This is true.. the current folks have equipment not available
to us in the past. In the previous factory contracts I was
working in 2021, because it is production,
they must keep pace using tools as this.. same as on the
ramps. The speeds of the drivers are variable and auto torque
is also a feature.
Of course you
probably know what I observed in the factory where time
studies with stop watches are part of the Industrial Engineers
job (not my cog in the
wheel but of course I knew them). Another issue was hardware
itself recently. The company was experiencing major issues
with unavailable aerospace
hardware! Shanking a screw into a nutplate with a full on
pneumatic driver ends up snapping off the float element or
worse, shearing off the #3 rivets in the ears of the
nutplate.
Floor managers tend
to get very irate at boneheads working for them when they do
this. One of the
tools used to check for blind grip length measuring is a Hi
Lok grip length gauge, which is what we instructed to do IF
they were not 100% certain of the screw grip. Of course a
simple bent hook wire would do the same. Each aircraft in our
case probably would be different grip length on these
fasteners.
I probably aught purchase one of these tools since there are
uses that would cause no ill.
One reason I chose the Q2 initially was because of layup tooled
fuselage shells, and the
unique access design to the aft fuselage compared to the
Dragonfly. This is why I am confident the Frankenbird is
probably the best option for my mission, including the
Conditional Inspections and any need to get to the aft
fuselage area without
being a Harry Houdini clone. I am now 65 and my agility is
only a little less than when I was 22 crawling up behind
instrument panels and slinking back to the tailcones
(well..that is what the mind says anyway, the body has another
opinion).
One thing I know for
sure...I'll be doing what I can to NOT experience what Chris
had happen..a stripped head on a (or several) tailcone screw
and now a very difficult access condition. I am sure in the same situation I
would have plenty of confessions to make to my Priest, Father
Moore!
Vern
Vern,
Yep, working in the baggage bay is a pain literally.
There is a picture somewhere of Sam I believe it is, curled up
in his baggage bay looking comfortable working on his
controls.
I am lucky if I can get half way in these days as the
joints are not as supple as they used to be, and no longer the
skinny apprentice that 45 years ago used to get sent up the
Gazelle tailcone to fit the cables up the fin.
I agree, you have to be careful with power drivers and
always start the screw first. Taking my cowls off or on by
hand is about 10 times longer than with the PD. My PD like
most these days have a variable torque feature so easier to
see if the screw locks up and just check tight when finished
by hand. If you go out on the line today, most mechs have a
PD in their kit. Otherwise how would they meet the 90 minute
turn around. :-)
Rich T.
This is a major issue with the replaceable element floating
nutplates (used on Gulfstream wing fairings for example).
Don't push too
hard on installation. The shop techs at IAI (Israel
Aerospace) in Tel Aviv were complaining to me about the
nutplate design when running in the stainless screws on the
fairings with a
power driver. I was polite but firm about the preferred
process. In the States we use speed wrenches once
the screws were in 2 or 3 turns by hand..therefore
verifying the threads are not crossed. Engineering Change
Request: Rejected!
Rich, good catch and you are correct on the stainless into
cadmium plated nutplate..the galling of the threads is a
concern between the two metals. Its
why we used candle wax on
the screw threads and install slowly to final torque. I
personally have never used power drivers to install
on
my own or other owners aircraft.
Speed
wrenches are not really so speedy in this case, nor should
they be! Chris already found out how much "fun" it is to
get into the aft
fuselage
with a galled-in screw (from rust in his case). What
first is an easy task ends up being a major pain repair.
Vern
Hi Corbin,
Take care if you are using stainless screws with standard
anchor nuts and you use a power screwdriver. They can
seize and damage the nut or the mounting rivets.
I use a slight smear of anti seize on the thread to
lubricate those regularly removed like my cowling screws,
it still has enough friction to lock the screw.
Rich T.
On 13/02/2022 21:55, Corbin
via groups.io wrote:
On Sat, Feb 12, 2022 at 11:30 PM,
Richard Gammon wrote:
MS24694C
Thanks Richard. I placed an order with Aircraft Spruce a
few days ago so I am hoping they are the right ones. They
have a warehouse close to my house so I typically receive
orders with a day or two, at most. I hate their shipping
costs though and try to order from other sources as much
as possible.
--
Corbin
N121CG
