Eddie P
Well Known Member
Hi guys, I’m looking for opinions and techniques.
I have been quite attentive to my “nuts” on preflight thanks to the great information here and the video posted to Youtube featuring Vic Syracuse speaking on the more notorious leisure attitudes around RV preventative maintenance, care and feeding. Jam Nuts were an emphasis area among others.
So lo and behold, after many recent flights thinking, “when am I gonna find a loose nut” I saw something different. One of my torque paint stripes on a Jam Nut was partially missing. Sure enough, the jam but on the outer left elevator backed off a few degrees after the last flight. I tightened it up before flight. And admittedly, it was an awkward fit for the wrench I was using.
I would love to hear and see how you guys “keep your nuts in check” without buggering up the nuts or airframe with wrenches. Also, what torque and how do you measure it?
I did not build my 8 as much as I wish I could have. So my question comes from a non-builder reference. On the pre buy inspection there were a few jam nuts that had started backing off in the tail so they were re torqued and striped for easy identification of possible backing off in the future. So this jam nut has about 20 hours of service before moving again. Admittedly, I have done several stalls and incipient spins to get used to the stall and departure handling of this particular airplane so the tail has been worked a few times in addition to treating the plane to about 50 landings since the nuts were torqued and striped. Interesting, none the less.
I have been quite attentive to my “nuts” on preflight thanks to the great information here and the video posted to Youtube featuring Vic Syracuse speaking on the more notorious leisure attitudes around RV preventative maintenance, care and feeding. Jam Nuts were an emphasis area among others.
So lo and behold, after many recent flights thinking, “when am I gonna find a loose nut” I saw something different. One of my torque paint stripes on a Jam Nut was partially missing. Sure enough, the jam but on the outer left elevator backed off a few degrees after the last flight. I tightened it up before flight. And admittedly, it was an awkward fit for the wrench I was using.
I would love to hear and see how you guys “keep your nuts in check” without buggering up the nuts or airframe with wrenches. Also, what torque and how do you measure it?
I did not build my 8 as much as I wish I could have. So my question comes from a non-builder reference. On the pre buy inspection there were a few jam nuts that had started backing off in the tail so they were re torqued and striped for easy identification of possible backing off in the future. So this jam nut has about 20 hours of service before moving again. Admittedly, I have done several stalls and incipient spins to get used to the stall and departure handling of this particular airplane so the tail has been worked a few times in addition to treating the plane to about 50 landings since the nuts were torqued and striped. Interesting, none the less.
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