January 18, 2009 - Finished rigging elevators, rudder
It was 20 degrees warmer today -- in the high 30s, positively tropical! Before going to the airport, I stopped at the local hardware store, bought a $3 7/16 wrench, and ground the sides down.
At the hangar, I tried tightening down the HS-Elevator Horn nut with the modified wrench. No go. Back to the drawing board. I thought the lower elevator horn bolt/nut would be even harder because of all the spacers called for, but by laying on my back underneath the tail section, and reaching through the inspection holes on each side, I was able to get it all done without too much trouble.
Then I worked on the elevator pushrods, working from aft to forward. I c lamped the elevator in trail, and made sure the sticks were parallel with the panel. I p ut Loc-tite on all the rod-end bearing stopnuts and tightened. I t ightened the nuts on the elevator bellcrank bolt. Then I torque-sealed everything so I'd know it was done.
Back to the ailerons. With elevator in trail, I adjusted the right short aileron pushrod to get the right aileron down a little. The ailerons were now both OK, but the sticks were leaning to the left. I lengthened the right long pushrod (inboard end), but now the ailerons were uneven again. So I shortened the left long pushrod (inboard end), and the ailerons were perfect! And the sticks were straight up. With the elevators in trail. Score!
So, now with everything rigged, I went into the cockpit to start finalizing things. I used Loc-tite on all the jam nuts, then tightened.
I finished finalizing things in the wings for the ailerons, then called it a day.
I listened to the Cardinals beat the Eagles on the way home, then watched the Ravens lose to the Steelers. The six hours hard work on the RV really took a lot out of me; I was sore and tired afterwards.
