 07:38 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Dallas/Ft Worth, TX
Posts: 5,686
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike S
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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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.
__________________
Walt Aronow, DFW, TX (52F)
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
Website: ExpAircraft.com, Email: walt@expaircraft.com, Cell: 972-746-5154
Last edited by Mike S : 09-23-2013 at 09:31 PM.
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09-23-2013, 09:36 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 4,435
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miyu1975
Checked mine tonight. No cracks. But all four jam nuts on the elevators needed about 1/2 turn...
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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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09-23-2013, 11:07 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,646
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David Paule
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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I used blue loctite on mine plus some torque seal. No apparent movement in 100 hours.
__________________
Steve M.
Ellensburg WA
RV-9 Flying, 0-320, Catto
Donation reminder: Jan. 2021
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09-24-2013, 12:14 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 405
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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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