Lindy
2/1/2010
So I took a few days off from the project. I did go out to the airport on Saturday, but I took my dad and soon-to-be uncle Ron flying in the Diamond DA-40. First time I had flown in two months, but I did get three takeoff's and landing's in! I did visit my airplane, and started looking at the crotch strap kit, but didn't do anything.
Today, my order from JDAir Parts came! The new steering link they have come out with is absolutely top notch quality, and VERY easy to install. Here's the kit and instructions-
iPhone pics today...my regular camera wouldn't even turn on.
First I removed the old two bar control arm, and installed the new single side arm.
Then it was a simple matter of centering the tail wheel and rudder, and installing the steering link to the proper length (according to the instructions, of course!).
Everything was going just fine until I went to torque the nuts down on the rod end bearings. I use a dial-type torque wrench, and I had the pointer set to 35 in-lbs (as stated in the instructions). Somehow I bumped it before I went to set it, and I ran well past the proper value without noticing. Striped the threads pretty damn quick on the front one. I reset it, and got the rear one set right, and got the jam nuts tightened down, but I have to place an order for a new rod end bearing tonight for the front one. I'll probably have to use a cutoff wheel to get it off the rudder horn...bummer. Not a big deal, and not really a huge setback, but definitely a stupid moment on the project. That's the first time in almost 1800 hours of building that I have striped threads.
So after that, I wanted to quit for the night, but I decided to at least get started on the crotch strap kit that I looked at the other day. The problem here is, I installed the outboard floor rib on each side that these attach to in reverse. So, these are now a half inch too narrow to work. I posted this problem on VAF, and quickly had the answer. Just cut off the outboard side of each bracket, and splice a new tab on to it. So tonight I made the cuts on the brackets.
I found some scrap metal off a damaged Arrow IV that we once had, and that will work for making the new extended tabs. I cut some pieces out, and that's as far as I got tonight.
A bit of a frustrating night all said and done, but you'll have these days/nights on a project like this. May need a few more days off... ;o)
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