I finally got the back ordered parts from the empennage kit today. There was a note in the hardware bag #1902, which said that the MD36-14M rod end bearings were replaced with MM-3M-42. These appear to fit just fine. However, there was not a note about the MD36-16M rod end bearing, which is for the bottom of the rudder. It was replaced in my kit with a GMM-3M-680. The thread of the rod is correct, and it is slightly longer than the MM-3M-42?s, but it is significantly thicker and does not readily squeeze in between the hinge brackets on the vertical stabilizer.
The MM-3M-42 housing is 0.333? thick and the bearing is 0.434? thick at the flat faces where it will mount.
The GMM-3M-680 housing is 0.377? thick and the bearing is 0.500? thick at the flat faces.
The hinge brackets on my vertical stabilizer have 0.439?, 0.459?, and 0.409? clearance between them (top to bottom). The MM-3M-42 bearing fits perfectly well in all three, a little tight in the bottom one. The GMM-3M-680 is a problem.
Should I find a replacement for the bottom rod end bearing or force the GMM-3M-680 into place?
The MM-3M-42 housing is 0.333? thick and the bearing is 0.434? thick at the flat faces where it will mount.
The GMM-3M-680 housing is 0.377? thick and the bearing is 0.500? thick at the flat faces.
The hinge brackets on my vertical stabilizer have 0.439?, 0.459?, and 0.409? clearance between them (top to bottom). The MM-3M-42 bearing fits perfectly well in all three, a little tight in the bottom one. The GMM-3M-680 is a problem.
Should I find a replacement for the bottom rod end bearing or force the GMM-3M-680 into place?