Rib Removal

[Blade]

I have a 1940 model with the built-up wing ribs. How would I go about getting the ribs off the main spar that are located between the fat root end of the spar and the doublers for the strut attach brackets? The hole in the ribs are too small to fit over the doublers.

[mikeg]

Re: Rib Removal

I have a 1940 model with the built-up wing ribs. How would I go about getting the ribs off the main spar that are located between the fat root end of the spar and the doublers for the strut attach brackets? The hole in the ribs are too small to fit over the doublers.

UNFORTUNATELY, the ribs slide on from the tip. You will need to remove the rib nails and carefully reform the ribs where the nails penetrated them so that you don't score the spars. The last one I did, I used some shim stock between the rib and the spar to prevent damage to the spar. REALLY big job as all the hardware has to come out as well.
Mikeg
NC29804
NC27451

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Rib Removal

Afraid I had to do exactly that too.
L

[mike lutz]

Re: Rib Removal

Once the nails are pulled,I used a good putty knife to slide between the rib and spar,and with a tack hammer flattened the metal where the nail went through mounting angle.worked quite well.No scrapes on spar that way.
Mike Lutz

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Rib Removal

Great tip Mike, some ribs may have enough room already if you re-bend the flap a bit to give more clearance. Don't remember if that was a possibility on mine or not. L

[Blade]

Re: Rib Removal

I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing. I'm not having a problem removing the nails. I've got the wing all apart with exception of sliding off the middle ribs. The middle ribs won't slide over the area on the spars where the brackets attach for the struts. I have an extra thickness of wood under those brackets. Isn't that stock? I'm guessing it is stock because the compression tube is shorter there. The spar is proably about 3/16" thicker in that area than the opening in the rib. So maybe I need to figure out how to take some of the rib apart and put it back together? Please let me know if there's an easier way.

I may end up replacing some spars. If I did that I could just saw the old spar in half to make it easy. Although when I reassemble the new one I'd need to not glue on those doublers until afte those ribs were installed.

[mike lutz]

Re: Rib Removal

If you are going to replace the spars,you could take the doublers off the old spar so as to slide the ribs off.that way you have a exact pattern to drill your new spars to.Also on the butt end there should be phenolic spacers on the front spar wing attach fitting area.Myself,I wouldnt cut the old spar into.

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Rib Removal

The doublers are standard and needed. Spend some time on the search engine here. There is a tremendous amount of info here for you. Take it from me, a neophyte when I got here and now I know I don't know poop!
Larry