09/11/2018
RANS S-21 OUTBOUND
TEXT MANUAL
81
TAILCONE/CAGE ATTACHMENT
NOTE:
It is recommended to prime the mating surfaces of the aluminum
tailcone that mate to the steel cage for dissimilar metal corrosion
resistance. The cage is powder coated which provides corrosion
resistance and priming of aluminum surfaces provides an additional layer
of corrosion resistance.
IMPORTANT:
Insert clecos into the longerons in the forward sections on
both the side and bottom skins before lining up the cage to the tailcone to
ensure proper alignment. Insert clecos from inside the fuselage to the
bottom skin to prevent clecos from interfering with the table.
1.
Slide the back of the tailcone off one end of a 12 ft table.
2.
Place the cage on the other end of the table like it mates to the tailcone.
3.
Use scrap wood to shim up the cage and get it to mate with the tailcone. This will
require quite a bit more in the front of the cage than the rear.
4.
Carefully slide the two together. The tangs on the cage go on the inside of all
longerons. Be sure that the middle Longerons contact the cage.
5.
The front edge of the side skins should be parallel to the tube on the rear of the
cage. Slide them together until the gussets fit with the lower longerons.
NOTE:
Front edges of the side skins may not be perfectly parallel to the
cage due to slight variation in the cage. After removing twist and squaring
the tailcone to the firewall, split the difference of any misalignment.
6.
The tailcone bottom skin may need to be raised or lowered so that the skin
transfers past the bottom tube without being deflected and without a gap
between the skin and tube.
7.
Use a level to ensure both the cage and tailcone are level with each other and
there is no twist in the tailcone.
NOTE:
The tailcone is still limber at this stage. The purpose of eliminating
the twist is to permit an accurate measurement to ensure the tailcone is
square to the cage (firewall).
8.
Once the tailcone and cage are positioned correctly, use clamps to clamp the
longerons to the steel tabs on the back of the cage. Leave room to drill at least
one hole in each gusset.
NOTE:
The middle longerons may need to be trimmed. Ensure the
tailcone is positioned correctly. Mark and trim the middle longerons so
they just clear the tube on the cage.
9.
Check that all 3 skins (bottom and 2 sides) are parallel to the tubes they overlap.
The bottom skin will extend forward of the front edge of the tube when in place.
