I'm getting the 9A rudder spar ready. I test screwed the rod end bearings into the platenuts and discovered that the threaded part of the platenut is not round. The tail kit comes with 7 of these platenuts, and mine are all exactly identically out-of-round (they look like they were intentionally made that way). They start round at the flange, but at the other end of the threaded cylinder, they become slightly oval, about 30 thousands wider in one direction than the other. Because of this, the rod end bearing will only screw in about 1 turn by hand after the threads catch. (I'm sure I'm not crossing the threads.)
To all you experienced platenuters, is this normal? or, are my platenuts defective? Shouldn't the rod ends just screw in easily, like a regular bolt into a nut? or, am I supposed to use more than finger torque to thread these parts together?
Thanks
John
Rudder Platenuts Not Round
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John,
Platenuts are a kind of locknut. The out of round is how they keep screws, bolts and the like from backing out of the platenut. If you look through your kit, you will find that all of the thousands of platenuts you will use look like this.
The easiest way to screw the rod ends into the platenuts without damaging them is to make a tool to tighten them. Take a piece of 1/2" pvc pipe about 6" long and heat the end with a torch, not until it melts, but just until it gets soft. Push it over one of the rod ends and let it cool. Drill a hole through the other end to put a screwdriver or similar through and it will be easy to turn the rod ends into the platenuts.
Pat
Platenuts are a kind of locknut. The out of round is how they keep screws, bolts and the like from backing out of the platenut. If you look through your kit, you will find that all of the thousands of platenuts you will use look like this.
The easiest way to screw the rod ends into the platenuts without damaging them is to make a tool to tighten them. Take a piece of 1/2" pvc pipe about 6" long and heat the end with a torch, not until it melts, but just until it gets soft. Push it over one of the rod ends and let it cool. Drill a hole through the other end to put a screwdriver or similar through and it will be easy to turn the rod ends into the platenuts.
Pat
RV-8
N804PT - IO-360, Hartzell blended airfoil, GRT dual Horizon I & EIS, TruTrak ADI Pilot II
Flying - 950 hours!
N804PT - IO-360, Hartzell blended airfoil, GRT dual Horizon I & EIS, TruTrak ADI Pilot II
Flying - 950 hours!
Thanks, Pat, yes I see the other platenuts I have are out-of-round also.
Being pure steel, I assume they are not one-time use only, so I can screw the rod end in and out repeatedly without damaging the platenut. I think I want to screw them all the way in and out for a test fit before riveting the platenuts to the rudder spar (just to be sure threads are ok).
John
Being pure steel, I assume they are not one-time use only, so I can screw the rod end in and out repeatedly without damaging the platenut. I think I want to screw them all the way in and out for a test fit before riveting the platenuts to the rudder spar (just to be sure threads are ok).
John