Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

[brettw]

I've got the fold down Flight Control Tower. It's about 8 or 9 years old. When you fold the tower down, it's got those black knobs you pull down and then screw into the tower to hold it down (or up, depending on how you look at it). Anyway, on one side of the tower, where it screws into the tower to hold it down, it's stripped.

What would be the best way to fix that. I'm thinking of filling it with some sort of liquid metal and then maybe using some tap and die kit to make the threads again. Does this sound like the best way to do it? Any details or tips on fixing this from anyone? I've never dealt with anything like this before or even used a tap and die kit.

[bchesley]

RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

3/8" x 16 Heli Coil will do the trick. Just make sure you get the Heli Coil deep enough. If you don't it will be a bear to cut the tab on the end to get the bolt past it. Dont ask me how I know.

[bchesley]

RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

I forgot to add that the Heli Coil kit will explain how to do, but be sure you use the permanent loctite on the Coil and then add anti-seize to the factory bolt when you reassemble it.

[steve-o]

RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

Worked for me as well.

If you need to remove the heli coil to get it deeper, use pick style instruments and bend it out until you can get some pliers on it.

[brettw]

RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

Cool, I hadn't heard of helicoil. Will something like this work:

http://www.amazon.com/Helicoil-5546-.../dp/B0002SRF7Q

[Onevw2go]

RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

You could do all that , but it doesn't sound like you are to experienced with mechanical type stuff. My suggestion would be to take it to a weld / Fabrication shop. Have them fill the stripped hole (Aluminum Wirefeed welder) then re-drill and tap the hole. Just my opinion. Good luck with that.

[AirTool]

Re: RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

....be sure you use the permanent loctite on the Coil....

Does loctite work on Aluminum? or is there a SS tread insert welded into the tube? I've never looked at mine....and I'm thinking I don't want to. If I do, it will be at the start of winter....just in case.

[steve-o]

RE: Re: RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

Loc-Tite is just a polymer that hardens. Pretty much works on anything. You will have a hard time getting the coil out if you ever need to though. I didn't loctite mine. I just seated the coil fully and it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[AirTool]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

Loc-Tite is just a polymer that hardens.

The technical data sheet (at least for the paste) says it has to come in contact with "X" to initiate hardening. I can't remember if the "X" was iron, "steel" or any metal. I'm thinking it was iron. I'll check it out.

Maybe the liquid is activated by air.

If it works...doesn't really matter.

[bobchris]

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one sid

it is activated by air

[brettw]

Re: RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

3/8" x 16 Heli Coil will do the trick. Just make sure you get the Heli Coil deep enough. If you don't it will be a bear to cut the tab on the end to get the bolt past it. Dont ask me how I know.

I read through some instructions on putting in the helicoil, and it seems very easy and straightforward. You said 3/8" x 16. Is that the standard size of the bolt that's on the tower that holds it down? I just want to make sure I get the right size.

[bchesley]

RE: Re: RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

That is the factory flight control tower bolt size. I did one for a buddy last season.

[AuMDLST]

RE: Re: RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one side

That is the factory flight control tower bolt size. I did one for a buddy last season.

Possibly the reason for the helpful tip

Just make sure you get the Heli Coil deep enough. If you don't it will be a bear to cut the tab on the end to get the bolt past it. Dont ask me how I know.

either way - as bchesley stated - the helicoil is the fix

[AirTool]

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Flight Control Tower stripped on one

it is activated by air

The data sheet says it cures in the absence of air between two metals. Rate of cure depends on the metals. "Active metals" cause it to cure faster. Inactive metals need a primer.

Fortunately, alluminum alloys are "active"

Active Metals
Soft Steel Iron
Copper
Brass
Manganese
Bronze
Nickel
Aluminum Alloy

Inactive Metals
Bright Platings
Anodized Surfaces
Titanium
Zinc
Pure Aluminum
Stainless Steel
Cadmium

http://www.permatex.com/documents/td...tive/27100.pdf

[House324]

To resurrect an old thread for anyone that has a striped tower bolt. Big thanks to "Bchesley" and previous posters. This why I'm such a big fan of this site.

I have a 2001 Air Nautique with a Gen 2 FCT tower. One of my tower fold down bolts was striped out. I used a Helicoil and fixed both sides in about 30 minutes. I've never used a helicoil and it worked perfectly. I bought a 3/8 x16 helicoil kit on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002SRDVE) for $15 and got it 2 days later. I had to buy a 25/64th" drill bit to drill out the existing threads and some red Loctite. I used two helicoils back to back to make sure i had a long enough thread for the bolt to hold securely... One of the easiest fixes I've done.

Thanks for the help.