Riveting the Aileron Counterweight

[alaskabearhawk]

Question: How do you hold the aileron counterweight tube in place to drill and rivet? There are no lightening holes in the aileron spar to allow for a rod or stick to push on the counterweight and hold it in place for drilling/riveting. There is a small gap there.

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[robcaldwell]

I had the same question a few months ago... https://bearhawkforums.com/forum/bea...-more-pointers

[alaskabearhawk]

Thanks Rob. I saw that and there is no misunderstanding on the rivet placement. But it doesn’t answer the question on how you hold the counterweight tight up against the nose of the aileron when riveting. There is a bit of play there.

[swpilot3]

I put a wood dowel in it and pulled it tight against the leading edge. Then taped up the hole and filled it with lead and epoxy. After it cured, I re-drilled the hole, put it in place and riveted it.

[alaskabearhawk]

Man, I’m sorry Bobby but I have no idea what you are talking about. Totally not getting it. The tube is full with 5lbs 4oz of lead.

[Chewie]

Thanks for bringing up this topic Paul. I'm at a point now where I need to decide when to drill, trim and fill the balance tube.

[Mark Goldberg]

I do not remember seeing a problem here when attaching the counterweight tube. I would think that whether you attach the tube with pop rivets or sheet metal screws (I have used both) that installing either one would draw the tube outward and tend to close the gap. You might try it on one hole and see if that happens. Mark

[swpilot3]

Man, I’m sorry Bobby but I have no idea what you are talking about. Totally not getting it. The tube is full with 5lbs 4oz of lead.

If you've already filled them with lead, then my trick won't work. I'd bet that you could hold it in place by having another person put pressure on the sides.

Or drill the aileron first, then insert the counterweight, mark counterweight through the drilled hole, remove counterweight, drill counterweight, re-insert, hold in place from sides, and rivet.

[alaskabearhawk]

Now I'm tracking...thanks! Yeah, too late for your dowel trick.

[Rollie]

If I remember right, you can put two rivets or screws in at about 90 degrees to each other at each end, right? I think I drilled one and used a pulled rivet which pulled it in tight, then drilled the other and riveted it. The tube is supported by the ailerons, all the rivets need to do is keep them from moving laterally.