Wing Tube Help!!!!!!

[sweetpea]

Not buying another tube......spent too much on the plane already. Plus the tube fits the crashed Edge 540T I'm rebuilding.

I found a wooden rod in my closet that is the right size and found that in the center of the wing is where the tight spot is with the wooden rod and sandpaper method. shouldn't take too long to fix it. The wooden rod goes in easy in the beginning and then gets tight....then goes back to easy before it reaches the end.

[eagle1]

did you get the problem fixed?

[why_fly_high]

I had to do this when I got new wings for my 41% Wildhare Extra. I took a 3/8 dowl, wrapped the end with a sponge and wrapped the sponge with sandpaper. Chucked it up in the drill and started sanding. Once I got to where I could barely get the tube all the way on I should a little baby powder in the the wing and then I had a relatively easy but tight fit.

Dan

[sweetpea]

Not quite yet........its working but there is still a really tight spot right in the middle. Using the drill didn't work like I had hoped......my dowl my be to heavy or something like that. I've been doing it by hand. Should have it done tonight or tomorrow

[krashmaster81]

I hope your wife doesn't get jealous...

[sweetpea]

jealous? She would say great, now she can have some time off

[3ddd]

sorry sp i haven't checkin in.i used a 3/8 dowl so it would fit in my electric drill,i cut about 4 1/2 inch long slot in the dowl with a band saw,i cut 4 inch wide by 6 inch long 220 grit paper strips slide that in the slots so 3 inchs out on both sides ,use a zip tie to pinch the slot closed on the paper turn the ***** out of it with the drill but only for short bursts,then check the fit often.hope this helps you

[sweetpea]

If you had a pic that would help

[Mithrandir]

One thing to think about is that you only really need to be carefull at the root rib and at the rib that is at the end of the tube. The rest of the tube could be completely removed except it does make a nice guide. So if possible... find the outboard rib the engages the last 4 inches of the alu tube.. and you can put a mark on the "Honing" tool like a depth mark... and be careful at the root rib.... and at the specified depth.

[All Thumbs]

I've had that tightness issue in the past and I used the brake hone. But... I wrapped each hone in 150 grit sand paper and stapled the the back side so's the sandpaper wouldn't slide off. Then, I inserted the tube, found the distance where it seemed to get stuck and measured. Then I took the hone, inserted it the same distance and honed/sanded an inch or two on either side of the measured mark. Pull the hone out, try it again, and just sand the areas that are tight.

Realistically, you don't need the middle of the tube itself. In fact, I've seen people who build, acutally cut the center of a tube out for weight savings once it's been glued into place.

[rdgood]

Ok heres another thing I just used on my 37.5% Yak wing tubes..


I used a cylinder/brake hone and wrapped 100 grit around the hone. So while constricting down the 3 hones I wrapped a half peice of 100 grit around the hones and slide it on the hole. Carefully honed it in and out for about 60 seconds...

(man I hope my wife doesnt read this)

worked great !!

Wing tube fits very nice now..

Ronster

[sweetpea]

One wing is done.......tight but manageable

The other wing will be done tonight. my method is working with the large dowl and sandpaper (though the dowl is too long for my drill to work properly and hold everything)

I'm mostly sanding out of the center. Other than this last wing its ready to balance and fly. Maiden this weekend (weather dependant)

[sweetpea]

Ok..........after using a mixture of the brake hone, and my dowl, along with one blister..........

Boths wings are done. I'm going to balance it tomorrow and test run the engine and check all connections.


Thanks for everyones suggestions

[eagle1]

good to hear, let us know how it flies