Walt
Well Known Member
Why is it that so many folks can't seem to get this right, it's so simple but I find it incorrect so often its amazing
Today during a condition inpection, on a nicely built 8, I find all the elevator attach bolts loose (rod end to hinge), as soon as I find this I know what's coming... no or incorrect spacing on the center support bearing. Sure enough when I tightened all the bolts down so the rod end bearings can actually act like bearings rather than bushings, the elevator is locked up tight. Loosen the center bearing and voila the elevator comes back to life (actually because the bearings had not been acting as bearings for so long it took lots of lube and working them back an forth to free them up).
Then I check to see what was used for spacers and guess what, none there, nata, zippo... no spacers at all, not even a single lowly washer!
So now I am tasked with making the correct size spacers for the center bearing, not an easy task at this point unless I also want to remove the rudder (which by the way all those bolts were loose too and same situation with frozen bearings).
The process is simple when installing the elevator:
1) Tighten up all the elevator attach points except the center bearing, Hinge bolts SHALL NOT be loose! Elevators should move freely.
2) Make the correct (exact) size spacers out of tubing or whatever you prefer for both sides of the center bearing (they will be different sizes).
3) Install spacers made in step 2 and tighten down center bolt, elevators should remain free just like they were in step 1.
If the elevator binds up return to step 2. Do not loosen hinge bolts in order to free up elevator!
I literally find this condtion on 75% or more of the aircraft I inspect.
It seems that when folks find things binding their answer is to just loosen up the bolts
Rod end bolt SHALL be tight (torqued) so that the bearing can actually work as a bearing.
Thanks for your cooperation
Today during a condition inpection, on a nicely built 8, I find all the elevator attach bolts loose (rod end to hinge), as soon as I find this I know what's coming... no or incorrect spacing on the center support bearing. Sure enough when I tightened all the bolts down so the rod end bearings can actually act like bearings rather than bushings, the elevator is locked up tight. Loosen the center bearing and voila the elevator comes back to life (actually because the bearings had not been acting as bearings for so long it took lots of lube and working them back an forth to free them up).
Then I check to see what was used for spacers and guess what, none there, nata, zippo... no spacers at all, not even a single lowly washer!
So now I am tasked with making the correct size spacers for the center bearing, not an easy task at this point unless I also want to remove the rudder (which by the way all those bolts were loose too and same situation with frozen bearings).
The process is simple when installing the elevator:
1) Tighten up all the elevator attach points except the center bearing, Hinge bolts SHALL NOT be loose! Elevators should move freely.
2) Make the correct (exact) size spacers out of tubing or whatever you prefer for both sides of the center bearing (they will be different sizes).
3) Install spacers made in step 2 and tighten down center bolt, elevators should remain free just like they were in step 1.
If the elevator binds up return to step 2. Do not loosen hinge bolts in order to free up elevator!
I literally find this condtion on 75% or more of the aircraft I inspect.
It seems that when folks find things binding their answer is to just loosen up the bolts
Rod end bolt SHALL be tight (torqued) so that the bearing can actually work as a bearing.
Thanks for your cooperation
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