How do you straighten a warped aileron
04-20-2005, 10:14 PM
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How do you straighten a warped aileron
I just unpacked a new ARF. During inspection I noticed one of the ailerons is not straight.
I'm thinking the best thing to do is to lightly clamp it to a flat surface and then apply heat.
Any suggestions?
I'm thinking the best thing to do is to lightly clamp it to a flat surface and then apply heat.
Any suggestions?
04-21-2005, 01:37 AM
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RE: How do you straighten a warped aileron
Hard to say on such little info. Is it a built up aileron or solid? What type of covering is on it? How bad is the warp?
Why not contact the mfg and get another one? If I had the time that would be my first choice.
Give some more info on what you have and I'm sure plenty of suggestions will flow your way.
Why not contact the mfg and get another one? If I had the time that would be my first choice.
Give some more info on what you have and I'm sure plenty of suggestions will flow your way.
04-21-2005, 05:18 AM
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RE: How do you straighten a warped aileron
Is the aileron warped, or bowed? If it's slightly bowed it should straighten out when hinged to the wing. Try installing it without glueing in the hinges and see if it does straighten out. If not, I'd be going back to the mfg and request a new one. Same is true if it's warped
04-21-2005, 07:18 AM
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RE: How do you straighten a warped aileron
Hi,
As per the other responses, there are some unknowns here - I would either contact the manufacturer, use as is if it is not warped too badly, or make a new one. You could remove the covering and apply water/ammonia to straighten it out, but at that point, I think it would be easier to just make a new one - especially if it is a solid strip aileron of a common preshaped stock size. I tried to use one once that was severely warped. I thought that the hinged would keep it straight (it did), but it just snapped from one position to the opposite every time I moved it - I ended up just making a new one.
Steve
As per the other responses, there are some unknowns here - I would either contact the manufacturer, use as is if it is not warped too badly, or make a new one. You could remove the covering and apply water/ammonia to straighten it out, but at that point, I think it would be easier to just make a new one - especially if it is a solid strip aileron of a common preshaped stock size. I tried to use one once that was severely warped. I thought that the hinged would keep it straight (it did), but it just snapped from one position to the opposite every time I moved it - I ended up just making a new one.
Steve
04-21-2005, 07:34 AM
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RE: How do you straighten a warped aileron
Same as the others here,,, we have little to go on as to what you have there. But,,,,,, if it's built up balsa and monocote you could try this simple fix. I had a U-Can-Do rudder arrive warped the other day and fixed it by heating it up with the air gun then laying it down on a flat coffee table with the bowed side up. While it was still warm I layed a flat piece of cardboard over it and then a briefcase full of tools. I left it alone till the next day and it's now perfectly straight. I did have to heat the area again to remove the wrinkle in the covering where it had been warped. Six flights on it so far and no problems.
04-21-2005, 08:51 AM
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RE: How do you straighten a warped aileron
Here are further details. Its a solid stock piece covered in monocote. It came hinged and pined to the wing. Its about 16 inches long and if you look at it lenghtwise it has 2-3 mm of bend to it through the center. I should probably have it replaced, but I was really looking forward to getting started
04-21-2005, 09:30 AM
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RE: How do you straighten a warped aileron
Quickdraw,
2 - 3mm bow for a 16" length is not bad. Depending on the type of plane you have, you probably won't even notice it in flight. I thought you had a serious warp. Sounds like a very minor bow.
Go fly and have fun.
2 - 3mm bow for a 16" length is not bad. Depending on the type of plane you have, you probably won't even notice it in flight. I thought you had a serious warp. Sounds like a very minor bow.
Go fly and have fun.
04-21-2005, 01:23 PM
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RE: How do you straighten a warped aileron
I straighten a rudder on a H9 Aresti while it was attached. I used the heat gun to shrink the covering on opposite side of bow. I watched it close as I heated in a slow waving motion and stopped heating when it straighten out. It might work for you, but be careful not to over-heat the covering.
