Left Ail link

[rammon3]

While disassembling the wings, I ran ran into a weird problem on the left wing. I could not disconnect the pushrod from the aileron horn. There isn't enough clearance from the rib to get the ball stud out. I did not have any problem on the right side as the rib is an "inny" rather than an "outy". I got the aileron off by disconnecting at the belcrank, but this did not seem right.
When I got the aileron off and removed the cover I found that the last person to assemble this A/C ran into this same problem during reassembly. This is evidenced by the fact that they beat the crap out of the end of the rib trying to get it in place. When that failed, they cut open the fabric and sheet metal on the aft side of the spar and removed the horn to get it into place. This was done rather crudely, I might add.
I'm guessing that this aileron was repaired at one point and the wrong rib was used in that location as there would be no problem if a rib stamped in the opposite direction had been used. Would this be correct or am I missing something?

[Guest]

Re: Left Ail link

Your taking it apart the wrong way.

Put the nut back on the ball stud and screw it back in.

Then remove the cotter pin from the aft end of the tube, the end that is in your picture.

Then unscrew that plug in the end of the tube (if you take it all the way out that is ok).

That should give you enough play to rotate/wiggle/slide the tube end off of the ball. You may have to rotate the aileron into a good position for it to come apart easy.

That's how I take mine apart.

It is a pain. :-)

Dave

[astjp2]

Re: Left Ail link

You might have to remove the cotter pin from the other end and loosen it also, there is a solid piece of steel that is between the to ball studs. Tim

[flyguy]

Re: Left Ail link

I was about to comment that maybe he was saying that he didn't have enough clearance to get the "empty" rod off the ball--then I went back and read "to get the ball stud out," oh, my...

DC

[rammon3]

Re: Left Ail link

I see how that will work and I agree, it is a PITA. It seems to me if the left aileron was assembled with the opposite facing rib in that location, the problem would be solved. Anybody done that?

[Robert Lees]

Re: Left Ail link

My aileron linkages were close to the rib, but I had no trouble fitting them.

Does this photo look like your assembly?

[rammon3]

Re: Left Ail link

Yes, it does. Except the rib on the right is all beat up on mine because the last person to assemble the aileron got impatient trying to connect the link. My point is that on the right aileron, there is enough clearance to slide the link out to the side without having to remove the end cap from the link. This is because the rib is facing the other way creating a pocket. If the left aileron was built using an opposite facing rib in that location, it would be easier to disassemble. Not a big deal, but I thought it was worth mentioning. I've got bigger issues facing me than that. More to come........