Help! Wing mod plates

[dejh22]

How do you reinstall the lift strut brackets after the little plates are welded on? To get them back on I would have to notch out the wing rib so the bracket will slide in. Would this be correct? Any suggestions would be appreciated, Thank You!

[dejh22]

Re: Help! Wing mod plates

I should add this is for the upgrade for a 85 engine....thanks!

[Robert Lees]

Re: Help! Wing mod plates

Yes, you have to do as you describe. [Edit] I can see from my own photo that I removed the nose rib; cleco's suggest that...I do not recall removing the main rib, but I may have done.

A pity that the STC does not describe this sort of thing (or that the fuel modifications are not necessary [/other subject]).

[dejh22]

Re: Help! Wing mod plates

Thank You

[Robert Lees]

Re: Help! Wing mod plates

I've had a minute or two to look through my photos, and I can see (and recall) that I did remove the rib between the spars, but I think you could "modify" the ribs to get the welded-up bracket to fit.

The photo below (my ref: 0209) shows the situation to which dejh22 refers: that is, the two strut attach brackets that are to be welded together are a close-fit where the bracket passes through the rib, in this case the forward face of the rear spar.

When the two halves of the fitting are welded together, it requires the portion where the inter-spar compression tubes attach to fit between the spar and the rib, and the existing gap is not enough. Dremel to the rescue?

[TimHicks]

Re: Help! Wing mod plates

Variations on a theme for pre-war wings.

[dejh22]

Re: Help! Wing mod plates

I really feel sorry for the guy that is doing the upgrade with the wings on the aircraft! I did get the ribs "notched out" with a hacksaw blade and a dremel. It looks bad, but I plan on cleaning it up with some small hands and a file. I have a file.....no small hands! Thanks Robert and Tim for your really fast responses. I would not be able to do this if not for this website and the fine folks on it!