Elevator Alignment

plbarrett2004 · Post by **plbarrett2004** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 9:24 pm

After drilling the elevator horns, I have a slight mis-alignment. With the elevator horn drilled and bolted at both ends I clamped the right elevator at the counterweight.

The result is a slightly high left counterweight arm. It only about 1/16th to 3/32" max. I figured the trailing edge was more important, so I decided to examine that.

The best way I could figure to examine the trailing edge was to compare its level with one side clamped to the horizontal stab. I played around with multiple configurations. Using both a regular level, and a digital level.

The digital level reads 0.2 degrees high on the right when placed on the horizontal stab. On the elevator it reads 0.4 degrees high on the right. So thats a 0.2 degree difference. So the question then becomes, what to do about it? I guess there are two options; 1) Leave it as is, and adjust what I can when I do the fiberglass around the counterweight arms, or 2) Weld and re-drill the elevator horn to control rod intersection.

Yeah, its probably a "build on" but with the control surfaces I hate seeing any misalignment.

Thoughts from the brain trust?

bruceh · Post by **bruceh** » Mon Dec 28, 2015 10:42 pm

I would consult with Van's first. It might be negligible to the flight characteristics, but you won't know until you fly it. Getting the hole on one side welded over to redrill would be the simple fix.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 9:43 am

Peter,

I secong the call to Van, however I will go one step further and bet that they will tell you to build on.

Please let us know what they end up telling you! I am curious.

CJ

plbarrett2004 · Post by **plbarrett2004** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 10:46 am

Thanks all.

Here's the response from Ken @ Van's: "Actually, that's darn close to perfect alignment. Nail it down before it gets away."

Even after reading that it is still bothering me. So, I'm going to leave it alone for now. If it still bothers me when I start flying I can fix it then.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 3:53 pm

Peter, You don't take a compliment very well!

hahaha

Gitter DONE!

CJ

plbarrett2004 · Post by **plbarrett2004** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 9:04 pm

Nothing a beer or several won't cure!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue Dec 29, 2015 10:13 pm

I like the way you think!

CJ

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Sat Jan 02, 2016 2:09 am

plbarrett2004 wrote:Thanks all.

Here's the response from Ken @ Van's: "Actually, that's darn close to perfect alignment. Nail it down before it gets away."

Even after reading that it is still bothering me. So, I'm going to leave it alone for now. If it still bothers me when I start flying I can fix it then.

The small amount you are off won't matter. Worry more about the wing incidence alignment and the ailerons being where they should be.