Fix for Sloppy wing or stab tube fit

[Trumpetman]

This may not be a new solution but I thought I would pass on what turned out to be a very good (and easy) fix for a stab tube that has over a couple of seasons gotten very loose and sloppy. I imagine that this would also work well for a wing tube. The problem is that after several hundred flights the fiberglass guide tube for the stab had worn down a bit and the result was a stab that had an up or down motion at the tips of 3/8ths of an inch! My solution was to install a "shim" made of the thin aluminum tape (sold at Home Depot etc.). One layer of this thin metal tape around the stab tube and the fit is snug and tight like new.

Problem solved and the plane is good to go another couple hundred flights (I hope!)

[Al Lewis]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Trumpetman
	Problem solved and the plane is good to go another couple hundred flights (I hope!)

Oh man!!! You shouldn't have said that!! You know you jinxed it now! LOL

[FENWAYFLYER]

How would clear coat paint work.

[Trumpetman]

There was enough clearance between the stab tube and the worn fiberglass guide tube that I would have had to put on way too many coats of paint! As well, I think the paint would have worn down pretty quickly.

[jongurley]

Use clear packaging tape, on the wing tube

[Cobra1]

I use clear packing tape also. If you look it comes in different thicknesses.

[DKnippen]

You can get Monokote Trim sheets with the sticky back. I just cut two one inch strips and stuck them on my CF wing tube from end to end.

[Mithrandir]

OK.. My process....

Put about 10 coats of Carnuba wax on your aluminum tube ... do this over a few days... gotta make sure the tube is adequately released! Also.. plug the end of the tube!!!
And did I mention... MAKE SURE THE TUBE IS ADEQUATELY RELEASED!!!

Now, get some 30 minute epoxy, I use THIS STUFF. And get some micro balloons too.
Before you mix any epoxy, heat the tube up to about 150 or 160 degrees F. Then, mix up enuff spooge to put inside of the wing tube Socket,(The tube receptacle in the wing, Or fuse tube or stab tube) Next, while the alu tube is still hot, slide it into place. Let the epoxy cure and then give the tube a little twist and it will slide out! You might need to cool off the tube for it to release nice. You could pour cold water into the tube if you did a good job plugging the end.

The reason to heat the tube, is so that it will expand a thousandth of an inch or so while the epoxy cures, and it will accelerate the cure of the epoxy. That slight bit of expansion results in the epoxy curing just a bit over sized. Then cooling the tube makes it shrink in diameter just enuff to be an easy removal.

Also.. add just a little bit of micro.. or none is OK too.

[Trumpetman]

I was thinking as well about the type of process that "Mithrandir" described above and I'm sure that it worked great but the low tech metal tape shimming process worked well and it only took about 15 minutes to complete. Clear packing tape would work as well but I'll bet that it would wear down and get gummy a lot quicker that the aluminum tape. Lots of different ways to skin a cat

[BOSSIER_ROB]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Trumpetman
	Clear packing tape would work as well but I'll bet that it would wear down and get gummy a lot quicker that the aluminum tape.

It does. Mine worked for about ten times and now is coming unwrapped and sticks like a bastard.