Brief Description: Trim Tab Hinge and Misc. Related Parts
The E-01403 trim tab forward hinge is match drilled to the upper rear spar of the elevator. The hole drilled on the outboard end of the hinge in a previous step is used to position the hinge onto the rear spar. I used a number of 1 in. clecko clamps to position the hinge along the edge and drilled all the holes. There isn't much distance between the upper and lower flange on the rear spar and on the first couple of holes the drill tip hit the lower flange and put a small gouge in it. It's not a big deal, but I'll have to blend it out before I prime. The hinge overhang is trimmed off and deburred.
The process is repeated with the aft hinge and the trim tab spar. No problems so far. As a check, I joined the hinges back together with the hinge pin and there was no binding.
Of course, I found I did screw something up. I mistakenly trimmed the hinge pin to match the length of the hinge. Later in the plans there is a step where you bend the hinge to use as a handle for pulling the pin out. Looks like I've got to buy another hinge just so I can get the pin inside. Argh! The sad thing is I read that step before I cut the pin and I did it anyway. Way to go, Einstein.
I skipped ahead in the plans and also trimmed and deburred the trim tab horns (E-917 and E-918) and the elevator trim pushrod components (E-01401A-L/R and E-01401B). The pushrod gets a machine countersink in the L/R components for double flush rivets.
Fwd portion of the trim tab hinge match drilled and cleckoed into place. Excess hinge is trimmed away.
