SECTION 8
THE FUSELAGE
RV-8/8A
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8s8PP-1 r1 06/23/11
Bracket on the vertical stabilizer (See “Aft View”, DWG 78).
RV-8A Only:
Drill #30 the two rivet holes, marked in the previous step, through the VS-410PP Hinge Bracket,
VS-808PP Vertical Stab Spar Doubler, and VS-803PP Vertical Stab Rear Spar.
RV-8A Only:
Machine countersink the #30 holes drilled in the previous step for flush rivet heads on the forward
side of the vertical stabilizer rear spar.
RV-8A Only:
Install rivets in the holes that were machine countersunk in the previous step (See “Aft View”,
DWG 78).
Position the vertical stabilizer on the fuselage by clecoing the locating hole in the rear spar to the center hole in
the F-812B-1 Angle/Control Stop, and lightly clamping the VS-702 Front Spar to the F-885 Spacer and F-884
Attach Plate. Position the top and side edges of the spacer flush with the top and side edges of the attach
plate.
NOTE: If your vertical stabilizer does not have the locating hole, drill one as directed in “Aft View”,
DWG 78.
Measure from the top of the vertical stabilizer to each tip of the horizontal stabilizer as shown in “Squaring Verti-
cal Stab”, DWG 85. Adjust the lateral position of the top of the vertical stabilizer so the two measurements are
equal, then clamp through the access holes in the F-824 -1 Aft Side Skins to hold the rear spar in position.
RV-8 Only:
Mark the location of the three bolt holes used to attach the bottom of the vertical stab spar to the
fuselage (See “View A-A”, DWG 73).
RV-8 Only:
Drill #30 through the vertical stab rear spar, F-812-1 Bulkhead Assembly, and WD-409 Tail Spring
Mount, at the three hole locations marked in the previous step. Cleco each hole as you drill.
RV-8 Only:
Final-Drill 1/4” for AN4 bolts, the three holes drilled in the previous step.
RV-8 Only:
Remove any chips caught between the vertical stab spar and the F-812-1 Bulkhead Assembly.
Temporarily bolt the vertical stab rear spar to the F-812-1 Bulkhead Assembly and WD 409 Tail Spring Mount
using the holes drilled in the previous step.
RV-8A Only:
Use an angle drill to match-drill #30 the vertical stabilizer rear spar using the four holes in the F-
712E Tie Down Bar as a guide (See DWG 78). Cleco each hole as you drill.
RV-8A Only:
Final-Drill #12 the four holes drilled in the previous step.
RV-8A Only:
Remove any chips caught between the vertical stab spar and the F-812-1 Bulkhead Assembly.
Temporarily bolt the vertical stab rear spar to the F-812 Bulkhead and F-712E Tie Down Bar using the holes
drilled in the previous step.
Match-Drill #30 into the vertical stabilizer rear spar, the two 1/8 holes in the F-812B-1 Angle / Control Stop (See
“Vertical Stab Attach”, DWG 78).
Final-Drill #12 the two holes drilled in the previous step, then temporarily install bolts.
Clamp a wood stick or some other type of straight edge to, and centered on, the middle hinge brackets (See
“Centering Vertical Stab”, DWG 85). Attach string or fine thread to both ends of the stick, equal-distant from the
vertical stabilizer skin. Stretch the strings tightly to a point at the forward end of the fuselage that is on the cen-
terline. Use P.P. holes in the F-802N-1 Fwd Upper Brace (RV-8) or F-802VPP Fuselage Bulkhead Brace (RV-
8A) as a reference for finding the fuselage center. Position the vertical stabilizer so that the forward portion is
centered between the string lines and clamp in position.
Adjust the vertical position of the front of the vertical stabilizer so that the three rudder hinge points are aligned.
This can be checked by placing a long straight edge against the aft edges of the rudder hinge brackets on the
vertical stabilizer. Reposition the front of the vertical stabilizer up or down until the straight edge contacts all
three hinge brackets. If you don’t have a long enough straight edge, you can use a piece of thread as a string
line, pulled tight through the center of the hinge bracket bolt holes, to check the alignment.
Double check that the VS-702 Front Spar is securely clamped to the F-885 Spacer and F-884 Attach Plate with
the edges of the spacer aligned with the edges of the attach plate, that the forward end of the vertical stabilizer
is centered on the fuselage (centered between the string lines), and that the three rudder hinge points on the
vertical stabilizer rear spar are aligned.
Match-Drill #30 the eleven 1/8 holes in the F-884 Attach Plate into the VS-702 Front Spar and F-885 Spacer
(See “Vertical Stab Attach”, DWG 78). Cleco as you drill.
Final-Drill #12 the four bolt holes used to attach the F-884 Attach Plate to the horizontal stabilizer front spar.
Temporarily insert a bolt in each hole as you drill.
RV-8/8A
SECTION 8
THE FUSELAGE
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8s8PP-1 r1 06/23/11
Uncleco the F-884 Attach Plate and F-885 Spacer from the VS-702 Front Spar. Deburr the #30 rivet holes
common between the three parts. Deburr the four #12 bolt holes in the horizontal stabilizer front spar and the
attach plate.
Prime the F-884 Attach Plate and F-885 Spacer if/as desired.
Rivet the F-884 Attach Plate and F-885 Spacer to the VS-702 Front Spar (See “Vertical Stab Attach”, DWG 78).
NOTE: It is not necessary to rivet all of the hole locations at this time. Holes with more difficult access
can be delayed until the vertical stabilizer is removed from the fuselage.
Temporarily bolt the F-884 Attach Plate to the horizontal stabilizer front spar.
Attach the left and right elevators to the horizontal stabilizer using the hardware depicted on DWG 5. First
mount the elevators using temporary bolts at the two outboard hinge points on each elevator. Determine the
size and number of spacer washers required between the WD-605-R-1 & -L-1 Elevator Horns and the VA-146
Flange Bearing.
Remove both elevators.
Insert the 1/4 bolt in the WD-605-R-1 Elevator Horn and then add the previously determined spacer washers.
Reattach the right elevator by first inserting the 1/4 bolt in the VA-146 Flange Bearing and then inserting tempo-
rary bolts at the two outboard hinge locations.
Place the previously determined spacer washers for the left elevator on the 1/4 bolt, then attach the left elevator
using temporary bolts at the two outboard hinge points.
Clamp the counterbalance arm of each elevator to the outboard end of the horizontal stabilizer to lock them in
the neutral position.
Mark the F-841 Pushrod Assembly attachment bolt hole location on the aft most WD-605 Elevator Horn (See
“Side View”, DWG 78). Drill the hole location with a #40 drill, then final-drill #12.
Make a drill guide block out of hardwood that closely fits the space between the WD-605-L-1 & -R-1 Elevator
Horns. Position the drill guide block between the two elevator horns and mark the location of the previously
drilled #12 hole.
Remove the drill guide block and, using a drill press, drill a 3/16 hole through the block at the mark made in the
previous step..
Position the drill guide block between the WD-605-1 Elevator Horns with the 3/16 hole aligned with the previ-
ously drilled hole in the elevator horn.
Double check that both of the elevators are still clamped in their neutral positions and clamp the drill guide block
in place between the WD-605-1 Elevator Horns. Match-Drill #12 the undrilled elevator horn through the previ-
ously drilled elevator horn and the drill guide block. Remove the clamps and drill guide block and deburr the
#12 holes in both elevator horns.
ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM
Separate the F-635 Bellcrank parts as shown in “F-635 Separation Detail” on DWG 79. Smooth and deburr the
edges of the three parts.
Cleco together the two F-635A Bellcranks, F-635B Spacer, and VA-146 Flange Bearing (See “F-635 Bellcrank
Assy”, DWG 79). Final-Drill #30 the eight holes common between these parts.
Disassemble and deburr all the parts of the F-635 Bellcrank Assembly.
Prime the parts of the F-635 Bellcrank Assembly if/as desired.
NOTE: If priming the VA-146 Flange Bearing,
mask the side of the bearing inserts to prevent primer from entering.
Cleco and then rivet together the F-635 Bellcrank Assembly.
Cut the F-841 Pushrod to length (See “F-841 Pushrod Assembly”, DWG 79). Deburr both ends of the pushrod
after cutting.
Mark the eight rivet hole locations on both ends of the F-841 Pushrod. To simplify marking the rivet locations,
make a pattern out of a strip of paper. Wrap the strip of paper around the outside of the pushrod and trim it until
the ends just meet. Flatten out the strip of paper and fold it in half three times. Unfold the paper, wrap it around
the pushrod, then mark the crease locations on the pushrod. The eight marks will be equally spaced around
the pushrod.
