alun Posted March 21, 2009 Report Posted March 21, 2009 hi, i noticed that when flying level that both airlerons are a little high on both sides, as in not level with the flaps, by about 3/4 inch to an inch. is this right or should the airlerons line up with the rest of the wing? thanks, al. Quote
mooniac58 Posted March 21, 2009 Report Posted March 21, 2009 Mine ride up about the same...I think it is normal and caused by the way the air flows over/under the wings. They can rise like that I assume from extra play in the linkages. I would imagine there is a limit to how much they should rise since it might indicate wear/slop on the rigging. Quote
KSMooniac Posted March 21, 2009 Report Posted March 21, 2009 Where are the aileron horns/counter-balance while in S & L flight? Are they flush with the wing tip? Quote
TurboExec Posted March 21, 2009 Report Posted March 21, 2009 Both of mine are up about 1/2". Next annual I was going to have the rigging checked, but I don't believe it is from "extra play" in the linkages. Due to the fact that we use pushrods as opposed to cables we have very little added play in our controls. And to have an 1 1/2" total slack in there is something to check. Quote
Parker_Woodruff Posted March 21, 2009 Report Posted March 21, 2009 I was wondering about this as well, but it sounds like I'm not alone. I've got about 1/4 inch of difference between the trailing edges of the aileron and the trailing edge of the wing. Quote
alun Posted March 21, 2009 Author Report Posted March 21, 2009 well it seems like its normal - but not sure if its right! Quote
Magnum Posted March 21, 2009 Report Posted March 21, 2009 It is normal, if they are rigged to 0 degree. But you can rig them 2 degree down, then they are flush with the flaps in flight. Quote
Magnum Posted March 22, 2009 Report Posted March 22, 2009 Quote: alun does it alter performance? Quote
eaglebkh Posted March 23, 2009 Report Posted March 23, 2009 Since reading this post, I noticed that my ailerons sit below my flaps ~3/4" when level. Either my flaps are up too high or my ailerons need to be adjusted up. Quote
KSMooniac Posted March 23, 2009 Report Posted March 23, 2009 Last year at my annual owner-assist annual I jacked and leveled my plane, and took some measurements of flaps, ailerons, and elevators with a digital protractor since I didn't have the travel boards. The most glaring thing I uncovered was the elevators were rigged differently! In December I had Maxwell's shop go through the rigging (with the boards) and we ended up adjusting one aileron and one flap. That made it fly very wing heavy, so Don massaged the trailing edge of one aileron to correct the problem, but then the ailerons did not "sit" correctly in trail while in straight and level flihgt. After getting the boards back out, he finally determined that one of my ailerons was *twisted* due to a re-skin at some point. The other (also re-skinned) was fine. I don't think it is possible to figure that puzzle out without a set of the travel boards, so keep that in mind if you are chasing rigging issues. Quote
Magnum Posted March 23, 2009 Report Posted March 23, 2009 I first tried to check the rigging with a digital protractor - I found it very dificult to do. With the travel boards it is much easier. If you have a heavy wing after the rigging you can adjust that by bending the trailing edge a bit, but check the maintenance manual first to know how to do it. Here is a picture how NOT to do it: http://www.donmaxwell.com/publications/MAPA_TEXT/Prepurchase%20inspection/prepurchase_inspection.htm Quote
Greg_D Posted March 23, 2009 Report Posted March 23, 2009 I had my M20F rerigged by a Mooney guru a few years ago. After the adjustents I picked up a full 5 knots of speed. The ailerons were deflected up about 1/2" after the rigging job. Beforehand they were level with the flaps. YMMV Quote
Piloto Posted March 23, 2009 Report Posted March 23, 2009 Quote: Magnum If you have a heavy wing after the rigging you can adjust that by bending the trailing edge a bit, but check the maintenance manual first to know how to do it. Here is a picture how NOT to do it: Quote
Greg_D Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Whatever you do, don't use the vice grips as shown on page 6 of the previous post. Quote
Magnum Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Quote: Greg_D I had my M20F rerigged by a Mooney guru a few years ago. After the adjustents I picked up a full 5 knots of speed. The ailerons were deflected up about 1/2" after the rigging job. Beforehand they were level with the flaps. YMMV Quote
Piloto Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Quote: JimR Another way without bending the surface is to adjust the flap outboard set scew next to the aileron control rod. When in flight with equal fuel on both tanks, flaps fully retracted, autopilot disengaged and no hands on the yoke check the roll tendency. Adjust the outboard flap set screw on the heavy wing to lower the flap slightly. Fly again and see if it needs further adjustment. The flap inboard control rods are adjusted in similar way but with the flaps extended. Full flap roll tendency adjustment should be done first. José Quote
mooniac58 Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 My A&P made tool for "tweaking" ailerons out of a short 2x4 section cut out with a thin slit for the trailing edge of the aileron. This allowed him to "grip" the entire leading edge at once and he just applied the slightest nudge to it and it perfectly corrected my heavy wing issue. I belive the service manual stated you can only bend them up. So you bend up the aileron on the sinking wing (bend aileron up forces control surface down which in turn forces wing up). Quote
Magnum Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Your right with adjusting the flaps if one wing drops after the inital rigging and the steering horn and ball centered. If the horn won't stay centered with hands off you can adjust that with bending the trailing edge. The procedure should be done step by step: 1. Rigging of all control surfaces with the travel boards 2. Test flight with horn centered and ball in the middle. If a wing drops adjust the flaps with the outboard set screw, if the tension of the flaps gets too high the flap rigging has to be adjusted (under the belly) 3. If the horn won't stay centered bend aileron trailing edges 4. To keep the ball centered at the preferred airspeed bend the rudder trailing edges but only if you don't have a rudder trim :-) Disclaimer: I am NOT a Mooney specialist but that procedure worked for me Quote
Magnum Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Quote: mooniac58 I belive the service manual stated you can only bend them up. So you bend up the aileron on the sinking wing (bend aileron up forces control surface down which in turn forces wing up). Quote
Magnum Posted March 24, 2009 Report Posted March 24, 2009 Here is the manual page. I hope I won't get problems with the copyright... Quote
mooniac58 Posted March 25, 2009 Report Posted March 25, 2009 Ah ok, so it was down only on the wing that rises - I knew it was something like that! Quote
MooneyPilot231 Posted March 27, 2009 Report Posted March 27, 2009 Good info, mine don't line up either and it has been driving me crazy! Glad to know that may be "normal". Quote
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