F86 Annual Inspection Photos

[Sabremech]

Still inspecting and a little more disassembly. I removed the R/H wingtip as a repair that was done some time ago is cracking and wont't last too much longer. I pulled out a brand new wing tip from stock and we'll be installing that next week. I also started to fit the new accessory case cover to the front of the engine. We'll have to do a little sheet metal work to get that to fit right as well. Tom started putting the oxygen bottles back in last night. Not much left on the inspection. Probably be finished with that part next week and start fixing squawks and reassembling this bird.






David
WHF Maint

[sdennison]

So, the repair gone bad...aluminum failure? Kinds looks like a bondo patch or something of the sort.

Are you going to rework that wingtip? Want it reworked? Love to play with it. (for fun, no $$)

Old Indy fabricator here, also built medieval armour in the past.

[Sabremech]

Sdennison, As these parts are hard to come by, I do want to get them fixed. This wingtip in the photo has some fiberglass on the inside and bondo outside. I didn't realize how rough of shape it was in until I pulled it off. I also have another wingtip as well as a nose cone in need of some TLC. If you're interested we'd like to get them repaired.
David

[Sabremech]

We've nearly completed the inspecting part of the annual. Today I found 2 surprises. The first is a pretty deep chaff in the right hand brake line.


The second being the nose gear scissors are bent.


I do have another pair of gear scissors to use and I'll be manufacturing some new brake lines. Here's a couple of pictures of the wing attach fittings. Upper wing fittings

Lower wing fittings


This next photo is of the emergency nose gear accumulator.


Then a photo of the utility hydraulic reservoir with filter bowls in the background.


Looks as we'll now start working on the routine filter changes, oil, hyd and fuel as well as fixing the sqauwks we've found. Target date is till the end of May.
David

[retroaviation]

Wow, a bent torque link! How did that happen? Did someone go past the tow limits or something?

Gary

[Sabremech]

Gary, I'm not sure myself how it got bent. The inspection specifically points you to inspect this. It tells you that you should be able to turn the bolt by hand and if not the bolt or scissors are bent. This case the scissors were bent. Appears to have a history of this with it called out in the manual. I too would like to know how and why.
David

[Sabremech]

It's been a few days since I last updated, so here goes. most of the inspection is complete. I'm on to the service items now such as pulling and inspecting the downlocks. Not to difficult to get them out. Just pull on the actuator end really hard and have another person lift the gear up.


After that it's a matter of pulling a bolt and the downlock sleeve retaining nut and pull it out towards the front


I also pulled the downlock actuating cylinder to adjust a fitting that was hitting the gear trunion.


After cleaning, inspecting and greasing, reassemble in reverse order.
I installed the spare nose scissors and they look much better. It's possible we have a rigging problem as the nose wheel is turned 90 degrees as it enters the nose well. We'll definitely check the rigging of the nose gear and door.


I also fit the 2 pieces of the accessory case cover together. I've got a little adjusting to do and they will fit nicely. Hopefully we'll have the engine finished next week as well as the fuselage where the engine sits so we can install the engine next weekend.


I still have a bunch of filters to change and misc items, but we are going to start closing some panels up that we are finished in and make it look like an airplane again.
David

[Sabremech]

Here's a few more pictures from over the weekend and today. Tom finished installing the oxygen bottles and leak checked them so we're done with that. He also finished the lube and closed up most of the panels on both wings. I still need to change the R/H aileron actuator, so those are the only panels left open on the wings. I managed to get the hydraulic pumps changed on the front of the engine and found hydraulic fluid leaking past the shaft seal on the upper pump. I'm glad I changed them now as it would be a big job with the engine installed.



I also pulled the main fuel filter in the fuselage to see what it looked like and cut it open to get a good look at it. No major amount of debris.



I started changing the dozen or so hydraulic filters scattered about the airplane as well. Here's a dirty filter


and a clean new filter


We've been working on fitting the new wing tip and learned that they are not made of aluminum. They are stainless steel. I dug out the bondo on the old tip to see how bad it was and looks like we can repair it by welding in some new steel and then smoothing it out with some filler.


A lot more work has been going on and we're still shooting for the end of the month to be ready for ops checks. I've been going back and forth on changing the nose gear out after measuring the play and I have to follow my gut and change the gear. It's a bit more work and may put us behind a bit but I think it really needs to be done. I'll post some photos when we get started. I'm in the process of cleaning the spare gear and resealing it. I"m waiting on a few bushings to come in then I can assemble it, paint it, install it and rig it. Should be a challenge.
David

[mlenoch]

Will the owner do the ops check or someone else?
(I am in need of a CFI for an insurance jet warbird check. Possibly, it would be the same guy I would use.)
Thx,
VL

[Sabremech]

Hi Vlado,
Any one of the three guys typed in the airplane will do the post maint flight. Two of the three are CFI's if I'm not mistaken. I can put you in touch with them if you like?
David

[Sabremech]

Quick update for the past few days. A lot is coming together as parts keep rolling in the door. The decision has been made to change the nose landing gear. There's just too much forward and aft play. The book allows 5/16" and we have more than that. I pulled out my spare nose gear that was overhauled in 1983 and proceded to clean it then disassmble it to replace the seals. Here's a photo of the gear and trunion out of storage.


Here's the parts cleaned and beginning to disassemble the strut. I'll have to make some tooling to get it a part, but it shouldn't take that long to make them.


I'll be painting the gear as well to match the other legs and wheel wells. It certainly will look better than the rest of the gear. I'm also replacing the nose gear rotating linkage and other various parts to tighten up the clearances. Here's a new rotating linkage assembly.


Meanwhile, the ejection seat is finished with the chute and survival gear being inspected and a new harness installed. I've got a few squawks in the cockpit area and then this all can go back in.


We're going to work hard on it this weekend and hopefully install the engine Monday. I'll post some more photos if we get that much done.
David

[Chicoartist]

One of the most interesting threads WIX has ever had!

Thx!

Wade

[Eric Friedebach]

David, in case you didn’t notice, your thread here on WIX is coming up on 10,000 views. Thanks for posting!

Who was doing F-86 gear overhauls in 1983? Looks like a MIL yellow tag in your post.

[bdk]

Who was doing F-86 gear overhauls in 1983? Looks like a MIL yellow tag in your post.

The Navy was still flying them as drones I believe.

[retroaviation]

So are y'all going to rebuild the old nosegear yourselves to keep as a spare, or is there still a shop out there somewhere that does that kind of work?

Gary