Wing root gasket (adhesive?)

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vindio
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Wing root gasket (adhesive?)

Post by vindio »

1947 C-120

Our left wing-root gasket has come unglued, and is starting to flap around.

Is there an approved adhesive that I can use to get it back on? If the recommendation is to replace it (to be fair, ours is a little brittle), does the new gasket come with its own adhesive?

And finally, is this something a pilot owner can do, or is the consensus that it's A&P territory?

Thanks!

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6643
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Re: Wing root gasket (adhesive?)

Post by 6643 »

Are you referring to the rubber molding on the wing root fairings? I used to use 3M Super weather stripping adhesive, but some of the newer EPDM rubber compounds require a different adhesive. I've heard that 3M Black Weatherstrip Adhesive works well.

New rubber channel does not come with adhesive. You'll have to buy that separately. You can get it from places like Aircraft Spruce. The original product was called "X200 rubber channel".

IMHO, you do not need to have an A&P do it for you, but I would encourage you to at least make a log entry, and learn how to make a proper one before you do it. As owner/pilot you are allowed to remove and install the fairings, and replacing the moldings sounds like preventive maintenance to me: "Making small simple repairs to fairings, nonstructural cover plates, cowlings, and small patches and reinforcements not changing the contour so as to interfere with proper air flow"
vindio
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Location: PA
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Re: Wing root gasket (adhesive?)

Post by vindio »

Wanted to thank John for this recommendation. Purchased and applied the 3M Super weather stripping adhesive, as directeted, and it's holding up nicely.

Thanks again!
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