ELEVATORS
March 11, 2004

Page 9-12

Step 1:  Rivet the E-1007 Rear Spar to the E-1001B Bottom skin on the right elevator (see 9-11 for part reference) using the rivets called out on Page 9-20, Figure 2. The portion of the rear spar along the trim tab cutout (the area that doesn't have the skin hanging beyond the spar) can easily be riveted with a rivet squeezer. Riveting the rest of the spar requires some set-up work. Turn the elevator over on a work bench, align the edge of the rear spar flange with the edge of the bench, then spring clamp the spar flange to the work bench (see figure 1) You can then reach under the skin with a bucking bar and rivet the spar.

Step 2:  Similarly, on the left elevator, rivet the E-1007 Rear Spar to the E-1001A Top Skin using the rivets called out on Page 9-20, Figure 1. Here, however, don't install the squeezed rivets along the spar in the area of the trim cut-out. This portion of the spar to which the trim tab hinge is attached later. NOTE: Riveting the second skin to the elevator rear spar (Steps3-5) requires making a special bucking bar. If you prefer to substitute MK-319 blind rivets for the solid rivets. The blind rivets are not supplied in the kit, but can be purchased through Van's Aircraft.

Step 3: Make the bucking bar shown in Figure 2. It should be at least one inch wide.

Step 4: Position the second E-1001 Skin in place on both elevators. Make sure the E-1008 Rib halves are positioned as shown in the Figure 4., then cleco the skin to the E-1007 Rear Spar and cleco the rib halves to each other. (Note we put the riveting tape over the rivets just so they looked a little better from the rivet gun blows, they show no marks)

Step 5: Rivet the second flange of the E-1007 Rear Spar to the E-1001B Bottom Skin of the left elevator. (Rivet the skin of the left elevator first to give you practice before riveting the more visible top skin on the right elevator.) Position the elevator on the work bench, as shown in Figure 3, with the edge of the work bench extending slightly beyond the elevator trailing edge. Insert the bucking bar made in Step 3 between the skins, and with the bar resting on the edge of the work bench, rivet the spar to the skin using rivets called out on Page 9-20, Figure 2

Repeat Step 5 (using the rivets called out on Page 9-20, Figure 1) for the second flange of the rear spar and the E-1001A Top Skin of the right elevator.

Step 6: Rivet the E-1008 Rib halves together, with blind rivets, through the four holes in common to each rib set as shown in Figure 4. If you have very large hands you may find installing the aft two rivets in each rib set challenging. You can either enlist a helper that has smaller hands, or use tubes or pipes slipped on the rivet tools handles to extend them. Occasionally the rivet doesn't fully set with one stroke of the handles. Because it is very difficult to reposition the tool when setting the aft two rivets, you can use a small tool made from .063 scrap, shown in Figure 5, as a spacer. To finish setting the rivet, release the handles, slip the tool between the river puller and the rivet's head, and finish squeezing.

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