Did you ask him to define the limits?
It depends on your aircraft type too, the likes of a Cherokee hinge the later ones have a Teflon sleeve in them, or was it play in the trim jack as there is limits or a SB for those if I remember correctly. If they are plain hinges the pin often steps and can simply be replaced without doing the hinge halves
Might refer to
http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/CE1111.pdf/SIB_CE-11-11_1
http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/CE1114.pdf/SIB_CE-11-14_1
What model is it?