Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

[Ak tcraft]

Howdy everyone, have enjoyed reading posts and gathering info. Going to be refabricing soon in stages. Wondering about what to look for when inspecting the wings after pulling the fabric. Any thoughts and comments welcome, since I'm new at this. Thanks again

[cvavon]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

Very obvious the wood spars,any carosion on the metal parts if it is pre war check for cracked ribs as the T channel can crack from pushing on them ,post war not to much of a problem, drag wires for tension.Re varnish prime metal cover,stitch,tape paint and fly.GOOD LUCK

[Pearson]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

Check to see if the cad plating on the drag and anti-drag wires is peeling or flaking off. Handle with care. It is poisonous. Also check where the aileron hinges bolt onto the rear spar. The bolts holding them on are often over tightened, crushing the spar. Obviously you want to check the bellcrank for cracks and possibly replace the bushings and lube it up.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

If you have the cast aileron hinge fittings inspect carefully for corrosion and cracks. The welded tube aileron hinges should also be inspected and cleaned, primed and painted, but there is much less crack problem with them.
Make sure your aileron cables and turnbuckle ends will fit through the tubes in the fuselage sides before you close everything up and the cables are routed correctly and don't rub on the ribs or rib stitch cords (pre-war) anywhere.
Check the pitot line from the tube to the wing root (then check it several more times). It is a BEAR to replace once the covering is on. Some planes have a tube and the line runs through it from the jury strut to the root for easy replacement...my next one will!)
Nice to have a light weight tube to run the wing tip wires through too. A piece of light cord can be sucked through the tube with a shop vac to pull a wire through within SECONDS instead of hours fishing a wire.
Hank

[Ak tcraft]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

Thank you for all the great info

[cvavon]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

Also take good measurements for inspection holes.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

Boy is THAT a good one! Nothing like having a cover right over the spar where you can't get a tool or hand in to do anything. Locate the covers by what you will need to WORK ON after it is covered! The drawings are the GENERAL area for the covers, NOT the exact locations!
Hank

[Robert Lees]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

Keep the old fabric for future reference of inspection holes.

Leak-check wing tanks.

Do the structural mods for the GW increase STC (see Terry Bowden of this parish for STC details).

Paint up some inspection covers when you do the finish coat for when you have to cut open the inspection holes.

[Guest]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

Carefully remove the wing rib attachment wire for re-use when you put the fabric back on.

Dave

[Pearson]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

Wow, a lot of really good info here!

[barnstmr]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

It would be a good idea to remove your wing tanks and inspect the area under the felt pads. I found that my aft wing attach fitting had severe corrosion due to moisture held by the felt pads.

[Ryan]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

It would be a good idea to remove your wing tanks and inspect the area under the felt pads. I found that my aft wing attach fitting had severe corrosion due to moisture held by the felt pads.

Ditto! Ours had this problem as well. Everyone I tried to replace them with had the same problem. I was fortunate that mike laz from the forum here made me aset when he made his.

[M Towsley]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

That's concerning, to say the least.

[Pearson]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

When I opened my wings up to install the removable aluminum covers over the tanks, the felt was only on top of the spars. On the part of the straps that were on the face of the spars there was rubber channel beneath the straps. With this setup my wing attach fittings were in good shape. Maybe someone before me found the problem like Terry and "redesigned" the installation a little.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Things to look for , when rebuilding wings

Explains the rust pits on a lot of my "spare" wing fittings. Most of them I kept for patterns because the pitting was so bad.
Hank