Help, please!
I incorporated Mod 74 in August '07 and, as part of the process, I replaced
the two pip pins because one of the originals was damaged at the top. The
new pip pins, supplied by EA 04 Ltd, are a different part number, 4BLPR2.00.
These pins appeared to be a much better designed and engineered type, but
are different in one vital respect; the old pins had a thin key ring right
through the head of the centre part of the pin, such that when extracting
the pip pins, upward lift on the thin key rings released the balls at the
bottom.
The new pins are different in that the "ring" by which they are extracted is
"D" shaped, with the two ends fitted into the collar at the top of the outer
part of the pin. The "D" shaped part ring is a very soft material, and the
holes into which they are fitted are very shallow.
Now I need to remove my wings. When I did Mod 74, both new pip pins went in
fairly easily; the port one needed more hand pressure - with a drift - than
the starboard one, which was easy to push in.
Today I used my favourite "extraction" tool - a button hook on the end of a
metal shoehorn - to try to get the pins out. The starboard pin came up part
way easily, then came up against a solid stop; pushing the blue centre part
of the pin down whilst pulling the ring had no effect - and in fact the ring
then pulled completely away from the collar. Trying the port side was
useless - the pin would not move at all, and I did not want to apply too
much pressure, otherwise I would have pulled its ring off as well. Refitting
the starboard ring in situ, and closing it up tight, is going to be very
difficult.
What do I do now?
The simplest answer would be to push the pins up from below, whilst pulling
the ring from the top in the normal way; however, although I had a hole for
that purpose originally (before the wing "cuffs" were bonded on), I have no
hole now, and have no accurate idea where to drill the holes.
Does anyone - in UK initially - have holes for this purpose in the lower
part of the wing, and if so could you let me have a template of where to
drill the holes?
How would anyone else solve this problem? Has anyone fitted these new type
pip pins, and then tried to pull them out after a long period?
Not a good way to end 2007!
May we all have lots of excellent flying in 2008!
Incidentally, whilst writing, Bryan Alsop and I are proposing to organise a
DOTH (ie a fly-in) in memory of William Mills and Paul Sweeting, here at
Shobdon, in spring 2008. We will soon be asking Europhiles to indicate their
interest in attending, but first Bryan and I need to agree a date with
Shobdon; watch this space!
Happy New Year to you all!
David
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