I got the pushrods, horizontal stab installed in/on the fuselage and then installed the elevators on the HS. It doesn't take long for me to get the HS installed because I have done it so much that I have it down. Getting the elevators installed with the bolts/washers/nuts takes some doing as there isn't much room to work in that space. I have some bent 3/16" rod that I made for temporary installation of the elevators and rudder that work good to get the rod end bearings and the hinges lined up. I used those first, and then installed the bolts/washers/nuts. Then I connected the pushrod to the elevator bellcranks. There are also washers that are used as spacers between the bearings and also in the rod end bearing/elevator bellcrancks and they take a lot of time to install.
As I was moving the stick and watching the elevators go up and down I noticed that even though I had clamped each of the elevators at neutral when I drilled the bellcranks, they didn't seem to be in sync? I clamped the left one and measured the right one and sure enough, the right was a little "low". A quick note off to Van's support was answered by telling me that the counterweight sections are typically not at neautral depending on where the elevators are clamped in the neutral position. Sterling told me that as long as the trailing edges of the elevators are level, there is no problem. So after measuring the trailing edges, I see I have a problem - looks like I need to get the hole filled and re-drill the bellcrank. The only thing I can figure is that maybe I had the 3/16" rods in when I drilled the elevator bellcranks and that made a difference?? Tomorrow I will go to see Roberto.
pushrods/HS/elevators installed
right side low and trailing edges not level, dangit
