2.14 Using the two 12" long 3/16" dowels supplied, join
the two stabilizer halves together by pushing the dowels up
into "flutes" of the stab as shown in the illustration. The
middle of the dowels should be at the center of the stab
assembly when complete. Mark the center of each dowel
before inserting to identify this spot. The best way to do this
is to insert the dowels up to the center mark in one side first.
Then, on a flat surface, hold the in-place dowels tightly and
slide the other side on to the dowels.
NOTE -The fit of the dowels into the flutes of the stab,
elevator and rudder should be very snug. Once the dowel is
inserted into the flute, it should be very difficult to remove.
This will often cause a slight protrusion of the flutes where
the dowels are inserted. Due to variations in tolerance of
both the flute sizes and the dowel diameters, it is
sometimes necessary to sand the dowels some in order for
them to be inserted into the flutes at all.
HINGE
FLUTE
12" DOWELS
1.25" DOWELS
5" DOWELS
FIGURE 9-STABILIZER ASSEMBLY
The best way to do this is to use some 100 grit sand paper and insert the dowel into the chuck of your power drill, as if it
were a drill bit. Do not use the chuck key. Tighten the chuck only hand tight so the wood is not crushed. Holding the
sandpaper around the dowel, activate the drill and spin the dowel inside the sandpaper, moving the sandpaper up and
down the length of the dowel, reducing its diameter as you sand. As you do this, also taper the ends of the dowel with the
sandpaper. To sand both ends of the dowel, remove the dowel from the drill and insert the other end into the drill to sand
the other end. Trial fit the dowel into the flute occasionally, remembering that the dowel should be difficult to insert into the
flute, but not impossible. Reduce the size of the dowel the minimum amount to allow you to install it into the flute.
2.15 Once you are satisfied with the dowel size (trial insert it about 3" into the flute), you may wish to lubricate the
dowel. Use a small amount of petroleum jelly around the dowel or some soap film (wet a bar of soap and rub the dowel
against it). When using soap, do not wet the dowel directly with water because this may cause the wood dowel to swell.
2.16 Install the elevator joiner wire. Locate the 3/32"
U-shaped elevator joiner wire and center it on the
elevators to locate where you will drill holes for it. Mark
inside the hinge area on the elevators where to drill.
Using a 3/32" drill, lift the elevator to expose the inside of
the hinge area and drill each elevator to receive the joiner
wire. Be sure to center the drill and drill parallel to the
elevator surfaces. You will be drilling through the 3/16"
dowels in the flutes. Install the joiner wire in the holes and
shove it up into the hinge slot.
JOINER WIRE RIDES
INSIDE HINGE FLUTE
DRILL 3/32" HOLES IN
ELEVATOR TO RECEIVE
JOINER WIRE
ELEVATOR
JOINER WIRE
FIGURE 10-INSTALLING THE ELEVATOR JOINER WIRE
9
