aileron brackets

[galtdurnford]

The brackets on both ailerons to which the control rods attach are a bit loose on my BL 65. I've tried nipping up the bolts but I guess the nuts on the inside of the aileron are turning with the bolt. Can anyone suggest a simple solution short of removing the fabric to access the nuts. I thought that cutting a small hole in the fabric near the trailing edge and inserting a long extension and socket might do the trick. Can anyone help? Thanks, Galt

[barnstmr]

Galt,
We have the same problem on BC65. Been thinking about cutting fabric, but have decided to keep watch on this at every preflight. It doesn't seem to be getting any worse... I am pretty sure that the nut has a cotter pin but haven't confirmed that.

[galtdurnford]

Hi Terry, I never considered cotter pins. Sounds like a simple solution may not be in the cards. I've been watching mine carefully for about 6 months and they haven't changed at all but it would be nice to get them tightened up. Thanks for the reponse. Cheers, Galt

[lktiller]

No cotter pins, Lock nuts on the control horn mounting bolts. Yes they are probably spinning on the other side of the spar. Not real good.

You really need to inspect the spar at this point. Only so much compression allowed.

Cut a hole in the fabric and cover it with an inspection plate.

[Goneflyin]

I tightened mine up last year, I cut a small hole just big enough to get a backup wrench through. I also hung a light bulb in the hole to see how things looked inside. Mine only took maybe 1/2 a turn to tighten, if it's real loose you may want to take a closer look.

Bill

[Robert Lees]

In my limited experience there has always been a problem with these nuts loosening off, both on the wing rear spar and indeed on the aileron spar at the other end of the bracket assembly. The load-spreading washers on the wing rear spar are 1 1/8 " diameter, and the ones on the aileron spar are 7/8" diameter, so some crushing is inevitable.

I do not know whether it is caused by over tightening in the first place, or weakening of the wood, or just age, but I personally think that if the brackets are wobbling, then attention is required. (incidentally, I have ever only known self-locking nuts to be used). The outer-most aileron bracket attachment is the most common problem.

I am sure that many folk will be unhappy about taking a knife to the fabric, but having gone through the knife procedure (for a rib repair), then I can assure you that the end result will be a simple metal inspection cover over a retro-fitted inspection ring.

This link might offer some consolation to those frightened of the knife, in which I had to cut three holes in the underside of my wing to repair a broken rib caused by hangar rash. Three inspection covers later, the aircraft still flies just fine! (various details of the rib repair not included in this link).

Rob.

As a postscript, I might add that during the rebuild of my project, I will be adding captive nuts (attached to large aluminium reinforcing plates) instead of the washers behind the spars, so that I do not need to do this fabric cutting in the next 30 years, but can tweak the bolts from the free space between the wing trailing edge and aileron leading edge.

Above link points to www.Taylorcraft.org.uk/BRPX-rib-repair.htm

[galtdurnford]

successfull repair

Thanks to all for your assistance. While I was on vacation the plane underwent its annual and repairs were then carried out to the aileron bracket assembly. A hole was cut immediately below the nuts on the underside of the aileron, one of which turned out to have stripped threads. A wrench was inserted to hold the nuts while the bolt heads were turned on the outside of the aileron. Plugs were then fitted to the openings. Cheers, Galt