Squeezing Ailerons

Bad Sheila · #1 07-25-2012, 03:23 PM

Everyone talks about 'squeezing' an aileron but do not say how you do it?
Do you use your fingers? Do you use 2 pieces of flat wood and use vise grips set to a fixed pressure? Do you do 1" at a time, 3" or 6"?

How do you turn your leg fairing to raise a 'heavy' wing? Will the drag penalty be worth it?

Questions, Questions, Questions?

scootwoot · #2 07-25-2012, 04:50 PM

The way I squeezed the aileron is to use two paint sticks in a set of seamer vicegrips (the ones with the large flat plates in the jaws) Take it easy, it doesn't take much,, do a little then fly. Also fly with the aircraft properly weighted, expect left wing heavy with only the pilot in there.

Subwaybob · #3 07-25-2012, 06:04 PM

There are 20 things to rig before that. Everything from ailerons being mis-rigged to pants being off. Remember you can't un-squeeze it...

pierre smith · #4 07-26-2012, 05:07 AM

You can kinda, sorta unsqueeze them Bob. You place a 2 X 4 or similar, vertically against the trailing edge and hit it with a hammer...carefully.

Best,

Geico266 · #5 07-26-2012, 05:34 AM

Don't use fingers, it will leave peaks and valleys in the trailing edge.

Bavafa · #6 07-26-2012, 05:45 AM

Be very cautious as it take very little force and undoing it will be harder.

For a nice can clean squeeze, take two long angle aluminum on either side of the trailing edge with a bunch of C-clamp evenly spaced. This gives you a good control to squeeze little at the time. As others mentioned do a little and fly, repeat till desired evenness has achived.

Mel · #7 07-26-2012, 05:46 AM

The paint sticks and seaming pliers is about the best method.
Again, be careful. A little goes a long way. If you can see that you've done anything, you may have done too much.

Just do a little and go fly. It's much easier to do multiple times than to "undo".

49clipper · #8 07-26-2012, 06:19 AM

I recently did it (after exhausting other methods) and everyone is right, a little at a time. Do about 6-8" at a time. I squeezed a three foot section first and it drastically gave me a heavy wing in the opposite direction which I could not bring out even with a very large wedge. I reversed it by the 2x4 / hammer method and now its just right. Like everyone said, BE VERY CAREFUL, go slow!!

Jim
RV-6

JonJay · #9 07-26-2012, 07:44 AM

Just remember, if you are a side by side, solo, with a balanced fuel load, you will have a heavy left wing. Balance your fuel load between the tanks, place an equal wieght passenger or ballast in the seat next to you, and then see.

wrongway john · #10 08-10-2012, 07:16 AM

I bought my 6 used, and with equal fuel, I have the right wing dropping on me with a passenger of equal weight. With a passenger, I have to turn my aileron trim to the left. So for now assuming everything else is lined up, this is indicating a right heavy wing, correct?

If I do this, I would squeeze the opposite aileron on the left side?