How do you think they made the hinges?

[mhorowit]

I was looking at a picture of the hinge(s) between the horizontal stab. and the elevator. Would anyone care to hazard a guess as to how they were made, then lined up? - Mike

[Dick Smith]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

Mike, you need to purchase a copy of the EAA's book:
"Aircraft Welding"
The ISBN is: 0-940000-49-0

On page 113, they show a simple method of welding up hinge assemblies. The book is full of the answers to your questions, along with pictures that make things very clear.

This link steers you to availability:

http://www.bookfinder4u.com/IsbnSearch.aspx?isbn=0940000490&mode=direct

Don't stop asking questions on the forum!!!...it's just that this book will really make things come alive as you delve into aircraft welding.
Dick

[mhorowit]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

Great suggestion; can't have too many books.
Wife has never objected to me buying a reference book. - Mike

[VictorBravo]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

As an old crusty model airplane builder I can take a fairly educated guess at the hinges. Take all the short pieces of tube for the stabilizer, and string them onto one steel rod of the correct inside diameter. Clamp that tube onto the stabilizer, line up the tubes for correct spacing, then weld them. Then take put the rod, put the other (elevator) tube sections on to the welded stabilizer with dummy bolts holding the hinge tubes in palce, set it up next to the elevator all aligned and straight, then weld the elevator hunge tubes. Remove the bolts, finish-weld whatever needs it, and re-assemble.

[crispy critter]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

Mike,
Just a curious question......Are you planning to build a taylorcraft from scratch or just trying to learn more about the processes involved in the construction??

[Dick Huish]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

If you look closely you'll find that there is a 1/16 spacer holding the himge off the spar. If you don't use it you will probably have trouble inserting the pin. Dick

[mhorowit]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

As an old crusty model airplane builder I can take a fairly educated guess at the hinges. Take all the short pieces of tube for the stabilizer, and string them onto one steel rod of the correct inside diameter. Clamp that tube onto the stabilizer, line up the tubes for correct spacing, then weld them. Then take put the rod, put the other (elevator) tube sections on to the welded stabilizer with dummy bolts holding the hinge tubes in palce, set it up next to the elevator all aligned and straight, then weld the elevator hunge tubes. Remove the bolts, finish-weld whatever needs it, and re-assemble.

So, what about the bushings??? - Mike

[mhorowit]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

Mike,
Just a curious question......Are you planning to build a taylorcraft from scratch or just trying to learn more about the processes involved in the construction??

Oh, it's a perfectly good question. Hold on tight, I'll try and explain.
About 6 mo. ago I was working the ignition noise problem, and after determining the short shielded plug wouldn't work, I dug up my plans for building 'cans' for them. That involved some welding (which I had done in college, but that was 30 years ago). I mentioned to a friend that I was thinking of renting an Ox/Ac rig and learning to weld and he offered me his 'on indefinite loan'. So I started to relearn the skill. At some point I figured I ought to make this interesting so I cut a fishmouth joint (after buying an angle grinder) and joined two pieces of EMT in a 'T' joint. It looked ok, so I figured I'd think up a project that did a lot of things I'd like to do. Found the b'prints on the website (my copy of the CDs came in today) and looked for something fun to build. A simple version of the horizontal stab. didn't look too difficult, and after I teach myself how to do the bending, I"ll cover it. Then I thought of the hinges, and started thinking "how did they line them up?". Hence the current thread.

The thread about the 'bug' came about when I realized that 'hey, I have the b'prints", which is a necessary and sufficient condition of an 'owner made part', but if I could make the part, that would be even easier. It sort of folded when we discovered the 'bug' was simply a chunk of commercially available extruded steel.

So, I'll figure how to bend EMT so that the tubing lies in the same plane, cut several different angles of fishmouth joints (using WinMitre to make templates) and build something that looks like a horizontal stab. only not anywhere to specs.

Also, I'll probably never touch a real airplane with a torch, but I could build a part that attaches to the airplane. That's where the duel brake strap-on came in.

So that's where I am at the moment. How did you like the ride so far? - Mike

PS. Gotta do something until I find another Tcraft!!

[mhorowit]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

If you look closely you'll find that there is a 1/16 spacer holding the himge off the spar. If you don't use it you will probably have trouble inserting the pin. Dick

Actually, two little flat plates that are welded on either side of the tubing.
The way I figure (until the EAA book on welding comes in ($9.00 on Half.com))
they did all the welding, inserted the bushing, then cut the tubing/plates/bushing into three equal pieces. Then insert the pin and weld the little flat plates to the horiz. stab on one side and the elevator on the other. that would keep the heat of welding from distorting the tube and the pin would keep everything in alignment. Just a guess. I'm waiting for the book - Mike

[mhorowit]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

How did you like the ride so far? - Mike

Oh, I didn't tell you about the other project. Take a piece of that EMT, make a sharp bend in it, straighten it, and IAW "Best practices' put on a splint. It's going to be an interesting winter. Gotta figure how to saw the piece of conduit that's going to be the splint, down the middle without involving any part of my finger with the angle grinder - Mike

[mhorowit]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

Oh, I didn't tell you about the other project. Take a piece of that EMT, make a sharp bend in it, straighten it, and IAW "Best practices' put on a splint. It's going to be an interesting winter. Gotta figure how to saw the piece of conduit that's going to be the splint, down the middle without involving any part of my finger with the angle grinder - Mike

Kevin - I forgot to tell you where this idea came from. See attached pic. That's a strut from the first accident, the one where the landing gear folded on me. Well, the culvert had something to do with it.

Anyway, I'm thinkin that putting a splint on that strut would be a good exercise (hence earlier thread about limits of bends, what can be simply bent back and what has to be splint). But, I didn't want to practice on the strut as I'd probably burn a hole in the base metal; so, I'm going to try on the EMT first. Whew. - Mike

[Guest]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

Kevin - I forgot to tell you where this idea came from. See attached pic. That's a strut from the first accident, the one where the landing gear folded on me. Well, the culvert had something to do with it.

Anyway, I'm thinkin that putting a splint on that strut would be a good exercise (hence earlier thread about limits of bends, what can be simply bent back and what has to be splint). But, I didn't want to practice on the strut as I'd probably burn a hole in the base metal; so, I'm going to try on the EMT first. Whew. - Mike

Mike,
I have that strut's brother on N43972. It had two bends like that. Has 2 splints now.

If it is the tube dimension I think it is (the standard size from years back) you can get the new size streamline tubing from Wicks (and others) that fits right over it and can be used for a repair sleeve(splint). No splitting required.

The new size is 3.372x 1.429 x.049 . $32 per foot

[Carl Ellis]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

Mike -

I'm sure you know this already, but ...

If you are practice welding on the EMT don't breathe any of those fumes coming off the galvanized pipe. That zinc will make you S.I.C.K.

- Carl -

[mhorowit]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

Mike,
I have that strut's brother on N43972. It had two bends like that. Has 2 splints now.

If it is the tube dimension I think it is (the standard size from years back) you can get the new size streamline tubing from Wicks (and others) that fits right over it and can be used for a repair sleeve(splint). No splitting required.

The new size is 3.372x 1.429 x.049 . $32 per foot

As I read 43.13, if I have the same metal in sheet, I can form it around the tubing. Is that your reading? - Mike

[mhorowit]

Re: How do you think they made the hinges?

Mike -

I'm sure you know this already, but ...

If you are practice welding on the EMT don't breathe any of those fumes coming off the galvanized pipe. That zinc will make you S.I.C.K.

- Carl -

Thanks Carl - I'm using phosphoric acid to remove the zinc prior to welding - Mike