Elevator horn alignment with main center bearing

[dbaflyer]

The horizontal stabilizer is bolted to the fuselage. The elevators are attached with the counter balance clamped to the stabilizer. The AN4 bolt and the two washers are in place around the main center bearing. However there is a noticeable gap (an an4 washer would fill it) between the horn and the bearing. The left side is fine. Do I just add more washers and move on? Or could something else be out of alignment?

Picture a bit blurry but you can see the gold color (this is the AN4 bolt) on the right side between the horn and the bearing

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Yes, add a washer to the outside (keeping the larger washer next to the bearing). I did some investigating on this last March and this is apparently common. When you torque down the bolt, it actually can pull the right elevator inboard slightly, just enough -- in some cases -- to rub the counterbalance arm with the HS skin in that location. Washers (or washer, i forget) did the trick.

[lorne green]

Many of us have done just that, adding washers to center the bearing position is the fix.

[Walt]

With all the other attach points tight, make or use shims of the exact gap dimension to fill the space. If you just install a washer or 2 and tighten it down it will cause the elevator to bind from the sideload induced on the attach bearings. Use a set of feeler gauges to get the exact thickness needed.