Recently I completed my 28% Wildhare 540 Edge. Upon final inspection I noticed that one of the robart hinges on one of the elevator halves is slightly loose. I have pulled on the elevator half I dont feel that it is going to go anywhere but for piece of mind, I would like to see what I can do to fix the problem without removing the hinge or elevator.
Any suggestions???

Thanks

Since the hinge is installed in a completed elevator assembly, about the only move you have left would be to push a straight pin into the hinge opening in a few places alongside the hinge pin and inject as much foam safe thin CA as you can get in there. Don't go crazy and poke so many holes to enlarge the hole the hinge pin is in. That will defeat the purpose. Be sure to use oil or vaseline to prevent the entry of CA into the hinge joint. A shot of CA accelerator would help with a bit of expansion.

Since the elevator is secure now, all that's needed is to prevent movement of the hinge that would continue to loosen the part. It should be more than secure enough after the application of CA to fly the plane with no worry. As with all aircraft, a regular pre-flight of the aircraft should be performed before the first flight of each day to assure the airworthiness of the plane, with checks of any important flight surface prior to each flight of every day.

Pat

I will suggest something that worked for me on my 28% extra special. Cut a small slot with a #11 knife where the hinge half enters the wood and slowly dab in some elmers ultimate or gorilla glue. It will run into the gaps slowly and once it gets in there and foams it will fill all the voids and result in a very strong secure bond.
I had to enlongate some of my hinge holes to eliminate some binding problems and this was just the ticket for me.

You can also use a syringe to force the ultimate/gorilla glue into the hinge. use a pin to poke the hole to make the blunt needle on the syringe easer to insert. Poke the hole approximately at the center of the barbs.

Mark,

What type and size of syringe are we talking about? And where would I get one?

Mickey

I get mine at the hobby shop, they come with blunt needles for applying glue. They work great for applying alphatic and gorilla glue.

I once did a repair of a broken hinge by milling a slot (Using a dremel from underneath) and then laying the new hinge in the slot with epoxy. I then covered the slot, now full of epoxy and new hinge and it worked perfectly. I used tape in the hinge-line to keep the epoxy in the slots. Just a thought.