FlyingGiants - View Single Post - Installing Bearings in Composite Arf Phenolic Hinges (Rudder/Elevator Hinges)...

Paul Cataldo · 02-01-2008, 10:15 PM

Guys, WHERE have I seen this procedure done on the net? I swear a while back, I saw someone who had actually installed little round roller bearings? (I think) in the hinges of the rudder, and POSSIBLY the elevator TOO.? Not sure about the elevator, but I KNOW I saw them in the rudder hinges. I cannot for the life of me, remember WHERE I saw this, and on WHICH Composite Arf plane it was on. However, I DO remember seeing this somewhere, and I'm 90% sure it was on a Composite Arf brand plane, at least 2.6m, or maybe even a larger one. Can anyone help here?Has ANYONE here EVER done this mod to their plane? HOW do you drill out the phenolic hinges for the bearings? Do you possibly have to use a 90 degree angle drilling attachment for a Dremel tool? More importantly, I would like to know HOW the bearings are held/fastened in the phenolic hinges???? Is Aeropoxy/Hysol 9462 used???? Finally, has anyone EVER experienced significant wear between the aluminum hinge pin and the phenolic hinge points???? I would think that someone, somewhere has, otherwise no one would have ever decided to start putting bearings in their hinge points. I wonder how bad the wear can be, and how long (after how many flights?) does it take to get this much wear in your hinge points????? Now for those who just cannot handle seeing guys perform cool modifications to their planes, and for those who are absolutely dying to jump in here and say that this mod is unnecessary, then let me lay out a disclaimer and say YES, I KNOW that bearings in phenolic hinge points are not necessarily needed, but I think it's an interesting mod, and if nothing more, I'd like to obtain more info on this procedure. Thanks so much for any help guys....

02-01-2008, 10:15 PM	#1
Paul Cataldo Super Contributer Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fayetteville, GA Age: 33 Posts: 137	Installing Bearings in Composite Arf Phenolic Hinges (Rudder/Elevator Hinges)... Guys, WHERE have I seen this procedure done on the net? I swear a while back, I saw someone who had actually installed little round roller bearings? (I think) in the hinges of the rudder, and POSSIBLY the elevator TOO.? Not sure about the elevator, but I KNOW I saw them in the rudder hinges. I cannot for the life of me, remember WHERE I saw this, and on WHICH Composite Arf plane it was on. However, I DO remember seeing this somewhere, and I'm 90% sure it was on a Composite Arf brand plane, at least 2.6m, or maybe even a larger one. Can anyone help here?Has ANYONE here EVER done this mod to their plane? HOW do you drill out the phenolic hinges for the bearings? Do you possibly have to use a 90 degree angle drilling attachment for a Dremel tool? More importantly, I would like to know HOW the bearings are held/fastened in the phenolic hinges???? Is Aeropoxy/Hysol 9462 used???? Finally, has anyone EVER experienced significant wear between the aluminum hinge pin and the phenolic hinge points???? I would think that someone, somewhere has, otherwise no one would have ever decided to start putting bearings in their hinge points. I wonder how bad the wear can be, and how long (after how many flights?) does it take to get this much wear in your hinge points????? Now for those who just cannot handle seeing guys perform cool modifications to their planes, and for those who are absolutely dying to jump in here and say that this mod is unnecessary, then let me lay out a disclaimer and say YES, I KNOW that bearings in phenolic hinge points are not necessarily needed, but I think it's an interesting mod, and if nothing more, I'd like to obtain more info on this procedure. Thanks so much for any help guys....