Brief Description: Drilled elevator horns and connecte push rod
After getting the stops all done I began the process of drilling the holes into the upper part of the elevator horn. It is through this hole that the AN4 bolt will connect the two horns through the VA-146 being attached to the HS. I found an aluminum bushing from the hardware store that is ¼ OD and just over 9/64 ID. I used a 9/64 to drill the pilot hole. This went smoothly and I attached the bolt and used 3 washers on each side.
Next was the lower horn hole where the push rod connects. I drilled the #40 pilot holes and then opened it up to 3/16 in steps. Measured the space between the two horns and found that a scrap of oak I had and a piece of 1/8 inch aluminum filled the space perfectly. After marking the location on the block and drilling it to 3/16 I clamped the block in place and drilled through to the left horn and then opened up both holes to #12. I then took another measurement and decided to make spacers out of aluminum tube that are about .200 thick, those along with two thin AN3 washers fill the space up. I then connected the push rod. The sticks where almost perpendicular, it only took one turn of the forward bearing on the F841 rod to get them perpendicular. Once this was done I played around with the range of motion. It was then that I discovered that something was not right, with every thing hooked up if I set the left elevator in trail (balance arm flush with HS skin) the right balance arm sits just a little high, by 3/32nds. I don’t think this will be a big issue, it was just a let down since I thought I really nailed the thing. I will ask around and see if there is a fix. One more milestone accomplished. I also have met another goal, I wanted the stick connected to the tail so when my wife’s nephew (3 year old) comes over for turkey day, he will be able to see things move around when he sits up front and moves the stick!
