On Saturday, May 13, 2017 at 3:36:14 PM UTC-7, JC wrote:
After having a terrible time getting the horizontal elevator off after
a season where the glider was stored outside in MN, I started using
antizieze as a lubricant. It will lubricate and prevent rust.


We had the same trouble with our L-23 but when we switched to Aeroshell 33 grease for the fittings that took care of the corrosion problem.

Rigging our one remaining L-23 is relatively easy as its trailer has a very stable fuselage dolly (with built-in lever arm to raise and lower the fuselage so the gear can be retracted/extended) and a rock-solid wing stand. The only thing we do different from the manual is to put the drag pins in first as this seems to greatly help getting the main pin in. Be careful not to let the wingtip move too far aft when assembling as this can damage the skin at the wing root if it contacts the wing fillet on the fuselage. The job can be done with three strong people but five (two on the tip, one on the root trailing edge, one on the root leading edge and one more person to go under the wing to work the alignment tool) make it an easier job. For the tail two people on the horizontal stabilizer and one in the cockpit to hold the stick in the best position are enough. Our L-23 has the fixed pneumatic tailwheel which seems to be more rugged than the castoring one, but it is a pain in the back (literally) when it comes to ground handling. One of the L-23's we had which did have the castoring wheel did have a problem with the bulkhead that required repair. Strangely enough the L-13's which had been fitted out with kind of Mickey Mouse looking castoring tailwheel setups never gave any trouble on our somewhat lumpy grass field!