I have asked for input on the facebook groups and got some info but many people keep referring me to come here to learn more so here I am...
My RV4's elevators are not in alignment. When the left side is even with the horizontal ( by even I mean the counter weight section ), the right side counter weight is higher than the horizontal by a good bit.
I tried using two different " angle finders " on the elevator today, measuring the angle of one side with it held flush with the horizontal, then holding the elevator there, measured the other side.... just to see if it is the counter balance weights might be out of whack or if the tail was actually out of alignment. Measured in multiple places on the tail, I found that one elevator is roughly 2-3 degrees higher ( or lower depending on which side is centered with the horizontal ) than the other.
What research I've done this appears to be a common problem, builder of the plane likely did not hold the drill level when drilling through the control horns.
I am trying to fix this now. Plane fly's decent, but does have a tendency to roll off to the left, I have to use full right aileron trim and burn off the left tank to keep the wing level hands off. And I have to hold a touch of right rudder always to keep the ball centered. I am hoping getting the elevators even will fix most of that.
Plan of action is to have the bolt hole in the right elevators control horn welded up, and using more care and some sort of jig between the two horns, re drill a new hole that is hopefully straight and true.
I am NOT a welder by any means but I do have a 110 volt mig wire welder. It is a cheap unit, but I have done plenty of welds on things over the years and can do a decent job. Not really sure I want to tackle this, as I really want a perfect job done, but short of trying to find someone to Tig or Gas weld it, this would be something I could do myself. I already removed the elevator and have it here at home where my welder is.
Looking for pros and cons to this method of fixing my issue and pros and cons to trying to weld up the hole myself or getting a pro to do it.
Thanks Ron
My RV4's elevators are not in alignment. When the left side is even with the horizontal ( by even I mean the counter weight section ), the right side counter weight is higher than the horizontal by a good bit.
I tried using two different " angle finders " on the elevator today, measuring the angle of one side with it held flush with the horizontal, then holding the elevator there, measured the other side.... just to see if it is the counter balance weights might be out of whack or if the tail was actually out of alignment. Measured in multiple places on the tail, I found that one elevator is roughly 2-3 degrees higher ( or lower depending on which side is centered with the horizontal ) than the other.
What research I've done this appears to be a common problem, builder of the plane likely did not hold the drill level when drilling through the control horns.
I am trying to fix this now. Plane fly's decent, but does have a tendency to roll off to the left, I have to use full right aileron trim and burn off the left tank to keep the wing level hands off. And I have to hold a touch of right rudder always to keep the ball centered. I am hoping getting the elevators even will fix most of that.
Plan of action is to have the bolt hole in the right elevators control horn welded up, and using more care and some sort of jig between the two horns, re drill a new hole that is hopefully straight and true.
I am NOT a welder by any means but I do have a 110 volt mig wire welder. It is a cheap unit, but I have done plenty of welds on things over the years and can do a decent job. Not really sure I want to tackle this, as I really want a perfect job done, but short of trying to find someone to Tig or Gas weld it, this would be something I could do myself. I already removed the elevator and have it here at home where my welder is.
Looking for pros and cons to this method of fixing my issue and pros and cons to trying to weld up the hole myself or getting a pro to do it.
Thanks Ron