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Old 10-31-2004 | 10:51 AM
  #4  
CafeenMan
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From: Spring Hill, FL
Default RE: Hinge installation

I don't agree with one thing that birdnest recommended. Don't ever put glue on the hinge itself. THe reason being that when you put the hinge in the slot, the glue is pushed into the hinge area.

After the plane is covered and you slit the covering over the slot, run the tip of the iron down the slot to get the covering out of the way. A better way is to use a soldering iron to melt the covering away from the slot.

Stand the control surface so the hinge slots are up and put a bead of epoxy right on the slot. Move to the next slot. By the time you have epoxy on all the slots, you'll see the epoxy has flowed into the first few slots. Put more epoxy over each slot. Do it 3-4 times. Work fast though because even 30 minute epoxy starts getting thick quickly.

Use 30 minute or slower epoxy. And only do one or two surfaces at a time so the epoxy isn't curing before you can get all the hinges in.

Push the hinges in slowly watching for glue squeezing out of the slot. If it does, then use a toothpick or paper towel to wipe it up before pushing the hinge in farther.

Once the hinge is all the way in, DO NOT WIGGLE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wiggling the hinge is a great way to get epoxy worked all through the hinge pin area which is exactly what you don't want.

Let the glue cure. If the hinge is stuck when the glue is cured, give it a good flick with your finger and it will pop loose. Epoxy doesn't actually stick to the plastic that hinges are made from which is why the hinges have holes in them.

By the way, all of this assumes you're using pinned hinges.