Aileron Mounting Bracket end play

[Dano"T"]

During my annual we noticed that one of my outboard aileron brackets has some verical movement...at least more than the other side....Is there a spec on this or is it a situation where some bolts are loose? Has anyone else seen this? I'm open to suggetions. When you push up and down on the outside end of the aileron you can see the bracket move up and down some....anyon have some really goods pictures of this area uncovered?

[Bobdog]

Re: Aileron Mounting Bracket end play

There are two small steel angles that are mounted on the aileron bracket that attach to the aileron cove metal. Make sure these have not come loose. Also, remove the inspection cover, and look to see that the bracket has not come loose from the spar. CAUTION: do not over tighten the two #10 bolts that hold the bracket to the spar. Run the nut and washer down to where they just touch the spar, and then turn another 3/4 or 1 turn. It will feel "snug". Over tightening can pull the washer and nut right into the spar, crushing the wood fibers and weakening the spar.

[M Towsley]

Re: Aileron Mounting Bracket end play

Dano,

Or it could be broken toward the rear, like mine was. I think there are some pictures if you search. I'm not home right now so I can't take a picture for you. There is also the 'bearing' part that bolts toward the rear of the hinge with one bolt.

Dano,

I found it, search for 'aileron brackets'. Look at page two, you will find a picture of your aileron bracket, if it is the common magnesium type.

[astjp2]

Re: Aileron Mounting Bracket end play

Mine were just that flexible, new spars and they still moved....I think its just a prewar thingy! hahaha(;f

[Dano"T"]

Re: Aileron Mounting Bracket end play

Thanks guys....It was broken...had to make a new bracket...alls fine now. I put the float5s on yesterday too.

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Aileron Mounting Bracket end play

I have the other type of hinge brackets the steel ones do they have the same type of ears that screw to the false spar or are they diferant are they welded to the bracket or bolted i need to find 2 of them or make them out of something. any informatin would be great.

[astjp2]

Re: Aileron Mounting Bracket end play

I will be at wolf lake on Sat, if you want take a look at my aircraft, I have both styles in my wings. Tim

[hangarb7]

Re: Aileron Mounting Bracket end play

I had just the opposite problem. Last year at the TC fly-in, Forrest was looking over my plane and noticed two things; the AD compliance was wrong on the vertical stab cover plates, and second, that one of my aileron brackets at the aileron was loose.

I slit the fabric in the aileron, reached in with a jointed long extension socket and lightly tightened the nuts. It is much better, but I noticed in my present on-going annual inspection that the bracket is more loose than just a couple of months ago.

I am suspecting that it must also have something to do with humidity.

But, since this thread mentions the main wing bracket, I'm going to check those a little more close. I've seen several mentions of broken brackets.

I have the cast brackets; are they available?

Jack
'46 BC12D

[mulwyk]

Re: Aileron Mounting Bracket end play

Jack:
I got a beautiful set of NOS brackets from Forrest last year...he may still have some.

There seems to be two problems with the aileron attachment. (1)Dissimilar metals corrosion causes the cast bracket to break after a half-century or so in service. The old style welded steel bracket is a superior design, in my opinion. And it is easily owner-produced.
And (2), as you have noted, Jack, the hinge attachment to the wood aileron spar tends to crush the wood leading to tightening of the AN3 bolt attachment...leading to more crushing of the wood...leading to more tightening and more crushing until failure. Fortunately, Rob Lees has a really elegant low cost solution to this problem...a nut plate on the aft side of the aileron spar. We should all shamelessly copy his design. Check out the UK Taylorcraft site for details.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Aileron Mounting Bracket end play

Nut plate is the way to go a couple of tightening sessions will indeed crush the wood too far. We even use a plate on a new spar during a re build. Dry climate and of course banging in the wind loosens a lot of them up...