Erich, Graham, and Richard:
Removal, with the insert now more than halfway in would likely be a real
chore, so for now at least I'll continue on with the brute force approach.
I have considered rigging a press and still may do so. However, based on my
experience with Mod 73 where I used a similar scheme to extract my dummy
torque tube after a small amount of epoxy managed to get where it should not
be, and that threaded rod's 1/4-20 NSC threads were severely damaged, I fear
that the force needed would be greater than the strength of the largest
threaded rod that would fit through the ID of the insert.
I think the sash clamp would have a better chance of success since the
threaded portion (with high strength Acme thread) would be in compression
not tension as for the scheme noted above, but I'll defer that pending
further hammering.
With about 1.3 inch remaining to hammer in, and modest application of heat
to the landing gear frame helping, I have made sufficient progress to keep
pounding onward, so to speak. Progress is slow using heat because heat
works only when there is a temperature differential and the insert soon
reaches the same temperature as the frame thus requiring a waiting period
while both get back to ambient temperature. Heat, hammer, cuss, wait.
Repeat as required.
I hope that this discussion will help others that have yet to tackle Mod 72,
though with almost two years having elapsed since the Mod was announced I am
probably the last to have this much fun.
Best regards,
Rob Housman
Irvine, CA
Europa XS Tri-Gear
A070
Airframe complete
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Richard
Collings
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 3:04 AM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Mod 72 - Undercarriage mounting frame
strengthening
Hi, Have you tried adapting a sash clamp to press the tube into the hole.
This is how I fitted mine but before mounting the frame in the fuselage
which made the job easer. You would need to cut the sash clamp bar down to
just the right length as the unused length would get in the way.
Failing that remove the 2 fixing bolts holding the frame onto the cockpit
module and slide a suitable length high tensile bolt though the tube put a
large plate washer and nut on the end and as you tighten it up you will draw
the tube into the frame.
If you must use a hammer try to position a heavy weight behind what you are
hitting to act as a reaction. Best of luck Richard
From: Rob Housman <mailto:rob@hyperion-ef.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 3:32 PM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Mod 72 - Undercarriage mounting frame
strengthening
Craig & Martin:
Good suggestion in re: taking advantage of thermal effect on size. However,
in my case one pin is in and the other is far enough in to preclude removal
and starting over.
Prior to starting the Mod I measured both pins and confirmed that each was
less than 16.5mm (PRIOR to applying the etch primer) and not tapered, and
the hand reamer was fabricated by a local shop with whom I've done business
for a long time, and it is to size. Were it not for the factory's
instruction to paint the pins (and my foolishness in following that
suggestion) the pins would have fit easily.
Best regards,
Rob Housman
Irvine, CA
Europa XS Tri-Gear
A070
Airframe complete
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of craig bastin
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 4:07 AM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Mod 72 - Undercarriage mounting frame
strengthening
If you can get the tubes out again, easier said than do probably, I would
suggest a shrink fit, if you are happy
the insert tubes are the same size as the ID of the tubes after reaming then
throwing the tubes in the freezer
and GENTLY heating the UC frame should give you the clearance you need long
enough to get them home
mine took about 4 decent taps and they were home, mind you i did use a lathe
and skimmed the tubes till they
were within .01mm, the heating/cooling dropped the tube size to about .2mm
smaller than the UC frame. I believe
quite a few have opted for this method with good results
craig
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com]On Behalf Of Rob Housman
Sent: Tuesday, 30 September 2008 12:52 AM
Subject: Europa-List: Mod 72 - Undercarriage mounting frame strengthening
Having been working mostly on those factory mandated or recommended
modifications of late, I now realize that it is much easier to build an
airplane than it is to repair one. Mod 70 (Mass balance arm) was merely
tedious, working deep in the tailcone, one handed, through small access
holes, but Mod 73 (Tailplane retention) and Mod 59 (Shimmy damper) did not
go well when following the written procedures, and now with Mod 72 there is
more of that wonderful English understatement: "Insert the tubes - they will
probably need a light tap to fit them" it says in the procedure. English
hammers must be considerably larger and heavier than American hammers (or
16.5 mm reamers must be a bit larger) because "a light tap" does nothing.
After pounding away for entirely too long, and peening the ends of the tubes
where the hammer repeatedly struck, I finally fabricated a steel spud to put
between the offending pin and the hammer. This made it easier to keep
pounding with less damage to the pins, or to the adjacent smaller diameter
tubes to which the engine mounts attach if I were to miss the target. The
steel spud is starting to look like a mushroom from all of those "light
taps."
I should have retained my initial skepticism regarding the fit of painted
tubes, which after painting with etch primer are larger than 16.5mm, but no,
I foolishly believed that the factory had actually tried this procedure.
Well folks, the paint makes the pin almost impossible to fit.
Fearing complaints from my neighbors about so much hammering on a peaceful
Sunday afternoon I finally quit pounding with the intention of resuming
mid-day today when most of my neighbors will be away at work. As of
yesterday afternoon one pin was snug against the bolt attaching the frame to
the fuselage and the other was still barely halfway home.
Now, if I could find one of those English hammers at Home Depot..
Best regards,
Rob Housman
Irvine, CA
Europa XS Tri-Gear
A070
Airframe complete
_____
- - Release Date: 9/30/2008 11:03 AM
|