Stjohn's RV-7

6 hours.
I just got back from Japan, but in between bouts of jetlag-induced coma and insomnia, I managed to get a couple of things done. I finished up the cabin-side brake lines and got the trim servo mounted. The brake lines went fine. I just have to finish up the firewall interface for them and we’re done there.

Of course, I still have to play with the routing to minimize chafing, but that’s no big deal.
The trim servo is another story, the sad ending of which is that I’m gong to have to take out the servo and bellcrank assembly so I can put a cotter pin through the clevis bolt on the bellcrank. Yep. Nothing about that install is easy. sockeet wrenches don’t fit on nuts for the servo, no room to get a screwdriver in there, or hands for that matter, springs under tension, stick alignment, and lack of physical leverage. Plus it was way warm in the shop yesterday, so I was hunkered down in the fuselage making attempt after attempt to place clevis bolts, washers, etc. I still can’t get one of the cotter pins bent. I have no leverage and no pliers small enough to hold the end while I bend the tabs. So the whole servo/crank assembly has to come out. This is no fun, because it’s hard to get to the screws and nuts holding it to the seat rib. Then, after I put it all back in, I have to reattach the forward elevator pushrod to the control column, which is another small-space washer-alignment nightmare. Wiring will suck less, because I can at least get to those.

sorry about the blur. It’s freaking tight in there, especially with the pushrod in.

A view forward. Springs are hooked up, all is well.

Another advantage is that the springs hold the sticks straight up and down, keeping them out of the way, for the most part.