I cannot remove the hor. stab.

[Dick Smith]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Robert, you indicated that the left, rear horizontal stabilizer was the one giving you problems....If the horizontal stabilizer on the opposite side is off the plane, consider inserting a good wooden dowel (the largest diam. that will fit inside) through the short, hollow tube that receives the rear tubes of the two horizontals. By rapping repeatedly with a medium weight hammer on the exposed end of the dowel(with the inserted end pushed all the way through to the extreme, inner end of the left hand horizontal's rear tube, you may be able to help the seized tubing loosen up enough to get it off the stub (I assume you have tried to work some sort of "derustem/degookem'"on the exposed edges of the seized parts). If someone can wiggle the stabilizer a bit while you rap on the dowel, it might help. I would try rapping it 100-200 times instead of whacking it too hard and and breaking a weld or bending something. I've loosened things with 300 moderate raps(coupled with some rustbreaker crud), when hitting "fewer times, too hard" would have destroyed the project. Dick

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Dick just provided one of the most important pieces of advice you could get. LOTS of LIGHT hits! DON'T SMACK IT! Too much force at once will damage the tubes or stab. Lots of light taps will get her loose eventually and there is ALWAYS more time to keep tapping. One good smack may get it off and cost you a LOT of repair problems.
Hank

[Dan Michaels]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

Dick just provided one of the most important pieces of advice you could get. LOTS of LIGHT hits! DON'T SMACK IT! Too much force at once will damage the tubes or stab. Lots of light taps will get her loose eventually and there is ALWAYS more time to keep tapping. One good smack may get it off and cost you a LOT of repair problems.
Hank

That's why I said to use an Air hammer or rivet gun. A lot less force but much more action. I think the vibration helps more than anything.

I have had others try and remove the wing on a Cessna (front bolt on wing attach by windshield.) they could not do it no matter how hard they hit it with a hammer. An air hammer knocks it right out.

Dan

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

You got it. Light hits and LOTS of them. When I was working for the Navy at the Norfolk overhaul facility we used ultrasonic probes to vibrate parts at VERY high frequency. A lot of penetrating oil (oil of wintergreen is great, and smells good) and only light pressure for almost everything would loosen up.
If you use a rivet gun (I have and it works well, ultrasonic probes are pricey) just keep the hammering force to a minimum. It's the rate, NOT the force. If you think it isn't working, that's probably the right force. Take your time.
Hank

[Forrest Barber]

Re: I cannot remove the hor. stab.

After soaking in penetrating oil , I merely go out to the tip of the stab and drive it forward with a large rubber mallet or use wood to cushion the BIG hammer. tapping around the stab where it goes over the stub with a rivet gun works too. I have a rivet tool that looks like a flush rivet head covered with hard rubber.
Be careful if you have a helper ; don't say " When I nod my head, hit it hard!"