CH601 HD Elevator leading edge dent - Need advice

Looking for some advice...I have a inch and a quarter dent in the leading edge of my elevator. Any ideas as to how I can pull the dent ? I can't access the inside of the leading edge to push it out. Should I just use tape or body filler ? Would appreciate any ideas from other builders who have dealt with this issue.

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Permalink Reply by Randy Cross on January 13, 2013 at 7:46pm

Think that I'm going to try a glue gun and dent  removal stems because I can't get in behind the dent with anything....If I can't get the dent out 100%, I'll use some filler...Zenith suggested using a dental pick to pull the dent...but I don't like the idea of making a hole in the skin...

Permalink Reply by Patrick Borton on January 13, 2013 at 8:36pm
Randy,
Are you planning on trying the hot glue method yourself? What sort of reflection are you using to see the depth or crowns in the damaged area?

Glue tabs on aluminum that thin will over-pull if you haven't done this type of repair before...

I'm not saying you aren't capable of making the repair. I'm the guy that does this every day for a living. It's like your proctologist telling you that maybe your boroscope isn't the best idea for a home colonoscopy.
Permalink Reply by Randy Cross on March 16, 2013 at 10:13am

Permalink Reply by Randy Cross on March 16, 2013 at 10:15am

I'm thinking that if I use PDR tool with a bearing on the end....I should be able to go thru the fibreglass fairing and roll out most of the dent.  Other option is to remove the rivets and the fairing to get at the dent and rub it out....

Permalink Reply by Randy Cross on March 16, 2013 at 1:43pm

Permalink Reply by Patrick Borton on March 16, 2013 at 6:48pm
That's kind of kinked and possibly stretched. There are crowns around the upper and lower dent as well as one through the middle. Being a PDR tech, I would try it with my 7 years of experience, but expect to replace the skin after my attempt. That's thin stuff and doesn't have the memory that steel does.
How much is a new skin?
Permalink Reply by Randy Cross on March 16, 2013 at 8:12pm

Thanx...I'm not much for aesthetics.....think that I'll just roll it out a bit and go with approved filler....

Permalink Reply by Patrick Borton on March 16, 2013 at 8:16pm
Thanks for pictures! That put things into perspective a bit for me.

Happy flying!

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