National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

My AI was up to look at the airframe and wings on my L16 project. I apparently have to replace one spar due to a longitudinal (spelling??) crack starting from a rib nail hole near the lift strut doubler plate. The other wing is OK other than it has loose rib attach nails. Obviously, original nails won't work as the nails have worked the holes slightly oversize. Any suggestions, as to a proper nail to use. I seem to remember a coated nail at one time as a recommendation. The other alternative is a ring shank type (??). AI is not a lot of help in this area.

Thanks,

Mike

mikeberg/wi wrote: I seem to remember a coated nail at one time as a recommendation. The other alternative is a ring shank type (??). AI is not a lot of help in this area.

Thanks,

Mike

Did search here on NAA and found a few: one is:

http://www.joea.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=5295#5295

Jody Wittmeyer is an expert at this. He made a small tool to reinstall these nails that makes it a lot faster.

Will email him about this thread...

Hmmm........ duh! Looks like I asked that question before and Paul answered it. Only excuse is (1) Old age has apparently set in and (2) I have too many irons in the fire for my feeble mind to remember.
(Thanks Mike K).

Mike Berg

The only approved replacement is the ring shanked nail. They are a bigger dia. Wag Aero has them, as does Aircraft tech. support. The old nails can be pounded back in if they they are less than 1/8 " out, but usually work loose again. More than 1/8 out, they have to be replaced. Most crucial out to 3 ribs either side of strut attach point.

I am pretty hard on the champ, with all the loops and rolls. I have had no problems with the new nails coming out. The I/A should check to make sure the ribs are not cutting a groove in the spar, by rubbing on it. This will flunk a spar, as all the strength comes from the top and bottom edges of the spar, not the sides.

I did make a tool to replace them with the fabric on, that works very well.

Jody:

(1) Do you have to drill in order to use the ring shank nails?

Thanks,
Mike

I hope not. If your are going to drill a nail hole...you might as well use a screw. The best part about a nail is that it does not cut a fiber.

A nail is a nail..You predrill for screws and bolts.

Doug

Well, it might have been a stupid question but a ring shank nail is different than a "nail" that's why I asked (besides a stupid question is better than a dumb mistake).

Mike

I like dumb mistakes better. They cost more and as everyone knows, we airplane owners are rich. ROTFLMAO!!

Keith

Mike, if the wings are uncovered, you could drill a hole in the al. rib, not the wood. They will push through the aluminum with a good wack with the hammer.

Jody Witmeyer: Just curious, what is the roll rate of a Champ?
Ron

Thanks Jody, Mostly I was concerned about splitting the spar (not knowing how big the ring shank nails are) That's why I asked the question about drilling .......onward and upward.

Mike

Mike Berg:

How many of the Safe Air ring-shank nails do you need? I have a bunch left over, and can mail some - FREE!

Safe Air sold them by the pound, with a quarter-pound being the smallest lot I could buy. It was enough for two wings with more left than I used.

Drop a PM or email with your mailing address, and I'll get them sent off to you.

Jon B.

Jon,
Sent you a private message with my address. Thanks for the offer.

Mike Berg