Piano Hinges on Elevator Trim Tabs

Gents -

I'm so close to finishing my elevator - I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I riveted the piano hinges to the trim tab and elevator last night. While doing so, the hinge moves slightly every time I squeeze a rivet. In the end, things are not perfectly aligned that enables you to just push the pin back in with ease. Is there a trick to making this a little easier? I tapped one in with the flat side of a pair of pliers. Second one is more difficult.

Can I lube the pin with teflon spray? WD-40? Not sure if there is an easier way.

Thanks
Charlie

hinge pin

For any of these which were difficult to insert I lubricated and spun with a portable drill. If needed a little pumice will subtly hone the eyelets. YMMV, but that worked for me. Good luck!

Thanks for the tip, Bill

It helps a little if you leave the pin in while riveting or, the whole other hinge half too if not riveted yet. Also helps to use a hand squeezer and skip rivets like you were cutting sine waves in half (center, ends, halfway between, etc.).

Thanks...everything is already riveted together, but I can see how putting the pin in while riveting could help some. Will remember that for the ailerons.

When I am doing this, I cleco the hinge (both halves) to the parts in question and make sure they move correctly. Then I remove the pin, leaving the halves clecoed in place. Next I take some spare hinge and pin it to the hinge half I am going to rivet. I rotate the spare so it is at 90 degrees to the half to be riveted. This rotation keeps the hinge aligned and a sqeezer yoke will fit over it. Do the same for the other hinge half and the parts should pin together without much difficulty after riveting.

cderk said:

Thanks...everything is already riveted together, but I can see how putting the pin in while riveting could help some. Will remember that for the ailerons.

Click to expand...

There's no piano hinge for the ailerons.