David,
Having an assistant "swing" the wings either slightly forward or
backwards (depending whether your replacement pins were longer or
shorter respectively than the originals) may allow the pin to be
withdrawn with less effort.
Other than that, on mine, I can get to the lower end of the pins via the
flap recess, with the flap in the lowered position.
Pip pins need to be kept internally greased too, so that corrosion does
not prevent operation or, worse, the balls not springing outwards to
lock the pin.
Rgds.,
Duncan McF.
----- Original Message -----
From: David.Corbett
To: Europa Forum
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 5:43 PM
Subject: Europa-List: Mod 74 - after-effect; and Wm Mills DOTH
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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