"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Chip Bearden wrote:

I also recall that a few other early fiberglass gliders had similar
wrenches. Possibly even the later Diamants (16.5 and 18m versions)
which used a wing pin design a little more similar to today's types.

The PIK 20 (at least the E model) had one. Same situation, I think: with
pins on the ends of the spar butts, it takes some levering to get every
thing to slide together that last 2-3 mm so the pin can be slid in.

The Cobra eccentric wing pin tool sounds like an interesting
alternative to the over-center wrench.

The pilots that have them say it is slick, making it easy for one person
to assemble without a lot of running back and forth. For Schleicher and
gliders with a similar wing pin system, it's actually better than a
lever, because it tends to align the holes instead of just drawing the
wings together.

My cheaper, home-made, but similar tool works almost as well, but the
Cobra tool is a better design out of better materials. I'd buy one if I
didn't already have mine, since I self-rig 95% of the time.


Thought one of the PIK-20 issues was fuselage expansion in warmer. That
above 70F it got very difficult.

Frank