MIKE HOWE'S RV7 CONSTRUCTION ELEVATORS
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December 29, 2001

I have got the elevator back in the jig ready to rivet and am waiting for an order of the AN426AD3-3.5 rivets as the kit did not have enough or I wasted to many. One of the other tool investments I questioned  if I could afford, was the adjustable rivet set holder and finally sat down and learned to use it, and can see it was well worth the investment as you can really dial the squeeze in with great accuracy. The set can be adjusted by turning the screw to lengthen or shorten the distance it closes to and you can get a very precise adjustment. You can actually adjust it when it is all put together which makes for a quick  adjustment when you just need to tweak it a little.

The set can be adjusted by turning the screw to lengthen or shorten the distance it closes to and you can get a very precise adjustment. You can actually adjust it when it is all put together which makes for a quick  adjustment when you just need to tweak it a little.

December 29, 2001

 You can turn the set with your finger when it is put together and make fine adjustments, you need to be careful and extend the ram and check the distance between the sets as a starting point (it should be the length of the shank of the rivet you are using) ,and then as you squeeze the rivets and check the shop head for size you can get a very precise adjustment by just turning it slightly to shorten or lengthen it.

 You can turn the set with your finger, which lengthens or shortens the stroke when it is put together and make fine adjustments. No more washer shims which I could never find the perfect arrangement.

December 29, 2001

 Finished squeezing rivets on Left Elevator, getting ready to drill hinge for the Trim Tab

Finished squeezing rivets on Left Elevator

December 31, 2001

 Decided to try using a wooden dowel and the vise grips method to roll leading edge. I  used black pipe on the rudder and it was kind of cumbersome, the wood is lighter.

Roll leading edge

December 31, 2001

 The edge did not roll quite far enough taped on so I tried the  method of clecoing the dowel to the skin and it works  well, I just went a section at a time. Click here for PDF enlargement

Clecoed dowel to skin

December 31, 2001

Need to use edge roller to bend a seam to get a tight fit

Need to use edge roller to bend a seam to get a tight fit

January 1, 2002,

Drill the trim tab control horns

Drill the trim tab control horns

January 1, 2002,

Drill the Trim Tab Hinge, be sure to check the plan to see the hinge pin holes face.

Drill the Trim Tab Hinge

January 1, 2002,

Dimple deburr, Dimple and Prime parts. It worked well for me to back rivet the bottom spar.

January 1, 2002,

The bottom spar after being backriveted. Notice you need the bend the lower skin upward per the plans to clear the horizontal Stabilizer.

The bottom spar after being backriveted.