PA-18 wing building questions

[chilecubdriver]

Hello all,

I am about to start rebuilding a PA18-150 with a 13 rib flapped wing and at the same time our glider club started rebuilding one of their tow planes (18-180 with 16 rib wing).

We had a meeting with the mechanics rebuilding the wing and since I've been soaking up whatever has been written in this forum and other sources and they don't, and since rebuilding Cubs doesn't happen very often down here, we got in an argument about building with or without washout prior to installing the leading edges, drag wire tension, bolt torque, etc, etc. Conclusion is, they base their knowledge on tradition, but have no clue of the how's and why's documented here, in Pipers service bulletins, the Cub Clubs newsletter, Clyde Smith Jr, et al.

Again, we have 3 x 18-180's in the club and I own a 18-150 about to be rebuilt and I think we have by far the greatest concentration of Cubs in Chile, but we are also lost when it comes to have documented the how's and why's of Supercub rebuilts.

Other than again going through the search function of the forum, rummaging throught the Cub Club newsletter, emailing Clyde, etc, could somebody point me to the "ultimate PA18 wing built guide"?

Myself, as part of our glider club board of directors, I want to make sure our shop has all proper information and the trade of building Cubs is not lost in somebodies waning memory.

Thanks,

Alex

 

[Dave Calkins]

Alex, Hi. A few years ago DAKOTA CUB had a nice little booklet that was provided 'gratis' to folks. It was a great primer for the uninitiated, and a credible reference for the professional mechanic.

I would not hesitate to recommend it to your group.

I hope this helps you.

Now, dealing with a wild group of prideful thermal-chasers.....................let us know how that comes out.

And don't let YOUR airplane be rebuilt by the committee!!!

 

[chilecubdriver]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for pointing me to Dakota Cub, just wrote them an email.

I'm also one of the "prideful thermal chasers" and as we say here, superheroes don't step on each others cape! ;-)

They reckon I've been studying about Supercubs rebuild and that "we do it like this, 'cause that's how we've always done it" just won't cut it. There's to few Cubs down here and the knowldedge pool is getting to shallow. Internet and this site offers a wealth of knowledge to those looking for it. I want to pass it on to our people and I also want to make sure they do a good job with the clubs Cub before they lay hands on mine.

 

[NimpoCub]

CCD... be a salesman. Get 'em all to sign up here, buy weiners, and use the search function.
ONE Chile weiner is NOT enough.

 

[chilecubdriver]

Not sure what a weiner is and who CCD is :-(, but I've gotten almost every resource possible (Northland CD, Cub Club newsletter, signed up on this site, etc) to try to learn how to properly rebuild a Cub. I'm only missing a Stewarts, Clyde Smith, Steve Pierce seminar!

 

[ag-pilot]

Not sure what a weiner is and who CCD is :-(, but I've gotten almost every resource possible (Northland CD, Cub Club newsletter, signed up on this site, etc) to try to learn how to properly rebuild a Cub. I'm only missing a Stewarts, Clyde Smith, Steve Pierce seminar!

Alex, your weiner is that red banner below your name and above the picture of your cub. CCD is chilecubdriver, Logan is just being Logan and giving you crap,,,,,he's a pretty good guy (for a canuck).....

Good luck on your rebuild
Dave

 

[chilecubdriver]

Ha! Yep, so far it's been good people here on SC.org even Nimpo! He's right about getting more "chilenos" on board, but for now, one will have to do!

I went through all of the Cub Clubs newsletters and found some hints and tips and Clyde Smith will send me his "ultimate guide to wingbuilding". The search function at SC.org? I've got my search button al worn down by now!

As of my rebuilt, found a mechanic, I'm waiting for my annual certification to get OK'd and then we'll start!

 

[Speedo]

In his seminars Clyde instructs putting in the washout prior to installing the leading edge. His course notes also include a simple and effective tool for getting the leading edge wrapped smoothly around the nose of the ribs.

Eric

 

[Dave Calkins]

Yep, as to the leading edges and washout, 'which comes first'??? Washout first!! Doesn't everybody know this stuff already? DAVE

 

[Steve Pierce]

Get the Wing Build DVD that Paul Babcock did and the Cub Club sells. It won't steer you wrong.

I built my wings in my shop behind the house in the evenings when I was tired. cathy helped me trammel and I have trammeled more wings than i can remember. The first bay is always square because the rod in the tank bay squares it. Mine wouldn't square. I was ready to throw the wing in the floor and had to walk away. Finally when I walked into the shop the next night I saw that for some reason I had installed the washout block under the outboard aileron rib at the rear spar. Removed it and all went well, trammeled and then reinstalled my block and installed the leading edges. Standard torque. I use my calibrated elbow. Take a lot of pictures and refer to them. Sometimes people put them together wrong to began with. If you run ito trouble i have a ton of pictures of every part of original Piper Super Cub wings before rebuild.

Dakota Cub has some very good install guides here. http://www.dakotacub.com/dca_2010_007.htm