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Jabiru J450 Constructors Manual
Pre-Paint>Fuselage>Empennage>Fit rudder
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
106 of 343
Fit the rudder
The objective now is to refit the rudder as before with Clecoes but with a 2mm bed of flock
under each hinge, do a final check of the alignment and rivet the hinges into place.
Lightly sand the flat side of all hinges and the inside of the fin and the rudder where the
hinges will be placed. Mix a batch of resin and coat the hinge mounting areas inside the fin
and the rudder, then mix in flock and coat the fin half of each hinge. Clecoe the hinges in
place on the fin as before. Now apply flock to the rudder half of each hinge and mount to the
rudder in the same way: with Clecoes in the centre holes.
Check the rudder for free movement and once you are satisfied that there is no binding then
countersink each hole with a 120° countersink bit and rivet each hinge with countersunk rivets
– top and bottom holes first, rechecking for free movement at each step, then take the Clecoes
out and countersink and rivet the centre holes. Take care to keep any flock away from the
hinge pins during this step.
Do a final check for free rudder movement, then carefully remove the hinge pins and rudder,
clean away any excess flock with a clean mixing stick and leave overnight to cure.
Next day use a rat-tail file to make a slot into the fin at each hinge pin mark, fit the hinge pin
and the hinge pin retainer, mark the retainer screw hole and drill a 3/32” hole. Pop rivet an
anchor nut under each screw hole using 2 x 3/32” countersunk rivets.
Fit the rudder stops
Make a template that will sit over the rear of the empennage and tape it in place. Find the
centreline of the fuselage and mark a 5mm offset to the right onto the template, then mark
100mm each side of the offset as shown above. Refit the rudder.
Swing the rudder to the left-hand mark on the
template and mark the position of the rear rudder
stop and fit it in place with 2 countersunk self-
tapping screws. Swing the rudder to the right and fit
the front stop the same way. It may be necessary to
sand inside the right-hand side of the fin to clear the
rudder at full right deflection.
It may also be necessary to sand away part of the
lower right of the fin (arrowed at right) to allow
clearance for the rudder arm at full right rudder deflection.
Check the swing both ways and adjust the stops if required. Once the positions are correct
remove the stops and sand the base of each stop as well as the position in which they will be
mounted, then mix a small batch of resin, coat the joining surfaces and flock both stops in
place, holding each in place with the self-tapping screws. Smooth away any excess flock and
leave overnight to cure.