Pre-war Aileron Removal

[1938BF50]

Prepping for wing removal, I spent a couple frustrating hours last night removing the ailerons on my '38.

It looks easy enough... just unscrew the captive ball seat screw on the outboard end of the push tube. Well, neither side could be unscrewed enough to release the ball without the end screw hitting the aileron leading edge. It was impossible to remove the ball ends from the ball sockets on the bellcrank push tubes without cutting into the fabric on the topside of the wing to remove the bellcrank ball end captive screw. Does anyone know if there were inspection plates here originally? I see a need to have them when I recover. The only other option that I can see is to preload the ball into the outboard(aileron)end prior to covering and then mount the the threaded ball shaft into the aileron bracket at final assembly....which means somehow holding the ball from turning as I tighten the mounting nut????? Any thoughts on assembly are appreciated!

[Guest]

Re: Pre-war Aileron Removal

Prepping for wing removal, I spent a couple frustrating hours last night removing the ailerons on my '38.

It looks easy enough... just unscrew the captive ball seat screw on the outboard end of the push tube. Well, neither side could be unscrewed enough to release the ball without the end screw hitting the aileron leading edge. It was impossible to remove the ball ends from the ball sockets on the bellcrank push tubes without cutting into the fabric on the topside of the wing to remove the bellcrank ball end captive screw. Does anyone know if there were inspection plates here originally? I see a need to have them when I recover. The only other option that I can see is to preload the ball into the outboard(aileron)end prior to covering and then mount the the threaded ball shaft into the aileron bracket at final assembly....which means somehow holding the ball from turning as I tighten the mounting nut????? Any thoughts on assembly are appreciated!

My 39 BL65 had rectangular covers over that spot

[Guest]

Re: Pre-war Aileron Removal

Prepping for wing removal, I spent a couple frustrating hours last night removing the ailerons on my '38.

It looks easy enough... just unscrew the captive ball seat screw on the outboard end of the push tube. Well, neither side could be unscrewed enough to release the ball without the end screw hitting the aileron leading edge. It was impossible to remove the ball ends from the ball sockets on the bellcrank push tubes without cutting into the fabric on the topside of the wing to remove the bellcrank ball end captive screw. Does anyone know if there were inspection plates here originally? I see a need to have them when I recover. The only other option that I can see is to preload the ball into the outboard(aileron)end prior to covering and then mount the the threaded ball shaft into the aileron bracket at final assembly....which means somehow holding the ball from turning as I tighten the mounting nut????? Any thoughts on assembly are appreciated!

Also when the sleeve isn't stuck inside the tube it slides back and it allows you to install the tube over a ball that has been installed and tightened before hand.

[1938BF50]

Re: Pre-war Aileron Removal

Do you recall the dims of the plates.....6" x 6" or so? Are these available for "general" applications or were they unique to the T-Craft? By memory, I don't recall any 43.13 specs for inspection plate size...does anyone know if there are size limits?

In theory, I understand perfectly how the ball/sockets are SUPPOSED to work. Perhaps part of my problem was that the inner seat was not centered enough to allow the ball to be removed past the outer sleeve hole? I can certainly check this with the loose assembly now that it is removed. Makes me ponder how they were last assembled with no access to the end enclosed in the wing. They sure as hell were not coming off without damage to either the tube or the aileron fitting.

Poked around inside the wing after letting daylight in and out nearer the wingtip resides several pounds of birdnest all apparently egressed thru the small hole in the fabric surrounding the aileron horn fitting!

[Guest]

Re: Pre-war Aileron Removal

Do you recall the dims of the plates.....6" x 6" or so? Are these available for "general" applications or were they unique to the T-Craft? By memory, I don't recall any 43.13 specs for inspection plate size...does anyone know if there are size limits?

In theory, I understand perfectly how the ball/sockets are SUPPOSED to work. Perhaps part of my problem was that the inner seat was not centered enough to allow the ball to be removed past the outer sleeve hole? I can certainly check this with the loose assembly now that it is removed. Makes me ponder how they were last assembled with no access to the end enclosed in the wing. They sure as hell were not coming off without damage to either the tube or the aileron fitting.

Poked around inside the wing after letting daylight in and out nearer the wingtip resides several pounds of birdnest all apparently egressed thru the small hole in the fabric surrounding the aileron horn fitting!

Hi Mike

eek! I put a foam sponge in that aileron horn hole to fill it and keep fellow aviators out.


The cover was maybe 7 x 3, I swear I had one or two but can'y find them yet.


Attached is a pic of the yellow push rod dis-assembled. The rod inside sticks anf won't move enough to get it apart sometimes. I put the balls next to the rod ends where the will be when assembled. So if the rod sticks it won't slide away from the opening enough to let the ball out. Hope this helps. The black push tube is just a ham and wanted in the picture.

Dave

[Robert Lees]

Re: Pre-war Aileron Removal

There should be an inspection port on the top of the wing on pre-war models (and some immediate-post-war, I guess). This is for access to lubricate the bellcrank pivot, which has an oil hole in the top to hold some oil, and a cork (or similar) to plug it up.

The majority of post-wars have a different design bellcrank, with no lubrication hole, so a top inspection port is not required. However, there should be an inspection port on the wing undersurface for...well for inspection

These inspection ports are also used for access when cables need replacing or when the aileron push-rod needs removal.

Hope this helps.

Rob

[1938BF50]

Re: Pre-war Aileron Removal

Dave,

I would be thrilled if I could borrow the plate (when you find it) to copy.

Also thanx to all who have answered! I pulled the cover off the right wing last night and was thrilled to see what excellent shape everything was in. The huge birdnest ended up being a whole bunch of dry straw and grass with no mud or corrosion to adjacent ribs! I sure hope the left wing is as nice.

[Guest]

Re: Pre-war Aileron Removal

Dave,

I would be thrilled if I could borrow the plate (when you find it) to copy.

Also thanx to all who have answered! I pulled the cover off the right wing last night and was thrilled to see what excellent shape everything was in. The huge birdnest ended up being a whole bunch of dry straw and grass with no mud or corrosion to adjacent ribs! I sure hope the left wing is as nice.

Hi Mike,

I have looked in all the places I can think of boxes, shelves...I did find some stuff I forgot I had!

Can't find em. I know a had a set a couple of years ago. Could have sold em on Ebay and forgot. Maybe they will turn up??

You could make a set on your own and be fine. Abot 7" x 3-1/2"

I would make a a cover and a mount ring then install the mount ring but not cut out the hole until you need to.

I put a circular inspection cover ring in that spot on my BC12D so that if I ever had to access it I cut put a round inspection cover over it.

Dave.