WAG = Wild Ass Guess. Many spar fixes are generally not a good idea. Webs are probably okay, but caps - I shudder to think of it! There are published guidelines.
For too many years many members of the Ercoupe community performed shoddy and illegal maintenance. I would imagine that economics was the root reason. Whether folks couldn't afford professional repairs, were too cheap or thought that they just plain knew better than the acceptable methods is beyond me. Backyarders were transformed into aeronautical engineers overnight and because the machine was their own, they felt it was okay to use parts from the hardware store. Just the type of maintenance I'm dead against! If anyone wants to work on their plane, find a mechanic who loves the craft and is willing to teach and have at it. No brain surgery involved, but what you'll learn is why you need a specific type of bolt, the difference in pop rivets, and what torque is really all about. Couple of guys that lurk donate their time at the big flyins and give seminars. Take then, they're only 45 minutes or so but can mold your habits and probably save your life. This advice is worth what you paid for it. Al DeMarzo Visit the Ercoupe Swap Page Free, Easy and No Membership Required http://www.ercoupeowners.com/swap/swapbook.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: James B. Brennan To: AJ DeMarzo Cc: Ercoupers Tech Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 7:11 PM Subject: Re: [ercoupe-tech] Here we go again! WAG ...which means? I reckon I am truly the newbie - is it indeed verboten to mend a cracked casting - it must be repaired by discard and replace? (your reference to "published methods") Beach Brennan PS - Somehow the idea of V-grinding & heli-arcing a crack has a lot more intuitive appeal than keeping the crack with a cute "stop-that-crack" drill hole. I guess I have a fair bit of welded aluminum in my life and quite surprised that it wouldn't "do" in this sort of situation.
