Tom Martin
Well Known Member
There are two bearings that hold the main front sticks in the RV14 and the following picture shows one of them.
This is a well designed item that captures a COM3-5 bearing between the two pieces of metal, much the same way as the aileron hinge brackets.
There are 8 -3 rivets that hold the bearing in place and another 8 -4 rivets that hold the bracket to the small bulkhead that is forward of the main spar. There are two dash 8 screws that also go through the bulkhead and tie into a stiffener on the other side.
Although I have yet to install any controls I am sure that this item incorporates the "stops" for stick travel in the upper and lower bumps.
This is a well thought out, light and strong unit.
The problem comes with long term maintenance. This is going to one very difficult bearing to replace, 16 rivets to drill out in a pretty tight space. I know that these bearings are very reliable put eventually it will have to be changed out, 10 or even thirty years down the road.
I am all for building light, but in this case I believe it would be prudent for the engineers to take a second look at this bracket and add some extra screws, or bolts so that the unit can be removed without drilling and riveting. It would turn a two day job into a couple of easy hours.
This is not a big deal, build on, but take a look at it yourself and imagine the repair, it will not be pretty.
I have been building and maintaining RVs and rockets for over 20 years and stuff does wear out. You will be a surprised when your brand new airplane turns 10 years old!
This is a well designed item that captures a COM3-5 bearing between the two pieces of metal, much the same way as the aileron hinge brackets.
There are 8 -3 rivets that hold the bearing in place and another 8 -4 rivets that hold the bracket to the small bulkhead that is forward of the main spar. There are two dash 8 screws that also go through the bulkhead and tie into a stiffener on the other side.
Although I have yet to install any controls I am sure that this item incorporates the "stops" for stick travel in the upper and lower bumps.
This is a well thought out, light and strong unit.
The problem comes with long term maintenance. This is going to one very difficult bearing to replace, 16 rivets to drill out in a pretty tight space. I know that these bearings are very reliable put eventually it will have to be changed out, 10 or even thirty years down the road.
I am all for building light, but in this case I believe it would be prudent for the engineers to take a second look at this bracket and add some extra screws, or bolts so that the unit can be removed without drilling and riveting. It would turn a two day job into a couple of easy hours.
This is not a big deal, build on, but take a look at it yourself and imagine the repair, it will not be pretty.
I have been building and maintaining RVs and rockets for over 20 years and stuff does wear out. You will be a surprised when your brand new airplane turns 10 years old!
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