J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

[Dano"T"]

Check out the spar on my pre-war J3....I am restoring it, but had not planned on replacing the spars as they otherwise look quite good. I plan to splice a new end on....what are your thoughts?
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[Buell Powell]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

Dano,
Looks like where the damage is that it wouldn't be to much of a problem to splice inboard of the rib. I have made a few spars but haven't spliced one yet-you probably have what you need but the structural repair manuel for the C-61 has a very good description and illustrations for the repair and I can send you a copy if you would like one. Darn mice--may have to get a cat.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

MICE!!! That looks like you had a Beaver! What is lucky is it is ALL the way at the tip. Very little bending load out there. The other thing is the damage is in the compression side of the aft spar and is outboard of the last aileron bracket. The FAA might not like it (beyond the regs for damage) but a repair there will last as long as the plane does.

Hank

Don't get a cat, get a mountain lion.

[N96337]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

The thing I've found about doing splices, whether in a tube or on a spar....is that by the time you're done messing around doing all that splicing, you could have just went ahead and replaced it, and been about the same timewise...and had a NEW spar or tube in place, instead of a patched up one.
John

[Dano"T"]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

The thing I've found about doing splices, whether in a tube or on a spar....is that by the time you're done messing around doing all that splicing, you could have just went ahead and replaced it, and been about the same timewise...and had a NEW spar or tube in place, instead of a patched up one.
John

Don't you have to pretty much dismantle the wing to replace the entire spar?...seems to me you only would have to remove two ribs and splice it to the tip....if it really takes just as long to replace the entire spar....then I'm game....Let me know your thoughts on my opinion...I'm new to this.

[1938BF50]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

Dan,

That's an easy candidate for a splice........FAR easier than replacing the entire spar. The condition of the rest of the spar should be the deciding factor.

[Dick Huish]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

Dan, if the spar the same dimension as the Taylorcraft rear spar I have a fixture to make the spice using a router. You can borrow it by paying postage. Dick

[Dano"T"]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

Dan, if the spar the same dimension as the Taylorcraft rear spar I have a fixture to make the spice using a router. You can borrow it by paying postage. Dick

The J3 rear spar is 4"x 15/16"....well, that's what I measured last night. What is a Taylorcraft spar?

[Dano"T"]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

Dan, if the spar the same dimension as the Taylorcraft rear spar I have a fixture to make the spice using a router. You can borrow it by paying postage. Dick

I'd love to borrow it....Tell me how we can work it out, and tell me, or show a picture of what it looks like. Do I have to remove more than the two ribs I already did? I'll PM you my Info.

[Buell Powell]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

Dano,
Just to let you know - Aircraft Spruce has very nice preformed tip bows if yours has problems.

[Dano"T"]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

Dano,
Just to let you know - Aircraft Spruce has very nice preformed tip bows if yours has problems.

Yes, Thank you...I am replacing them. I have one non-preformed on that has been sitting in a tube in the hangar fo4 about 20yrs....

[Buell Powell]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

Dano,
I am finishing restoration on a J-3 now and have 2 gallons of Poly Tone 146 OEM yellow left over--if you plan to use Poly Tone and want to buy it let me know and I can give you pretty good price.

[Dano"T"]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

I SPLICED IT

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[Dick Huish]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

Looks great Dan!!! Dick

[Forrest Barber]

Re: J3 wood spar chewed by animal - Repair ideas

Atta boy , the KISS method works most times.