Need some help regarding my right elevator. Since I’m waiting for my wing kit to arrive, I decided to paint sections as I go. I balanced the elevator by drilling out some lead from the fairing-side counter weight to achieve a slightly nose down balance - knowing the paint would add some weight. Well, I took out way too much lead and now I’m nose high. The paint was heavier than I thought…
I can get balanced with adding approximately 90-100 grams of lead at the location of the lead weight.
I did not use a nut plate (on the fairing side) to install the counterweights - it’s bolted on and safety wired - not an option to take off the current counterweight.
Solutions I’ve thought of but don’t love:
1: Drill a hole in the fairing and add an epoxy (and maybe some ground up lead) slurry, put it nose down and hope it adheres to the fairing appropriately. Would be near impossible to fix if it didn’t adhere. Also, fixing the hole would be a pain now that it’s almost done being painted.
2: Pop rivet a bracket next to the current counterweight, fill with epoxy flux and then add lead until it’s balanced. I included an example picture of a bracket taped to the location it would probably go. My concern is that if the pop rivets ever failed or the epoxy came loose, the control surface could jam.
3: Do nothing. Take comfort that I got one elevator balanced and build on.
Is there an easier way to balance an elevator? How should I proceed? Thanks!
I can get balanced with adding approximately 90-100 grams of lead at the location of the lead weight.
I did not use a nut plate (on the fairing side) to install the counterweights - it’s bolted on and safety wired - not an option to take off the current counterweight.
Solutions I’ve thought of but don’t love:
1: Drill a hole in the fairing and add an epoxy (and maybe some ground up lead) slurry, put it nose down and hope it adheres to the fairing appropriately. Would be near impossible to fix if it didn’t adhere. Also, fixing the hole would be a pain now that it’s almost done being painted.
2: Pop rivet a bracket next to the current counterweight, fill with epoxy flux and then add lead until it’s balanced. I included an example picture of a bracket taped to the location it would probably go. My concern is that if the pop rivets ever failed or the epoxy came loose, the control surface could jam.
3: Do nothing. Take comfort that I got one elevator balanced and build on.
Is there an easier way to balance an elevator? How should I proceed? Thanks!