new owner questions

Michael wrote:
3. If I replace the wing root seal, do I need an A&P signoff?
If you mean that black rubber thingy at the wing root, no. If you
mean some
sort of a speed fairing wing root seal, yes.

Actually, either one would be a non-structural fairing or cowling, so
either way no signoff needed.

But remember, the wing root seal was originally installed BEFORE the
wing was attached!

Blanche wrote:
Actually, either one would be a non-structural fairing or cowling,
so
either way no signoff needed.

But remember, the wing root seal was originally installed BEFORE the
wing was attached!

Are you sure? In any case, I've never seen anyone pull the wing off to
replace the wing root seal. The deteriorated seal is pulled out, and
the new seal is pushed in, at least on every Piper product I've ever
seen. That's clearly a preventive maintenance operation, since the
seals are non-structural and the removal and replacement requires no
complex aseembly/disassembly operation.

Michael

Michael wrote:
Blanche wrote:
Actually, either one would be a non-structural fairing or cowling,
so
either way no signoff needed.

But remember, the wing root seal was originally installed BEFORE the
wing was attached!

Are you sure? In any case, I've never seen anyone pull the wing off to
replace the wing root seal. The deteriorated seal is pulled out, and
the new seal is pushed in, at least on every Piper product I've ever
seen. That's clearly a preventive maintenance operation, since the
seals are non-structural and the removal and replacement requires no
complex aseembly/disassembly operation.

At the factory, at the initial installation of the root seal, it's
attached to one side (I forget which, probably the wing) before the
wing is attached to the body. That's why it's so d*** difficulty to
get a new one installed by yourself!

Blanche wrote:
Are you sure? In any case, I've never seen anyone pull the wing off to
replace the wing root seal. The deteriorated seal is pulled out, and
the new seal is pushed in, at least on every Piper product I've ever
seen. That's clearly a preventive maintenance operation, since the
seals are non-structural and the removal and replacement requires no
complex aseembly/disassembly operation.

At the factory, at the initial installation of the root seal, it's
attached to one side (I forget which, probably the wing) before the
wing is attached to the body. That's why it's so d*** difficulty to
get a new one installed by yourself!

This doesn't make sense, to me. The "bulb" part of the seal squeezes into
the crack between the body and the wing. That's what holds it in
place. It wouldn't stay in place, when the wing was detached from the
body.

--- Jay


--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

Jay Masino wrote:

[snip]

This doesn't make sense, to me. The "bulb" part of the seal squeezes into
the crack between the body and the wing. That's what holds it in
place. It wouldn't stay in place, when the wing was detached from the
body.

Jay -- have you replaced the wing root seal? I agree the bulb is
what holds it in place. And trying to replace it (which can be
done, go back and read the r.a.o archives) is really awkward,
difficult and frustrating.

have you replaced the wing root seal?

I've replaced the wing root seal on a Comanche (which uses the same
seal as a Cherokee) and it was not particularly difficult or
frustrating. Of course it is possible (indeed likely) that I was not
the first person doing this, and thus the difficult frustrating part
was done by my predecessor.

Michael

Blanche wrote:
Jay -- have you replaced the wing root seal? I agree the bulb is
what holds it in place. And trying to replace it (which can be
done, go back and read the r.a.o archives) is really awkward,
difficult and frustrating.

Yes, I've replaced mine.

--
__!__
Jay and Teresa Masino ___(_)___
http://www2.ari.net/jmasino ! ! !
http://www.oceancityairport.com
http://www.oc-adolfos.com

On 30-Mar-2005, (Jay Masino) wrote:

This doesn't make sense, to me. The "bulb" part of the seal squeezes into
the crack between the body and the wing. That's what holds it in
place. It wouldn't stay in place, when the wing was detached from the
body.


I have no specific knowledge of how they do it at the factory, but I find it
hard to believe that they don't position the rubber seal before attaching
the wing. Any number of low-tack adhesives could be used to keep the seal
in place before mating.

That doesn't mean that the airplane is not designed to allow the seal to be
replaced (with much greater difficulty) without removing the wing.

I am sure that there are any number of such cases in the manufacture of
cars. For example, the exhaust manifold is most likely installed on a car's
engine before the engine is installed on the assembly line. But I would
hope that your mechanic can remove and replace the manifold without taking
the engine out of your car.

--
-Elliott Drucker

Haven't worked on many Jaguars, have you?

Jim


.. But I would
hope that your mechanic can remove and replace the manifold without taking
the engine out of your car.

Jaguars are one example. Certain models of Porsche have dual oil
filters - and one of them can be changed only after removing a fender.
And I know I've seen a car where replacing the spark plugs requires the
engine to be pulled.

Of course with airplanes it's worse. Ever try to change out a prop
governor on an M20-F Mooney without pulling the engine off the mounts?
I don't believe it can be done.

Michael