Checking the Aileron and Flap bushing

[Roger Lee]

This was an older post, but one that is a good reminder.

 

 

Hi All,

Something to look for. This can show up overnight and should be checked during preflight. If need be you can fly it home or where ever without any problems, but should be fixed ASAP. It will not flutter if you need to fly it home. The wind pressure is up or down and does not try to push the aileron left or right.

 

Walk up to your ailerons and see if you can move them from left to right. They should not be moving in a right to left type direction. If they are look at the bushings in the aileron control horn mount. The bushing will be moving left to right also. This means the Loctite 480 that holds the bushing in place has come lose. This is an easy fix. Get some Loctite 480 which is a fast acting high strength adhesive. Basically toughened super glue. Take the bolt and bushing out of the aileron horn mount. Clean the outer surface of the black plastic bearing and the inside hole of the mounting horn with a little acetone or MEK. Apply the Loctite 480 to the bushing edge and push the bushing back in place. Let this dry for about 15 minutes then reassemble.

[Runtoeat]

Hi Roger. I've got a couple of loose flap bushings. You have indicated that one should apply a small bead of Loctite 480 around the leading edge of the bushing that would be pushed into the hole in the horn and not apply the 480 around the complete outer surface of the bushing? I suspect a small bead on the leading edge provides enough 480 to adhere the busing to the hole and doesn't allow any extra that might get into the rolling ball part of the bushing? The hole and bushings will be cleaned up with acetone before glueing back in place.

[Roger Lee]

I put it right on the black outer edge. You don't need a lot. I haven't had any issues with it getting down in the live center.

 

A little is more when you use this 480.

[Runtoeat]

Roger, as always, thanks for your advice.