Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Most of you seasoned builders will prolly chuckle at this.....

I changed out the 594 stabilator bushings while down in conditional today. Getting the bushings out was easy - getting the bushings greased and pressed in was easy......lining up the holes with a wood dowel pry bar and getting the bolt back in was not too hard, but how to get that nut and washer back on made me think for a minute.

A little 3M spray adhesive on the wrench and the face of the washer kept the nut and washer in the wrench. then just putting a thin piece of metal on the backside of the wrench so the nut won't push out the backside, and sneaking it up under the stabilator into the small opening with the bolt just barely peaking out of the hole, and VOILA!!...easy peasy.....wrenched it on first time both sides....slicker than a cucumber in a Halloween pumpkin!!

Sometimes I amaze myself.......that I can even function as a person, let alone a pilot.

_________________
Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

Good goin', Frase! Yep, ya gotta' get resourceful sometimes with these birds. A drop of super glue is sometimes helpful for sticking a nut & washer together, or a nut to a wrench when in a situation like that. I've used a piece of tape on the back of a box end wrench many times also.

_________________
John Evens
Arvada, Colorado
T-18 N71JE (sold)
Kitfox 7 SS N27JE

Fraser,
What did you find with your charging system? You were having issues at KVIS.

Phil

Phil - I had the wires from the alt to the regulator crossed.

_________________
Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

Good job Mr. Frase ! Now...the world wants to know and needs pics of the Cucumber in a Halloween Pumpkin !

RB

Fraser,
Glad to hear that it was not a big problem.
Phil

Readin your post I was waiting for you to say after all that work you realized you should have used the open-end of the wrench instead of the box-end, and you know what I mean! Some places are really tight; don't ask how I know. But no worries, I don't fly with too many wrenches inside. Ha ha.

Les Krumel,
Albuquerque

Fraser, was there any particular reason you chose to replace the bushings? I'm just trying to make sure I don't overlook something, seeing as how I'm still a new Thorp owner.

Hey Ryan - this plane first flew in 1970, and the stabilator had a little play in it. I measured the vertical play at about 3/8 of an inch on the port side - the starboard side had a little less. I believe John Thorp thought that anything more than 1/4 inch of play at the outboard edge of the stab, and it was time to replace the bushings at the pivot point. It was not really hard at all. Now there is almost no play at all and just feels more solid.

I just passed conditional this evening and my mech says I take better care of this plane than he does his wife. I almost offered my help.......but she wouldn't fit in a Thorp.

_________________
Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

Thanks Fraser. that's good info. I just stuffed a young German lady into my Thorp for her first ride.

Gee Frase;
From your picture, it looks like your plane 'could use a little tail'??
Thanks for the report, my 594 bushings are close to needing the same treatment.
Did you have to remove the vertical stab to do it?

_________________
Scott Emery
EAA Chapter 326
T-18 N18TE

Scott - yeah - ad to remove the vert stab to wrench on the bolt head. If you have not done it before, it's 5 bolts. (once the rudder is removed). My only advice on those bolts is, look up the torque values and use a torque wrench. It's a lot less torque than you think.

_________________
Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

Good advice Frase. Most torque values will surprise you.
Cubes

I have been turning wrenches for over 50 years and have come to the conclusion that most people, including myself, over tighten fasteners. It not only a good practice to use a torque wrench, common sense and safety demand it!
Steve Hawley