Anyone,

Have any experience "straightening" a bent fuselage tube on a Maule or any other aircraft? Maybe a severe bend in an angle tube....say three inch forward protusion and kinked on the back side.... under the horizontal tube beneith the front of the passenger seat. Is is possible use a "hydrolic press" to push everything back into position and then weld a patch or splice over it? Just curious.

Bob

Cut it out and weld in new.

MTV

I repair tube and fabric fuselages for a living and if it is kinked I'd cut it out and do a inner tube splice to repair. When I tube is kinked it's structural integrity is compromised. My opinion anyway.

Same advice from this corner, and I repair them for a living too...don't mess with trying to straighten it! Not only will it take 4 times as much messing around...but just like Steve said, it's going to be weak forever..... cut it out and put in a new one.
JH

Cut it out and weld in new, straitening a kinked tube will never have the same strength. I am in the same carear as the rest, and that is the only solution for severly bent tubbing.

Brian

Thank you gentlemen,

For your experience and sound advise. Much appreciated.

Bob