Today I fabricated and installed the two rudder stops. The rudder stops are designed to prevent the rudder from exceeding a maximum deflection of +/- 22 degrees. The kit comes with a pair of pre-fabricated rudder stops that I carefully kept track of over the past 3 years. As of 3 weeks ago, I moved them from their special place on my parts shelf in the basement to take them out to the hangar. I don't remember having seen them since. That's why I fabricated 2 more rudder stops today.
Fabrication was straightforward and the plans are clear so no surprises. After determining the proper position for each stop (based on a rudder deflection angle of 21 degrees) I match-drilled the stops with the existing rivet line then test fit it to make sure I didn't mess anything up. After drilling and clecoing, the rudder deflected 20.8 degrees in both directions which is in the sweet spot of the 20-22 desgree acceptable range. I updrilled the rivet holes to A5 (5/32") and riveted the stops into place.
That's pretty much everything for the tail section mechanics. All that's left is to run and secure the trim motor wire bundle to the 9-pin Dsub I have waiting for it in the fuselage and perform final rigging with the control cables.
Left rudder stop after cutting the piece with a hacksaw and measuring it for rivet holes
Left rudder stop installed with the rudder deflected away from it (right).
Left rudder stop with the rudder stopped against it.