tired of takin off spinner/prop/cowl for motor access....

[kiosk]

looking for tips on how to make a large access latch under cowl to avoid having to remove the spinner/prop and cowl for any motor access, just sick and tired of it for every small thing have to take whole thing apart...
i was drawin something up on the pic, but looking for tips on how to make sure the latch is secure, lot of vibration on this area.....

[hpapilot]

Why don't you just make it a 2-piece cowl? It's pretty easy to do and allows easier access.

[SURREYRCAV8R]

exactly, make a two piece cowl. just draw some lines and use either a dremel tool or fine tooth saw and cut your cowl in half. Then devise a way to fasten the two halves together. Easy to do, saves you a ton of time if you need to get in to the engine area.

[kiosk]

i was thinking that too but a smaller cut section is all I really need, am just stuck on how to fasten them together, wether is half cowl or small cutout....

[hpapilot]

Make a flange on the inside of the cowl for the cut-out section to mount to, then attach it with screws. When I split my cowl I laid the flange up with composite. I'll try to put up a drawing if that isnt clear enough...

[emessys]

	Quote: Originally Posted by hpapilot
	Make a flange on the inside of the cowl for the cut-out section to mount to, then attach it with screws. When I split my cowl I laid the flange up with composite. I'll try to put up a drawing if that isnt clear enough...

You can use a strip of flexible plywood (1/32 or 1/64 X 1" wide) to form a flange glued to the inside lip of the lower cowl half and extending about 1/2" above the "cut line. Then back up the ply with 1/8 or 3/16" thick square plywood blocks where the screws will go thru. You can use blind nuts in the ply (which I personally wont use on cowls or hatches). I prefer either truss screws or #8 button head screws and tapping the plywood blocks.

Same idea if you use the smaller cutout.

Ira

[Tired Old Man]

Fly a giant Sweet Stick?

[exeter_acres]

have to ask...

why do you need regular access....?
once my planes are tuned, the cowl rarely needs to come off...

and then I have a small hole in the side of the cowl and use a long screw driver to do any tuning that needs to be done...

[kiosk]

well....uh emmm....never mind on that latch thing, I got bigger issues now...lol

dead stick on a hover, shouldnt have done it, knew was low on gas, stupid me......about 30ft up it quit, i tried to pick up airspeed but the best i could do was come in flat.....actually i think came out pretty good, nice clean cut!! not even covering or major cowl damage!!

so back to tips....whats best way to reattach the engine box back to fuse? plywood with fiberglass cloth reinforced? is a clean cut, but I want make sure is done right and w/o adding another 5 pounds to the bird!!

[Tired Old Man]

That's going to take a lot of work. A simple reattachment with some fiberglass is not going to do it. The severe aerodynamic stress forces take place behind the break point. A simple splice on will not hold up for even a very short time. The break has to be considered when viewing the "leverage" activity between the two sides of the center of gravity moment arms.

[kiosk]

dam Tom, you just made me go take a couple Xanaxs
.....even if I increase the mating surface area and x-member for torsional loads? i was thinking it would actually come out stronger. i am going to CAD it out and put thru some sims, I use AutoCad 3D a lot, thou not for this but will give it shot

[emessys]

	Quote: Originally Posted by kiosk
	well....uh emmm....never mind on that latch thing, I got bigger issues now...lol .!

Or as Emily Litella said "Never Mind"

[Tired Old Man]

With the correct splicing it can be done, but I don't see it not gaining weight.

[flatspinjim]

I've found the best way to make these type of repairs is to carefully cut out the broken parts and make completely new ones. Takes more time and a lot more work, but in the end works much better.

[Mokken]

	Quote: Originally Posted by exeter_acres
	have to ask... why do you need regular access....? once my planes are tuned, the cowl rarely needs to come off... and then I have a small hole in the side of the cowl and use a long screw driver to do any tuning that needs to be done...

I'm with this, why regular access??