- Joined
- Nov 5, 2012
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I am always amazed at what you find doing a restoration. The control horn for the left and right aileron of my J2 were different sizes. 
One has a longer 5" top part of the horn (balance cable attach) and the other a 3 3/4". The bottom (aileron cable attach) were almost the same. How did the last mechanics ever rig the ailerons - they must have left a ton of slack in the cables?
Well after lots of calling J2 & earlyJ3 friends and other research I found out there were two different ailerons used on the J2s over their production run. Mine had a mixture of the two. I had another aileron that although it was in bad shape had a longer horn so I decided to pull it off and swap it with the short one. (see photo of grey longer horn) As long as I was doing it I had some 2024 T3 .016 leading edge pieces made as the old ones were like roof flashing they were so weak.
Full speed ahead till I pulled the short horn off the left aileron. Dissimilar metal corrosion had hit hard. The aileron as a whole had looked fine and I had planned to use it After I get this one cleaned up and back together I'm pulling the right one apart to check it to.
I wonder how many of our beloved Cubs have these gremlins hiding in the ailerons.
Whenever you think your making progress something reaches up and says not so fast boy. This will slow ya down........................
Bill
One has a longer 5" top part of the horn (balance cable attach) and the other a 3 3/4". The bottom (aileron cable attach) were almost the same. How did the last mechanics ever rig the ailerons - they must have left a ton of slack in the cables?Well after lots of calling J2 & earlyJ3 friends and other research I found out there were two different ailerons used on the J2s over their production run. Mine had a mixture of the two. I had another aileron that although it was in bad shape had a longer horn so I decided to pull it off and swap it with the short one. (see photo of grey longer horn) As long as I was doing it I had some 2024 T3 .016 leading edge pieces made as the old ones were like roof flashing they were so weak.
Full speed ahead till I pulled the short horn off the left aileron. Dissimilar metal corrosion had hit hard. The aileron as a whole had looked fine and I had planned to use it After I get this one cleaned up and back together I'm pulling the right one apart to check it to.
I wonder how many of our beloved Cubs have these gremlins hiding in the ailerons.
Whenever you think your making progress something reaches up and says not so fast boy. This will slow ya down........................
Bill
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