John Vance Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 A corner of the tape covering the “hinge” area of the stabilator trim tab on my 2010 CTLS has peeled away. It’s fairly small, only about an inch of the forward corner on the starboard end, and I’d like to stick it back in place so that it doesn’t progress. I’ve emailed Arian at FD about this, but since we’re going into Christmas week, the answer may be slow to materialize. Does anyone have experience with this repair? What adhesive should be used? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted December 20, 2020 Report Share Posted December 20, 2020 The CTLS has the hinge bonded in the structure. It is made from Kevlar, and it is painted over. Some had a strip of 1.5" Bowlus tape placed over the flex joint. In my opinion this helps prevent the paint from cracking. It still cracks, but not as much. So if you are talking about the thin plastic tape over the flex joint it is Bowlus tape. Just carefully peel it off, clean any residue, and install new tape. It you don't have the thin tape the paint is cracking and peeling from the hinge. That will be something for a shop to repair, unless you are into painting things like airplanes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vance Posted December 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2020 I’m talking about the tape over the flex joint, not the hinge itself. I have 1.5” Bowlus tape on hand so that’s an easy repair. Thanks for your help, Tom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODowneyEng Posted December 24, 2020 Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 The 50mm White Mylar tape used on Hinge Gaps available online from Walmart at $14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vance Posted December 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 Thanks, Owen. Hope you’re doing well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted December 24, 2020 Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 1 hour ago, Odowneyeng said: The 50mm White Mylar tape used on Hinge Gaps available online from Walmart at $14 That is whats used on the CTSW, and is different from the CTLS. The only problem with the Mylar tape I've seen is it doesn't have the adhesive on one edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted December 24, 2020 Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 I use 1" Bolus tape for everything including the trim tab gap. Clean the surface with some Goof Off. The apply 1" tape with the stab all the way in the down position so when the stab flexs it will not crack the tape. If you tape the bottom then apply the tape with the stab all the way up. These positions keep the tape from being stressed and cracking during use. Do no stretch the tape or it will crack later. Just pull it out and lay it down. If your CTSW has hinges then I pull the tape over the bottom half of the lower rivet. This leaves the top half of the lower rivet exposed. Apply the tape all the way across until you are about 1" sort of the end. Now get a razor blade and cut the excess tape that covers the bottom half of the rivet off. Just follow the rivet conture. Now press the tape down well over the stab. If done this way it will last for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vance Posted December 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2020 Thanks, Roger. Merry Christmas to you and all on the forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airhound Posted April 21, 2021 Report Share Posted April 21, 2021 On 12/20/2020 at 5:42 PM, Tom Baker said: The CTLS has the hinge bonded in the structure. It is made from Kevlar, and it is painted over. Some had a strip of 1.5" Bowlus tape placed over the flex joint. In my opinion this helps prevent the paint from cracking. It still cracks, but not as much. So if you are talking about the thin plastic tape over the flex joint it is Bowlus tape. Just carefully peel it off, clean any residue, and install new tape. It you don't have the thin tape the paint is cracking and peeling from the hinge. That will be something for a shop to repair, unless you are into painting things like airplanes. What is safe to clean old-dry-yellowed Bowlus tape glue from wing root gap area and MLG fairing joints? How about technique for removing old tape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrassStripFlyBoy Posted April 21, 2021 Report Share Posted April 21, 2021 Hair drier / heat gun to warm the tape. Goof Off to clean up residue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airhound Posted May 2, 2021 Report Share Posted May 2, 2021 On 4/21/2021 at 6:02 AM, GrassStripFlyBoy said: Hair drier / heat gun to warm the tape. Goof Off to clean up residue. Is Goo off the same as goo gone? Anything stronger, the glue is yellowed and hardened! How about lighter fluid ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrassStripFlyBoy Posted May 2, 2021 Report Share Posted May 2, 2021 1 hour ago, AirHound said: Is Goo off the same as goo gone? Nope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted May 2, 2021 Report Share Posted May 2, 2021 I know that yellow stuff is hard to get off. That yellow hard stuff will come off with Goof Off. Just soak it a bit and use a wetter rag. It will come off you just have to work at it a little longer vs the Bolus tape residue that wipes off. IF you decide to scrape it off some just be careful not to take the paint with it. Be very careful if you do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted May 2, 2021 Report Share Posted May 2, 2021 An old credit card makes a good scraper when removing tape residue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tip Posted May 2, 2021 Report Share Posted May 2, 2021 MEH & I replaced the N numbers on his plane. They were baked on and he used a piece of orange air baffle rubber as a scraper after his fingers were beat up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towner Posted May 2, 2021 Report Share Posted May 2, 2021 Would my wife's new credit card be a better scraper than one of my old cards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandpiper Posted May 2, 2021 Report Share Posted May 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Towner said: Would my wife's new credit card be a better scraper than one of my old cards? Let us know how that works out for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airhound Posted May 2, 2021 Report Share Posted May 2, 2021 Goof off - ain’t no daisy by itself. Going for the Wifes card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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