Original Posted By: Jim Sury
>Questions for ya'll on the piano hinges you guys are using.... I am pretty>sure that the "extruded" (more expensive) style hinge would be required,or is the cheaper "open loop" kind adequate? Mike- As recommended in the Tony Bingelis books I forked over more $ for the extruded hinges rather than the loop type. I think itworked out to 30-35 $ per wing. Width of the hinge you buy is up to you. Wider makes themeasier to install though. I prefit the aileron hinge drilling holes aboutevery 8" to accept 6-32 countersunk head stainless steel phillipsmachine screws into glued and screwed 6-32 self-locking nutplateswith two ears on each side. You screw the ears in with brass woodscrews and a dab of glue while the whole affair is in place assuring the alignment you want. Too long of a machine screw and you willpoke out towards the fabric though, so do some measuring beforebuying em. I put my ailerons on during final assy. and it took about3 min. per wing. If using a cordless drill with a phillips bit thoughyou have to watch where the 'clutch' setting is otherwise you can torque the nutplates off behind the aileron and root spar areas. Mike C.Also, are there any established>guidelines for hinge width and method of attachment to the wood spars? I>have yet to find anything published on installation standards for piano>hinges.>-----Original Message----->From: Michael D Cuy >To: Pietenpol Discussion >Date: Tuesday, November 03, 1998 2:51 PM>Subject: General- control response>>>>>I used piano hinges on my plane. I think the response is fine. I can>>make 30 degree turn just by thinking about it with almost no control>input.>>>>Bill- I did the same thing. Full length alum. piano hinges and they>>work fine. A Piet rolls about like a Champ or Cub. The FUN part>>though is that the overall control harmony of a Piet is very, very nice.>>It just flies really nice. It's lighter overall on the controls than>those>>Cubs and Champs. Less control movement, more agile. The rudder>>bar too is comfortable...... after 1/2 hour or so you don't even notice>>there are no rudder pedals. Mike C.>>________________________________________________________________________________