Lift Strut to Wing Spar Attachment Play

Hi All,

while preflighting my KF 5 , I noticed play in the lift strut, at the tie rod end center ball and the wing spar attachment fitting. :eek:

The tie rod center ball moves back and forth on the nas 1104-16 bolt .

Both the front and back attachment have movement. The front about the width of an AN960 washer the back about an AN960L washer.

I am thinking there should be no play between the "U" wing spar fitting and the center ball of the tie rod end fitting, but I did not build the plane and I am at a disadvantage.

I am thinking I should put washers in between the tie rod end ball and the wing spar attachment to take up the space, so as to have the tie rod ball tight and stationary, but would like to get some advice from builders on how this attachment should be fastened.

The situation you describe indicates the nut may have bottomed out on the bolt threads before the slack was taken up due to a lack of washer stack - otherwise the previous builder may have tightened to the bracket and stopped when the nut hit the bracket. (NOTE - THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY DEFORMATION OF THE BRACKET DUE TO TIGHTENING OF THE BOLT/NUT - don't stress the bolt and bracket by clamping it up to take up the slack.)

Your 5 should have the same assembly as later KF's. At least on the 7 - build instructions say to use washers to take up the slack between the ball and bracket.

Since these have been rattling around - I'd discard the existing bolts/nuts and get new NAS bolts/nuts - properly assemble with washers - select fit with thick & thin washers between the ball and bracket sides - then tighten the NAS bolt to spec.

Sincerely,

Dave S
KF& Trigear

If I understand what you are saying, I just fitted those parts last week. The KFSS manual says too shim with washers to take out the play. I used two of the thin washers and it came out just right.

Good luck!

Thanks guys,

After hitting the build manuals ( I don't have all of the manual parts).

I found the part where it tells you to use 2 AN960L 's one on each side of the center ball of the tie rod end to fill the space.


I put new NAS bolts and these washers in tonight. The washers fit well and left no space on the rear, and just a little ( no room for another washer) on the front

I torqued the NAS 1104-16's to 75 inlbs.

Do you guys have a torque value for NAS 1104-16 bolts ? my manual does not .

So far this has taken the play out.

I am wondering if on a new plane install , if the bolts are exact fit to the holes in the spar attachment, or is there a little play? Just bolts thru the spar attach holes with no tie rod end involved is what I'm wondering about

I will be monitoring this close