I cannot remove the hor. stab.

[Robert Bradbury]

I cannot get the rear stab to break from the rear stub post . Any suggestions. I have emptied a can of antiseize there but to no avail.
I'm ashamed to say I have used the inboard hinge as the only point
to which I could apply a aaaaaaaahh......little persuasion .

[Dan Michaels]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Are you recovering?

Use a small handheld torch, heat it up a little. using the outer most edge (tip) back and forth motion.

You can also use if not recovering, an air hammer or rivet gun with a flat set and (lightly) go around the tube. This will jar it loose from the rust.

Dan

[Robert Lees]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

How important is the paintwork?

Will the front of the stab move out a bit? Say 1/16 inch? If so, put a little 1/16 collar around it, then use a soft rubber mallet (gently) to tap forward against the rear stab spar to hopefully break the seal on the rear spar. Repeat in 1/16 increments until the rear comes out too.

If that doesn't work...let me know. I went through the same with mine, but I was not saving the fabric.!

Edit: Hey I like Dan's idea...with a soft hammer (or a soft pad) you could at least go 50% around the tube to shake it loose! (my next method was going to be a bit more violent).

[Dick Smith]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Some more rust breaker possibilities:

Loosening rusted parts.............

Having spent 17 years as a Jet mechanic I've learned a few tricks to loosen frozen bolts and screws. Spiral screw extractors with the correct size drills help. Impact drivers and cordless drills with masonry settings do too. Heat from a small butane torch can assist as well as using valve grinding compound with a new screwdriver bit and pressure. However when dealing with rusted parts I use this..... Go to the pharmacy and order some "wintergreen oil" (methyl sylicate is the chemical name although my spelling may be wrong) You will notice it smells like liquid wrench or Ben Gay. But does it work! pour a little on and wait a few. We use this to disassemble jet engines for overhaul. After about 5 minutes try again. I have used this to pull apart the suspension from a car that was from the northeast. I won a case of beer in that bet. An important note : THIS STUFF WILL CATCH FIRE EASILY! DO NOT SMOKE OR USE A TORCH! I hope this helps someone out there.

This tip courtesy of Peter Vanderpoel (MRA #1136)
--------------------------
Another couple of substances that work surprisingly well: automotive transmission fluid and brake fluid.
Dick

[Robert Lees]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Another couple of substances that works surprisingly well...

I was expecting you to mention Dynamite or TNT...I was most disappointed when you didn't!

Rob

[Ragwing nut]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Take a rubber mallet to the tip and hit foward. If that don't work, can you get the front off the stub?

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Wow! So many good suggestions. Thanks everyone I will try again next time
out to the hanger.

And no, I'm not recovering, just dismantling to do some long overdue repairs.

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Take a rubber mallet to the tip and hit foward. If that don't work, can you get the front off the stub?

Front is loose only the left rear is stuck.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

If you can get it loose from the stubs, rotate the stab to break the rust losse and pull.

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

If you can get it loose from the stubs, rotate the stab to break the rust losse and pull.

Should work, though I hate forcing things to their limit. Pulling the front off with the back still on must be imparting some stress to the back stub ??

Robert

[Ragwing nut]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Should work, though I hate forcing things to their limit. Pulling the front off with the back still on must be imparting some stress to the back stub ??

Robert

Yes but should not cause any damage if careful. If unsure, don't force it. Have you tried PB BLaster penetrating spray?

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Yes but should not cause any damage if careful. If unsure, don't force it. Have you tried PB BLaster penetrating spray?

No have not tried that , PB that is. I will try some of the non chemical tricks
suggested first and then move on to the chemcals as necessary .

Robert

[Larry Lyons]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Robert, if the front peg is lose, half the battle is over! Tie the plane down, have some one push forward on the horizontal stab as hard as they can while you use a short 2X4 (6" to a foot long) braced against the stab at the outer most point, and smack the wood with a 4 pound mall. Another thing you can do to help is soak it with penetrating oil, heat it as though you were going to try to pull it but do not do anything, let it cool to ambient temp. hit it again with oil, let it soak in over night, then try the heat again, this time while it is hot do the push and smack thing again! Only one caveat, make sure the person pushing has a limited amount of movement in case the rear lets lose he does not bend the horizontal stab clear around. That would ruin a good day!
Larry

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Robert, if the front peg is lose, half the battle is over! Tie the plane down, have some one push forward on the horizontal stab as hard as they can while you use a short 2X4 (6" to a foot long) braced against the stab at the outer most point, and smack the wood with a 4 pound mall. Another thing you can do to help is soak it with penetrating oil, heat it as though you were going to try to pull it but do not do anything, let it cool to ambient temp. hit it again with oil, let it soak in over night, then try the heat again, this time while it is hot do the push and smack thing again! Only one caveat, make sure the person pushing has a limited amount of movement in case the rear lets lose he does not bend the horizontal stab clear around. That would ruin a good day!
Larry

Now I get it ! You guys mean rotating back on the axis. I was thinking that you were suggesting to push back on the stab imparting a side load to the
post. Sure that sould work. I may have a chance to try this tomorrow .

Robert

[Robert Lees]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Be careful levering the stab forwards too much...you may bend the stubs, or elongate the stab spars, or jamming the whole assembly solid.

Do it little-by-little, 1/16 or so at a time, using an incrementally longer collar or spacer between the end of the front spar and the fuselage longeron.

Rob