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Steve's CH750 Cruzer (N750SB)
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Date:  12-21-2017
Number of Hours:  5.00
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Mass balancing

Today I started mass balancing. Started out by drilling the mounting holes in the outboard flaperon and mass as was done with the inboard. Then I rehung the passenger side flaperons with the masses cleco'd in place. Note that with the masses in place, it was much easier to work with the flaperons than without. Initially, the masses were significantly too heavy. Since the inboard flaperon is larger and consequently less material would need to be removed, I decided to start there.

Since I don't have the tools to cleanly shave the material to be removed, I decided to use what I do have, a drill press, and start removing material by drilling from the top of the masses. I used a 1/2" hardened drill and drilled 3 holes partway through, testing the balance multiple times along the way. I could tell I was getting close, so finished boring all the way through. One more hole partway through (from the bottom to miss the weld area) and the flaperon balanced perfectly. Used the scotchbrite wheel to smooth things out. I really wasted my money getting these things powder coated in advance.

After seeing how many holes it took for the inboard side and knowing that even more material would need to be removed from the outboard side, I decided to take a different tact. I do have a cutting wheel tool, so I lopped off the nose of the mass, just behind the curve. Still too heavy, but one hole with the drill press got it perfect. I know it doesn't look as clean as the inboard side, but I'm thinking up a plan to deal with that.

After reconnecting the join plate, the assembly balanced perfectly. These bore holes should make any future mass adjustments a breeze.

Started, but did not finish machining the pilot side masses to get them close before mounting.

It takes a while to get the necessary amount of steel removed, but so far I'm happy with how its going. Sure do wonder though why Zenith couldn't have started with smaller counterweights.
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Passenger inboard mass

Passenger inboard mass

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Passenger outboard mass

Passenger outboard mass

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Passenger side balanced

Passenger side balanced

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