Problem with bottom rudder hinge bracket (VS)

[RNB]

My VS is together but I am having a tough time putting the bottom hinge bracket on. The four screws AN509-8R11 don't fit very well in the supplied nuts MS21042-08. The nuts appear a bit lopsided, misshapen. I assume this is because they are designed this way for locking force. I do not have any crescent wrenches this small and none of my sockets really fit. I'm starting to strip screw heads so am taking a break and regathering (as well as order new screws and nuts). I fear I might have to figure out a way to cut two screws off, maybe drill them out as if a rivet.

Was this challenging for you?
Is there a good way to remove partly tightened parts without damaging or overheating the rest?
What size wrench is used on those darn nuts?

 

[bjdecker]

Don't use a "Crescent"-wrench

Use 7/32" 6-point socket on the MS21042-08 nuts.
Use 1/4" 6-point socket on the MS21042-3 nuts.

 

[lr172]

Don't use a "Crescent"-wrench

Use 7/32" 6-point socket on the MS21042-08 nuts.
Use 1/4" 6-point socket on the MS21042-3

When dealing with firm locking nuts on screws, I recommend using a phillips bit on your ratchet. This allows you to place a much greater axial force and prevent stripping the head.

 

[RNB]

7/32 socket and Phillips on the ratchet made the difference, thank you.

 

[PhatRV]

You should have multiple box wrenches in the size of 3/8 and 7/16 because these fit the most common nuts and bolts on our little airplanes . Buy in multiple and you will need at least two of them to tighten a bolt.

The most useful thing I did was to visit a couple of the local builders and inspecting their projects, watch how they organize their shop, what tools they used, asked them what worked, what mod they made. Even when they are amateurs, they had at least a few years of experience than I had at the time

 

[Richard Connell]

This dosent apply to your specific case as the 509s are countersunk, but I’m generally not a huge fan of Philips head screws with nuts.
I replaced quite a few in various spots
with MS1801.
Something to keep in mind for other similar situations.