Wing removal
Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:35 pm
I may need to remove the wing on a 2012 24' Gull 2000. What are the steps to do a proper job and prepare to put in in my trailer?
I will start with the most important warnings than describe the proses.
The wing has an thin aluminum .016 skin on the leading edge smoothly bonded to 1 and a quarter in white foam ribs spaced 3 in apart. This allows us to make a smooth Dcell skin with no river heads or seams to disturb the air flow that would reduce lift and increase drag. This is one of the reasons that thunder-gulls and gull 2000 et all fly so well.
So don’t dent it! If you set the leading edge on the ground you must pad it and spread the load. It is best to lay it flat on a flat bed trailer.
Than support your fuselage SECURELY, above the wing.
This is not the only way to carry the airplane but it is the most likely of success.
Do not cover the aluminum or lexan with tarps or anything that will vibrate in the wind. This will distroy the surface finish and ruin the lexan and require polishing the aluminum.
If you put your wing in a uhall truck and are determined to stand the wing up against the wall lay a smooth pad out on the floor under the leading edge in a way that will not cause dents were it touches the floor. And than tie the rear wing mounts to the wall.
Wing removal:
There are 4, AN-5 bolts, use a 1/2 in wrench. That attach the wing to the frame that use elastic stop nuts, witch should be replaced each time you re assemble the wing. When removing or installing bolts align as close as you can then push on the bolt with your finger, and wiggle the wing or have some one shake it and the bolt will pop in easily, if you do use a hammer you may shear off the threads on the bolt if you use to much force. Be gentle and use your brain not your brawn. There are 2. AN 3 bolts attaching the leading edge on later models.
These use 3/8 in renches. There is an aileron pushpull tube with an AN 3 bolt.just below the wing center .
And 2 AN 5 bolts with cutter keys, beacause they rotate.
There is a wing to fuselage farting that will need to be removed!
Happy Flying,
Mark
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