Flaperon drain holes.

[inzersv]

OK illustrious minds, I need help! I drilled the flaperon drain holes on the topside. :mad: Thoughts on correcting this bonehead mistake will be appreciated. I am thinking hysol the holes and then redrilling slightly offset from hinge centerline?

[Dave S]

Hi Stan, Here's one idea.....be kind to yourself and consider this might not be much of an issue...I am not sure that the hole in the top would be a problem even if it was left and just continued through the bottom to include both sides so you have a drain hole in addition to the first placed holes. The critical part is the drain being in the right spot horizontally from the flaperon ribs on either side and below/behind the upper slot for the flaperon bearing. A drain hole on the bottom is mandatory, an extra hole on the top above the drain hole is not necessarily bad. If a person is concerned about the topside hole letting any additional moisture in, remember there is a slot about 20X that big on the top to let moisture in where the bearing arm extends out of the flaperon on the topside....the existing slot is the reason for the required drain hole in the first place. A small extra hole on the top.....not a big deal. I don't see how the extra hole in the top would cause any kind of problem; as long as one is added in the right spot on the bottom for drainage. Anyone asking about it could be advised it is simply some extra ventilation added because of the possibility the plane will be used in some really, really moist environments and it needs all the ventilation it can get (certainly a legitimate claim in WA).....or....get really clever and glue a seaplane grommet on the top hole, vented to the rear, to really suck the void in the flaperon dry. Or tell people it is an experimental enhanced drainage system you are working on....what the heck! Trying to plug a hole like this and make it look like it didn't happen is hard. Filler has a pretty good chance of cracking right at the edge of the hole and becoming visible at a later date. By trying to plug the hole, a person could unintentionally create a moisture trap or prevent moisture from flowing across and out. A person might come up with something but it might look like a repair too. Here is my personal confession..... I have two drain holes in the fuselage bottom fabric.....one on each side so they match.....this started out as a single 1/4 inch round hole on the right side/bottom which some have speculated superficially appears to match the diameter of the phillips screwdriver I used in the cockpit......So I measured to put a matching 1/4 inch hole on the other side, glued in a grommet....and if anyone happens to notice and ask.....they are drain holes!....'ya gotta have drain holes! Sometimes camoflage/plan B is less complicated than trying to un-do something like this. Sincerely, Dave S KF7 Trigear - Flying 912ULS Warp Drive St Paul, Minnesota

[Dick B in KY]

Good thinking Dave. Ingenuity comes in all forms.

Dick B

[inzersv]

Thank you Dave. You have eased my mind and given me a great laugh. Now I am relaxed enough to take my 41 year old son and his family out to dinner this afternoon. It has been a great 5 hours on my SS7 this fine snowy day. :)

[DesertFox4]

Don't sweat it Stan. Like Dave said it's a small item that will bug you but very few folks will notice.
Who knows. Maybe we all need them.;)

[rogerh12]

In Kanas, drain holes double as Wasp-house access holes.
Consider oversizing the holes and installing a mesh over them.
Roger

[Jerrytex]

Anyone come up with a easier way to remove the glue and open up the drain in the flaperon drain holes?

I tried a dental pick and it worked somewhat but maybe there is an easier way without gouging the inside of the flaperon?

27863

[Maverick]

Have you considered using a drill bit by hand? I have a T-handle w/chuck that goes with a Tap that I have used to hold a bit so that I could use it to turn while putting a little downward pressure on the bit to clean a plugged hole and it worked pretty well.
Fred

[Jerrytex]

Good Idea.

It looks like when they bonded the trailing edge, it pushed glue forward. I need to get that part opened up so there is a channel for water to drain out. Was thinking about heating up a wire and trying to melt a channel in the glue.

[taff]

Suggestion, if this can be done.
If the structural adhesive is there then there is no water.
Drill where there is no adhesive.

[Jerrytex]

Looking back, probably would have been a better idea to move forward. I was going off of the manual at 3/4" I even stretched that a little. Ideally you want to be right on the glue line.

I ended up using a finishing nail, heating it up and sticking it in the hole angled forward and worked it around. I put a light on the hole and looked in the hinge cut out and I can see light. I also poured alcohol in the hinge bay to make sure they drained.

I would suggest that anyone doing this....go 1" from the trailing edge instead of the 3/4" that the manual states.

[taff]

Thinking!
How to find where the adhesive stops, inside the aileron.
Could this be done? Push a welding rod into the space of the hinge until it stops.
Mark the rod / take a measurement and transfer this to the outer skin.

I remember, I went through the same thing when I was building.

[Jerrytex]

That's a good idea. The skin is really close together in that area. A really thin gauge wire would probably work. Seems like some of this stuff would be notated in the manual before you drill the holes into the glued section......just saying.