Rudder trailing edge

s10sakota · Post by **s10sakota** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:04 pm

Admittedly I am asking this question because I am lazy, but why do I need to glue the trailing edge of the rudder before I rivet it?

My rudder is completely riveted right now (except for the trailing edge) and the TE is perfectly stright with it just being clecoed together.

It would seem to me that if I started in the middle and worked up and down wtih rivets, it would stay straight.

Does something happen during that process that would make the TE curve or warp?

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:28 pm

don't do it....I mean don't start in the middle and just move outward it will warp.

BUT you don't need to glue it either. i didn't.

I cleco'd every hole on my trailing edge. then started in the middle and riveted partially. do not fully set the rivet, then move above 5 rivet and do it again. now go 5 rivet opposite side from first rivet and drive another partial set. continue swapping ends and skipping about 5 rivets until you reach the ends. MArk these with a red sharpie from the side you drove them.

now flip the rudder so that you are driving from the other face and partial set rivets in between your previously set rivets. mark these with a blue sharpie from the side you drove them.

Now you have a rudder trailing edge that is riveted(not fully set) approximately every other hole. Next step is to fill in the empty holes, again starting in the middle and working out. partial set again. (black sharpie)

Once you have all the holes filled with partially set rivets, you are ready to finish setting them. Drive them from the opposite face, again jumping around, flipping the rudder over and skipping middle to end and back/forth etc. Big thing is don't drive them all from the same side or from middle to end in series.

Post by **Spike** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:06 am

The first time I tried to do this I used epoxy instead of pro-seal and what happened was that as I started to rivet the movement of the metal caused the TE skins to move relative to each other and 'unzip' the epoxy. That was a bit eye opening as to how much things change and why Vans recommended that you do that.

Some people as you can see are quite successful without doing it. I personally went back and re-did it with proseal and was exceptionally happy with the result.

Spike

s10sakota · Post by **s10sakota** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:09 am

Yep I decided that I'm not going to be lazy. I'm going to order the proseal and to it the way Vans recommends.

I did complete my VS though!!

s10sakota · Post by **s10sakota** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:15 pm

Well I couldn't put it off any longer. Today I glued my rudder trailing edge.

I'll let you know how it works out in a few days when I take the pile of 'junk' off of it!

http://www.aircraftstickers.com/RV7A/20dec11.htm

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 7:14 pm

14000 rivets to go

s10sakota · Post by **s10sakota** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:30 am

14,000? That's it? Oh man I should be flying by this weekend!!!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:07 am

Actually...by my count, 14,731 to go. But I mean, really, who's counting?

http://www.chadandbrittne.com/Numbers.htm

hydroguy2 · Post by **hydroguy2** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:17 am

14,731...whew glad I did the Quickbuild. I think I got to skip a 10 or 12 thousand.

s10sakota · Post by **s10sakota** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:02 am

SO how long should I let this Pro-Seal dry? Van's manual says to let it sit 'for a few days'. Is 24 hours enough? I want to get riveting!!!!

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:36 am

I cleco'd with sealant 9/25/05, removed mine from the angle 9/26/05, only to clean up the excess sealant, then cleco'd it back on (just on the ends) the angle for another day before I riveted it together on 9/27/05.

s10sakota · Post by **s10sakota** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:57 am

Thanks Chad, good idea. I'll clean it up today and then rivet tomorrow.

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:10 pm

I am sure glad I built an RV-6A because it only had 12000 rivets and my wings and fuselage were quick build so that helped me skip a few more. It did take me a few more days to finish it though

However flying around in it for three years makes a lot of that worth the wait. Remember persistance not skill builds airplanes! Merry Christmas to all.