Started the weekend off removing the flap torque tubes. It actually wasn't that hard - maybe 30 minutes. I don't want to do much with the rear floors because I'm waiting on the air conditioner to confirm nut plate locations. So the control systems is actually the next viable thing to work on.

Started the section with the fabrication of the pushrods. Got them cut to length and then drilled and primed the inside of the tubes. Once the primer had cured all day, I riveted the ends on and then primed the outside of the completed pushrods. Worked on the safety wiring of the forward pushrod and did it a couple of times until I was super happy with it. The plans show the safety wire loosely wrapped around the rod bearing, not necessarily the bolt - wasn't really sure how to accomplish this, but did my best to have a loose loop. Installed the forward pushrod, then installed the rear pushrod in the tunnel. Removed the battery tray and installed the bolt through the rear pushrod to bottom of the bellcrank - what a pain to install that bolt. I was fairly contorted through the baggage door and the pushrod was pretty locked in by the hole in the bulkhead - they really give you just enough room to get it done. Little did I know this was a preview of how this entire section would be. Got the battery tray re-installed and called it a day.

11/12: Started the day with minor work on the idler arm to get it drilled and deburred. Was optimistic that it might actually be warm enough to prime today, but not yet. Moved on to drilling of the control sticks to the control stick bases. Messed around with several different clamping scenarios before I was happy with it, but ultimately was just eye-balling to check if the stick was in-plane with the stick bases. Once happy with the alignment, match drilled to #12. Installed the control column to the two brackets in the fuselage and ran into the first instance of washers that needed to be inserted into tight spaces. I know some use washer wrenches, but I don't have any. I used a piece of blue painters tape to low the washer into position and then push the bolt through it. Still very challenging and took several attempts, but ultimately was sucessful in getting washers into tight spots.

Checked the length of the control stick base bushings and compared to the control stick bases. Filed the bases down a little to provide the 0.010" difference between the base and bushing. Then used the bench vice to press the bushings into the bases. Then went to fit in the control column, and they were both almost 1/16" too long. I wish the instructions had stated to check that measurement before pressing the bushings in. Oh well, was able to shave the assembly down on the disc sander and get them to fit. Installed the stick bases into the control column and installed the castle nuts with cotter pins. Loosely installed the control sticks.

Got the aileron pushrods installed with more tight washers, but had my technique down pretty good now. Then went to attach the forward elevator to the control column and couldn't get the safety wired pushrod end to fit. The hole I left in the safety wire was too big. I tried to loosen up the safety wire in place, but just made it to where I wasn't happy at all with it. Taking that pushrod out to redo the safety wire would require removing the rear pushrod and the battery box, including redoing that very difficult bellcrank nut. Decide to try to redo the safety wire in place. I was tough, but actually worked out pretty well. Instead of guessing, I was able to wrap the wire on either side of the pushrod end bearing and twist it reasonably tight. Very difficult working around the fuel lines in the tunnerl, but got something I was happy with.

Weather turned out nice in the afternoon and was able to prime the idler arm along with the new baggage floors. Then assembled the idler and installed. More difficult washers, but got it all together.

Need to adjust parallelness of sticks and check bolt length or washer configuration on idler arm. Something is off.

11/26: adjusted the sticks to be parallel and figured out the washers on the idler arm. I misread the instructions and had an extra washer on the rear pushrod. I don't know how the heck I got that washer in there.