Message-ID: <374D1FCC.CBAABAB7@gateway.net>
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 03:34:52 -0700
From: dfs <dfs@gateway.net>
To: Lancair List <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: Loose hinges
Mime-Version: 1.0

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Chris Zavatson wrote the following as part of a response regarding
aileron hinge (and probably others, too) wear over time.

"........The hinges are the sloppiest components 
  in the entire system in terms of play. I would love to find a
replacement 
  that eliminates all the play of conventional hinges. Lancair was
looking 
  into this a while back. I am curious if they found a replacement."

I found such a fix for my 235 that was showing some serious hinge wear
at around 300+ hours. In fact, I thought I heard about it right here in
the LML, but since I've been away for the last 5 months, maybe my memory
is failing right along with all the other systems that're getting
crreaky lately. Anyway, "THE FIX" is a stainless wire, inside of a
Teflon tube, that just fits inside of the existing hinge loops. It's a
bit of a struggle to get it all together (in fact, slightly worn hinge
loops work the best) as the Teflon tube with the wire inside is almost
an interference fit in the hinge. But this minor struggle is really,
repeat, really worth the trouble. No slop, no metal-to-metal wear and
the Teflon is it's own permanent lubrication. Comes in a neat little kit
that you cut to length as required. 

One of the most dramatic indication of improvement (besides eliminating
the sloppiness) is that I no longer see the little black smoke-like
trails on the surface right behind the hinges that were wearing the
fastest. You'all should be looking for those trails because they mean
the hinges directly in front of them are wearing rapidly - those trails
are aluminum hinge wear products.

Hadn't thought about it before but if you were getting electrical noise
from the hinges, this will eliminate that, too.

I've replaced most hinge pins on N235SP by now, (done on an as-needed
basis) including the main gear inboard doors - which were really badly
worn. The only one not done is the nose gear door and that's on the card
for next annual.

The only thing I can't help with now is where I got the stuff. All that
info is down in LA in my old hangar and I'm up in my new residence in
Coeur d'Alene. Hope someone reading this will know.

Dan Schaefer
N235SP
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