 |
March 23-25,
2007:
(2.0 hr)
Given my latest frustration with the canopy frame, I decided to spend
some time on something else. I pulled the horizontal stabilizer
and elevator halves down from the garage ceiling to prepare them for
mounting/fitting to the fuselage.
I decided to remove all the blue plastic from the skins. I had
heard that if you left it on for too long, it could be difficult to
remove. However, it came off easily.
Next, I mounted the elevator halves to the horizontal stabilizer and
then clamped the elevator into trail. |
 |
The elevator horns require a 3/16" hole
drilled through them for mounting the pushrod end bearing to.
The plans indicate to determine the aft facing horn (they do not match
perfectly fore and aft because of variance in welding) and pilot drill
it with a #30. My aft facing horn was on the left elevator half.
I marked and drilled a pilot hole while the elevator was still attached
to the horizontal stabilizer. |
 |
I made a drill guide the exact size of the
space between the control horns by using some hardwood and a scrap piece
of aluminum angle. I then drilled a #30 hole through this with my
drill press. |
 |
The drill guide was then cleco'd into
place via the pilot hole in the control horn. Then the horns and
spacer were clamped together, the cleco was removed, and the pilot hole
and drill guide drilled thru with a #30 to get a perfectly matching hole
on the right control horn. |
 |
A 3/16" bit was then used to enlarge the
control rod holes to their final size. |
 |
Then I ran into a gotcha! It turns
out that the left side control horn (the one I drilled the pilot hole
in) was slightly longer then the right side horn. This resulted in
reduced edge distance for the hole on the right horn. I am not
sure if this will be an issue or not. I called Van's and they said
"they have never seen edge distance guidelines for steel, only
aluminum.. but steel is stronger and should require less edge distance"
They said it should not be problem, but if I was worried about it, I
could get the holes welded closed and then re-drill them in a new spot.
I am not sure what I will do yet. |
 |
I then removed the elevator halves and
placed the horizontal stabilizer on the fuselage and played with
positioning. I clamped things in place and measured at least a
dozen times the distance from the rear edge of the horizontal stabilizer
and the front of the firewall trying to get the same distance on each
side.
|
