Nose plate straightening

[RichieRich]

Hey guys,

I have a nose plate that is in pretty good shape. Typical arc scratches from the steering bellcrank and the front has a bit of a wave to it. How are you guys bending it back into the correct position without leaving marks or making things worse?

[morrisey0]

For the wave on the vertical front part of the nose? Just a vise with protected surfaces.

[RichieRich]

For the wave on the vertical front part of the nose? Just a vise with protected surfaces.

Yes. I didn't know how to describe it but you can see it in the picture pretty good.

[RC10th]

Don't bend it all at once, do many many small bends in different spots.

That's pretty minor so maybe a soft face hammer would be able to massage it back

[JosephS]

Hey guys,

I have a nose plate that is in pretty good shape. Typical arc scratches from the steering bellcrank and the front has a bit of a wave to it. How are you guys bending it back into the correct position without leaving marks or making things worse?

To flatten pieces, like the front face, I have had luck with a rubber mallet hitting onto pinewood. For twisted pieces i have had mixed luck using a vise with jaws wrapped in fabric then tweaking it.

[JosephS]

Hey guys,

I have a nose plate that is in pretty good shape. Typical arc scratches from the steering bellcrank and the front has a bit of a wave to it. How are you guys bending it back into the correct position without leaving marks or making things worse?

Is the wave you are talking about relegated to the front face of the plate? If so this is the kind of thing you can hammer out of the face with a firm rubber mallet onto some pine wood. You'll go though more than a few feet of board as the aluminum is much harder than the wood. Anything metal will scratch it up. I'm not sure a regular vise will put enough pressure on the plate to straighten it.