As I wrote back in March, I have not yet found anyone to tell me how
much play in the bearings is acceptable before grounding the aircraft
for excessive play.

Quite true -- and this ambiguousness isn't limited to just stabilator
bushings. It's throughout the aircraft repair industry.

Example: On my old Warrior, the "corporate" shop (who fleeced be for a $5K
"annual", back in '98) mentioned that the "spindle" that the trim cable
wraps around (back in the tail section) had too much free-play in it.

Of course, they wanted a zillion dollars to fix it.

By then, I was pretty much broke, so I agreed to do it ASAP after the
annual, and they signed it off.

Instead, I ran as hard and fast as I could from that shop, and landed in my
current A&P's shop. He looked at it and said the free-play was perfectly
normal, and it needed no maintenance or attention at all.

The subsequent owner never touched it -- and, to my knowledge, it's been
signed off at annuals ever since, without maintenance.

Morale: Find out the financial situation of your mechanic's shop BEFORE you
take your plane to them. It's funny how that condition will directly
impact their perceived condition of your plane.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"