Wing Rebuild

[gmackay]

After 3.5 months of waiting for good wood (several shipments from wicks, and two from ACS, but that's another story.....), I think I'm ready to start on my spars. I was going to do a clip wing, but finally realized that I don't have the time, tools, or 'know-how' to tackle that project, so the plan now is to just rebuild the wings. (with the 11/16" bushings)

So I have two questions...1) I guess now with a certified aircraft I need to use Resorcinol or similar glue rather than T88 now for the spar doublers? and 2) When using the original spar as a template to drill thru, is it recommended to remove the 1/8" plywood strut attach doubler? (so no gap between) or just use 1/8" spacers? I assume I can remove the doubler from one side and push the 7/16" bushings flush?

Thanks in advance,
Greg

[Guest]

Re: Wing Rebuild

After 3.5 months of waiting for good wood (several shipments from wicks, and two from ACS, but that's another story.....), I think I'm ready to start on my spars. I was going to do a clip wing, but finally realized that I don't have the time, tools, or 'know-how' to tackle that project, so the plan now is to just rebuild the wings. (with the 11/16" bushings)

So I have two questions...1) I guess now with a certified aircraft I need to use Resorcinol or similar glue rather than T88 now for the spar doublers? and 2) When using the original spar as a template to drill thru, is it recommended to remove the 1/8" plywood strut attach doubler? (so no gap between) or just use 1/8" spacers? I assume I can remove the doubler from one side and push the 7/16" bushings flush?

Thanks in advance,
Greg

Greg, take a look at AC 43.13-1B for the glues you can use. I used resorcinol.

I used the old spar as a template but did not remove the plywood doubler or fill in the gap. I clamped the two together for their length and figured the 1/8" height variation over 12' was not an issue. Also I clamped at the doublers so that kept the surfaces parallel at that point.

The spars are flexible in the fore and aft direction and you have 1/8" of excursion over 10 or 12 feet so the clamping at the double brings it into line.

Even if it didn't the 1/8" over 10 feet would produce .06 degrees error, not too much.

Hope this helps, Dave.

[R. Winger]

Re: Wing Rebuild

Greg,

I'd be interested to hear what happened with your spars from Aircraft Spruce. I have an order in with them for 3 new spars. One forward and 2 aft. It has not shipped yet.

Roger

[gmackay]

Re: Wing Rebuild

Actually the wood from ACS looks good, but it was damaged in shipment. I called them immediately before the driver left, and was told to reject the entire shipment. They replaced the damaged spar and reshipped the entire load again. This time it had damage again, but only minor. The spars are a few inches too long, so I can cut that off.

The odd part is that they shipped it wrapped in cardboard! No wonder it gets damaged.

Now the orders from Wicks are another story............they sent me three bad spars in a row! (either split or large not three inches down the face, etc). I lost a lot of money there.

-Greg