Elevator Gap Seal

[WaynePierce]

Has anyone had to replace one of these? Is there a work around? It's between the elevator and the empennage. Now that I'm working on my IR ticket I will have the opportunity to fly in to wet stuff and I would think you would want to keep moisture out of this area... (1985 M20J)

Edited June 8, 2022 by WaynePierce
added content

[Fly Boomer]

20 minutes ago, WaynePierce said:

Has anyone had to replace one of these?

Is it aluminum?

[WaynePierce]

18 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

Is it aluminum?

No it's a plastic or rubber that has gotten old and brittle.

 

[Fly Boomer]

4 minutes ago, WaynePierce said:

No it's a plastic or rubber that has gotten old and brittle.

Hope one of the salvage guys can help.

[KSMooniac]

You might try Gee Bee

Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

[N201MKTurbo]

I cannot find that in the parts manual. You can find that stuff at auto paint and upholstery stores. I would call LASAR.

Rubber edge trim seems to be the search words.

Edited June 8, 2022 by N201MKTurbo

[carusoam]

Most likely extruded PVC…

Lasts decades outside before falling apart….

My M20C had remnants of it that got painted over….

Looks similar to U channel slid over the end of the sheet metal to close the gap…

Might have gotten there prior to assembly…

 

Lets ask @M20Doc if there is an easy way to replace that trim without disassembly of major parts… (tail sheet metal trim question)

Best regards,

-a-

[Igor_U]

Google "rubber edge trim"; there should be a number of options you can choose from. I replaced mine years ago after the paint job was complete and it's still holding well.

 

[tls pilot]

check with a quality paint shop

they usually have these seals

[A64Pilot]

This is what I used on my Cessna 15 years or so ago and it’s still in good shape. I put it on after painting and left it black. Pretty sure when new they were unpainted. I think the paint makes it brittle and it breaks

Get some good quality contact glue, I’ve used 3M Weatherstrip adhesive for years with good results.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/uchannel.php?clickkey=18992

You can get it either yellow or black, may be my imagination but it seems the yellow works better, the same adhesive is available at auto parts stores too

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cmpages/superweatherstripadh.php?clickkey=571690

 

You should be able to install it without disassembly, but it’s easier if taken apart, just don’t let the glue set up at all if your doing it put together.

Acetone on a rag will remove any glue before it sets, but I’d try alcohol first on some scrap, because acetone may soften the paint.

Edited June 8, 2022 by A64Pilot

[WaynePierce]

@carusoam can you rotate the image 90* Counter Clockwise?

[Guest]

4 hours ago, WaynePierce said:

Has anyone had to replace one of these? Is there a work around? It's between the elevator and the empennage. Now that I'm working on my IR ticket I will have the opportunity to fly in to wet stuff and I would think you would want to keep moisture out of this area... (1985 M20J)

From the IPC, I think this is what you’re looking for. Item 20

Clarence

[ArtVandelay]

This can be done (or ordered) by nearest aircraft paint shop, they have a book with 1000s of different items like that:

[Fly Boomer]

4 hours ago, WaynePierce said:

No it's a plastic or rubber that has gotten old and brittle.

Taking the suggestion of @Igor_U above, I got a hit on the first page that covers a lot of territory:

https://www.trimlok.com/catalog-700

[Guest]

38 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

Taking the suggestion of @Igor_U above, I got a hit on the first page that covers a lot of territory:

https://www.trimlok.com/catalog-700

Those seals have a metal insert, not quite what’s needed for this application.

Clarence

[hammdo]

This looks interesting...

https://www.mcmaster.com/rubber-molding/high-temperature-rubber-trim-7/

https://www.brownaircraft.com/aircraft-trim-lok-s/281.htm

-Don

[carusoam]

On 6/8/2022 at 5:16 PM, WaynePierce said:

@carusoam can you rotate the image 90* Counter Clockwise?

 

[carusoam]

I rotated the pic…

But, still need to figure out how to increase my memory allotment…. 
 

I’m 150% over the limit and can't even send the pic by PM….

Best regards,

-a-

[hammdo]

Ditto -a-, not much to post anymore...

-Don

 

[WaynePierce]

Thank you everyone for your replies and suggestions. I think I'm fully armed, now, to repair my gap! Thanks, Carusoam for the rotation, even though we couldn't show it.

[Rwsavory]

This appears to be the same as the stuff sold by McMaster. It works very well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NDVRWRF?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

[glenn reynolds]

I just picked up my plane from artcraft in california and they replaced the seals as part of the paint job. 

[mooniac15u]

On 6/11/2022 at 10:00 PM, GEE-BEE AEROPRODUCTS said:

Send me a sample

we stock the Beechcraft tail seal in two versions 

standard width if painting

or -3/16 to cover the old cement paint line

I just finished a Cessna tail seal for singles/ vertical 

was only made in white rubber , now black gloss silicone 

 

Gee Bee

Do it correctly, not half ass like others do.

 

It seems like it might not be a good idea to jam a big piece of silicone into that moving part on a Mooney.