Control column removal

Ralph Baker · Post by **Ralph Baker** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:13 pm

To avoid having to lay on (ouch!) the control column for under the panel maintenance I would like to make the control column removable. My first thought is aluminum, countersunk, keyed #10 Rivnuts in place of the 9 -3/16 rivets in each bearing support. Any thoughts on this option would be appreciated.

If anyone has an alternate solution that would also be welcome.
Thanks,
Ralph Baker
Elite 624E (reserved)

Wayne G. O'Shea · Post by **Wayne G. O'Shea** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:13 pm

Ralph, if you are going to use aluminum rivnuts, why not just drill and tap the carrythrough for AN3 bolts (or if already drilled at #11 go up to 1/4"). If cleanly tapped the bolts are definitely not going to pull out. That is what I have done on a few Rebels prior to redoing the instrument panels. I lose track, but I believe this is how Bob P's XWI is and also the Rebel I shipped to Maui. I only do the right side and leave the left riveted as per manual. This allows unbolting the bearing holder on the right and the push pull rod on the left side and getting the column out of the way.

Other builders over the years have installed the Delrin bearings backwards. That is with the large flange on the outside of the bearing holders. This allows unbolting them and subsequently leaves enough slop to slip the column out. Don't like them in this way, but it is an option that seems to work, but with less wear/bearing surface on the Delrin.

Cheers,
Wayne G. O'Shea
www.irishfield.on.ca

----- Original Message -----
From: Ralph Baker (rebaker@ftc-i.net)
To: murphy-rebel@dcsol.com (murphy-rebel@dcsol.com)
Cc: sscouten@ftc-i.net (sscouten@ftc-i.net)
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2002 12:08 PM
Subject: Control column removal

To avoid having to lay on (ouch!) the control column for under the panel maintenance I would like to make the control column removable. My first thought is aluminum, countersunk, keyed #10 Rivnuts in place of the 9 -3/16 rivets in each bearing support. Any thoughts on this option would be appreciated.

If anyone has an alternate solution that would also be welcome.
Thanks,
Ralph Baker
Elite 624E (reserved)

Robert Johnson · Post by **Robert Johnson** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:13 pm

Ralph, When I did mine I had the same thought. I riveted in the L.H. bearing support
and tapped (#10-32 ) the six holes on the R.H. side using cap screw to retain it. There was adequate threads in the 1/8 wall tubes to hole this secure, and my thorough 50 hour inspection showed no signs of loosening up.-Bob J Rebel"652"

klehman · Post by **klehman** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:17 pm

Another option is to cut the bottom flanges off the right side bearing
support. Then rivet three lengths of angle aluminum to the floor. Then
bolt the bearing support to the angle aluminum.

Ken

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Drew Dalgleish · Post by **Drew Dalgleish** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:17 pm

I just throw the foam pad off my chaise lounge in on top of the control
colum and lay on top of that.
Drew Dalgleish

At 12:08 PM 6/23/2002 -0400, you wrote:

Any thoughts on this option would be appreciated. If anyone has
an alternate solution that would also be welcome. Thanks, Ralph Baker
Elite 624E (reserved)

-----------------------------------------------------

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Legeorgen · Post by **Legeorgen** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:17 pm

Drew,

Works for me... the foam pad.

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Rick DeCiero · Post by **Rick DeCiero** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:17 pm

Ralph,
This is what I did. I used 6 screws (8-32 flatheads) to mount each bearing mount onto a 1/8 aluminum plate. The flat heads are inserted from the bottom of the plate with the nuts on top. The plate was the width of the bearing mount and about 1" longer on each end (front to back). In the one inch overhang at both the front and back, there are clear holes for two AN3 bolts for a total of four bolts. I mounted nut plates under the floor where the plate holes needed to be. It has worked real well for me. The 1/8 plate has 3 large lightening holes to reduce the weight.
Good luck, you'll need it,
Rick D.
Rebel S/N 404R

Ralph Baker wrote:

To avoid having to lay on (ouch!) the control column for under the panel maintenance I would like to make the control column removable. My first thought is aluminum, countersunk, keyed #10 Rivnuts in place of the 9 -3/16 rivets in each bearing support. Any thoughts on this option would be appreciated. If anyone has an alternate solution that would also be welcome.Thanks,Ralph BakerElite 624E (reserved)

Rebflyer · Post by **Rebflyer** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:17 pm

Hi Ralph, That's exactly what I did for my Rebel. I only did the Co-pilot side, because then you just have to slide the torque tube out of the pilot side bearing. It has been handy a couple of times already. Curt N97MR

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