Wills Wing Alpha 180 Owner's Service Manual page 35

Tape the sail plugs in position on the leading edges so that they do not become switched side to
side inadvertently.
3. Unbolt the bottom side wires from the control bar. Remove the clevis pin which secures the
control top elbows to the apex bracket. Unbolt the bottom rear flying wires from the rear keel. Re-
assemble the hardware removed onto the bolts in the original order so that it doesn't get lost. All
disassembled assemblies on the glider must be re-assembled in the proper order and orientation.
Use the exploded parts diagrams in this manual to help you. On the bottom rear wire, the relative
position of the washers, saddles and tangs affects the front to rear wire tension.
4. Set the control bar aside.
5. Turn the glider over. Unroll the sail until you can reach the bridle attachments at the trailing edge.
Remove the plastic bridle retainer balls and disconnect the bridles from the sail.
6. Remove the screw that holds the kingpost top cap in place and carefully remove the cap. Remove
the top front and top side wires from the kingpost top. Re-install the cap. Unbolt the kingpost
from the keel. Set the kingpost aside.
7. Feed the top and bottom side wires into the sail through the holes in the sail. Turn the glider over
onto its back again. Disassemble the crossbar center section, and fold the crossbar halves to the
rear to align with the leading edges. Slide the frame out through the nose of the glider. If you
encounter resistance, stop and find out what is hanging up.
9. If you need to send the sail into the factory for repair, fold and package the sail carefully. Be sure
to include written instructions of what you want done, your name and a phone number where you
can be reached during the day.
Reinstalling the sail on the frame
1. Position the sail on the floor with the keel pocket up and the wings folded over so that the leading
edges lie along the length of the root line, with the top of the leading edge lying on top.
2. Prepare the frame, making sure that the side wires are pulled forward from the crossbar leading
edge junction and are not wrapped around the frame. The crossbar halves should be separate, and
swung aft to be aligned with the leading edges.
3. Position the frame with the bottom of the noseplate facing up and with the rear end of the leading
edges at the nose of the sail. Slide the frame into the nose of the sail, making sure that the leading
edges of the frame and the crossbar halves pass properly into the leading edge pockets of the sail
and don't get caught at the rear of the bottom surface near the root. As you feed the frame slowly
into the sail, check periodically to see that none of the hardware is snagging on the sail. As the
crossbar ends reach the leading edge junction cut outs in the sail, bring them out through these
holes.
4. After the frame is fully installed, mount the webbing anchor loops over the rear leading edge end-
caps. Make sure you mount the inner webbing loops in the endcap slots, not the outer "handle"
loops! Make sure that the webbing lies flat and smooth in the slot, and that the sail is properly
aligned when mounted. Secure the velcro retainer tabs.
5. Working through the crossbar cut out hole, insert the top wires through the holes in the sail,
making sure that no cable is wrapped around a leading edge or crossbar, and that no thimbles are
cocked or twisted. Pull the bottom side wires out through the crossbar cut out hole.
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