Tag: Aileron valve

We have been working on our aileron valves.  The primary problems involve old gummy lubrication which caused them to be stiff, dirty dry linkage, and cracked hoses.  We removed the valves, disassembled them, cleaned the old dirt and grease off, then lubricated them with gun oil.  We replaced worn and cracked hoses.  The aileron valve moves smoothly now. 

Check out the Aileron valve section under Restoration hints for more info.  

With vacuum applied to our newly refinished bellows, our ANT-18 was leaning badly to the left (or as our Navy buddy Jeff said “it is listing to port”).  We had to keep the yoke’s wheel at about 45 degrees to the right to counteract it.  After fixing all the leaks in the aileron pneumatics that we could find, we decided to adjust the aileron valve.  It took only a tiny adjustment of the torque linkage that goes to the center leaf of the aileron valve to correct the problem. 

While looking for aileron pneumatic leaks, we also restored the ANT-18’s rough air system.  Its key valves were leaking badly.