Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

[8708]

Talk about a bad day! I am in the middle of restoring my Tcraft and I find out the wings do not fit the fuselage!
I had the fuselage at the factory and apparently they welded the front/rear wing attach fittings in the wrong place. They are off by 1/8 inch which does not seem like much, but there is no wiggle room there!
Anyway, to repair this I need to know more detailed information about the fittings on the fuselage. Does any one have any drawings or measurement details that might help out?
I have detailed drawings of the wings and their dimensions are good.
Thanks!
Jay

[TonyL]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

Hi
There's a gentleman, his name is Ron Greene. His mailing address is, 40336 Calle Meduza, Temecula, Ca. He has 4 CD's for the L2, these drawings shoul be compatible. I'll try to locate him tomorrow. I have my wings off. If you need a possible Jig, we can brainstorm it. send me a PM or even in this forum. If I can get the CD's, I'll facilitate the information for the wing fittings. The CD's are 25 dollars from Ron, 20 dollars are a donation to The Taylorcraft Foundation 5 dollars are for shipping. If he agrees, I'll just e mail you the CD data.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

My wings are off the 45 and the 41 if you need measurements. I also have the factory fuselage drawings somewhere in the "pile" at home and can check for what the designers intended (remember, airplanes were made on TOOLING not from drawings! Lots of times the dimension on the drawing isn't the same as on the plane). I would trust measurements from 2 or 3 different planes that match much more than what the drawings say.
If your wing mount lugs are correct you may need to check the compression tubes in your wing. If you put them in the wrong places the spars will be the wrong distance apart and WON'T fit on the fuselage. DON'T cut the lugs off and move them if the wing is what is wrong!
Hank

[8708]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

Hi Hank,
Thanks for your reply. I am headed out today to make careful measurements of the wing and fuseslage center-to-center, bracket-to-bracket distances. If you have a chance it would be great to have your numbers to compare to.
I will post my numbers later today.
I have a set of compression tubes as well I will measure them as well and get that sorted.
Thanks again!
Jay

[TonyL]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

Hi Jay
Measured fuselage fittings in this manner. from fwd fittin, fwd end inbd moldline to aft fitting aft end inbd moldline = 32" on both wings. Moldline is the inside of the end of the fitting. Hope that helps. will reference the wing side on the next post.

[1938BF50]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

Make sure your wing spar fittings are not sunk into the doublers as mine were.....meaning it may not all be the fault of the fuselage fittings.

[Guest]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

Talk about a bad day! I am in the middle of restoring my Tcraft and I find out the wings do not fit the fuselage!
I had the fuselage at the factory and apparently they welded the front/rear wing attach fittings in the wrong place. They are off by 1/8 inch which does not seem like much, but there is no wiggle room there!
Anyway, to repair this I need to know more detailed information about the fittings on the fuselage. Does any one have any drawings or measurement details that might help out?
I have detailed drawings of the wings and their dimensions are good.
Thanks!
Jay

Perhaps you can use the compression strut shims to adjust your spar separation distance to match the fuselage. Either add or subract some.

That's what I did.

Dave

[Guest]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

oh yeah, make sure that the compression strut (tube) that is at the wing root is the proper one. There are 2 or 3 sizes. One for between the spar locations with fittings like at the root and lift strut attach points and one for between locations with bare wood. Don't cut any metal until you check these things out.

Sounds like you may have a mislocated compression tube. Are your spars too wide for the fuelage? If so then I am double suspicous that the compression tube is the issue.

Dave

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

there are 3 lengths and should be the shortest one. Install factory shims if required to make the distance correct. I have never had to actualy shorten a compression tube, always had to add shims. Distance is right at 31" center to center.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

Shims look like this (why mine are different, I know not why..the wings are the same Construction number).

[Guest]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

there are 3 lengths and should be the shortest one. Install factory shims if required to make the distance correct. I have never had to actualy shorten a compression tube, always had to add shims. Distance is right at 31" center to center.

Hi Mike,

So the shortest goes at the root call that one #1 size.

Then I"ll call the that goes at the lift strut fittings #2.

Where does #3 go? And why is a 3rd size needed?

Dave

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

I took photos of the fuselage lugs at the airport showing the distance between the lugs but will need a faster connection (tomorrow) to post them. I will try to measure the ones in the barn today on the second plane. Maybe the speed will be better tonight and I can get photos through.
Hank

[Guest]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

Hi Mike,

So the shortest goes at the root call that one #1 size.

Then I"ll call the that goes at the lift strut fittings #2.

Where does #3 go? And why is a 3rd size needed?

Dave

Mike & all,

The above is a sincere question please do not interpret it as a critique or challenge.

I really want to know the answers.

Dave

[Guest]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

Argh!!!

I am an idiot!

My question was stupid - load brain before shooting mouth (or fingers)!

3 sizes;
1) for the root, has to be shortened enough to compensate for the spar attachment fitting metal thickness

2) for the locations that have no fitting and just goes from wood to wood

3) for the lift strut fitting location, has to be shortened enough to compensate for the strut attach fitting metal thickness and the plywoof reinforcement plates on the spar (I think that makes this one the shortest)

Dave

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Location of front and rear wing-attach fittings

3rd is all the rest. I believe you are correct strut attach is the shortest for reasons you mentioned