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  #1  
Old 03-15-2016, 03:28 PM
Saville's Avatar
Saville Saville is offline
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: KBVY Massachusetts
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Default Installing Spring Loaded doors in wheel pants

Ok so I'm ready for my next little project and I have a few questions.

I want to install spring loaded doors in the wheel pants so that I do not have to remove the after section just to top off the air. I bought the

CAMLOC ACCESS DOORS FOR WHEEL (KM713-16-064)

from Aircraft Spruce. They are 1" in diameter.

I believe I have Sam James wheel pants.

This picture shows the options:



The red arrow points to where the axle is. I can either install the door behind it on the after section (blue arrow) or in front on the forward section (green arrow).

My questions are:

1) If I choose the blue arrow, will a 1" hole just about centered where the point of the arrow is compromise the strength of the wheel pants section?

2) The inside of the wheel pant is pretty grimy. I need to clean it first and then scruff the fiberglass. What do you recommend for cleaning off the grime on the inside of the wheel pants?

Thanks!
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Old 03-15-2016, 04:54 PM
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KatieB KatieB is offline
 
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I had good luck using Dawn dish soap and hot water for cleaning inside my wheel pants. And the rest of the fuselage, for that matter.
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  #3  
Old 03-15-2016, 05:50 PM
Evolution10 Evolution10 is offline
 
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I placed mine on the green arrow area and all works fine. Make sure the opening is large enough to perform the required task. To small and all the work is worthless! The blue location should not pose a problem structurally, as long as you back the narrow seemed area properly. Also make sure the door opens from the back and springs forward. Good luck.
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Old 03-15-2016, 06:09 PM
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rzbill rzbill is offline
 
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Dont forget to put a visible paint mark on the tire when the valve is aligned with the hole. Without it, the flap doors are pretty much useless.
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Old 03-15-2016, 06:33 PM
rv7charlie rv7charlie is offline
 
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Will they fit in a dish washer? If so, that's probably the best way to really clean them. I used ours to clean every part that would fit, prior to alodine or priming. Dishwasher soap is amazing at cutting grease and grime (duh...). This wasn't my original idea; I heard somewhere about engine rebuilders using them to clean cylinders, etc. Might be worthwhile to monitor the water temp, since they are fiberglass, but it won't go over ~200 degrees, in any case. What temp will your paint withstand without actual damage?

If you think you can measure the drag of the door ( :-) ), the farther aft you can go the less it should disrupt flow. If you put it in an area where the cross section is still growing, it will trip any boundary layer that's left at that point.

The point about marking the tire is a good one. If you can position the hole low enough to see the mark while the valve is aligned with the hole, you'll find it is a lot quicker to get the valve aligned with the hole. At least it has for me on my -4 (old style one piece pants).
EDIT: I just realized what Bill meant; the mark doesn't have to align with the valve itself. But if it does, it will still make it a bit easier.

Charlie
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Old 03-15-2016, 06:36 PM
Kyle Boatright Kyle Boatright is offline
 
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If you want spring loaded doors, continue down that path.

An easier path is the snap plugs you can buy at your local hardware store. All you do is drill the appropriate hole, then snap the matching plug in and out as necessary.

Here's the 3/4" size. 1" is better.

http://www.amazon.com/Hubbell-1043B4...4QXAMQH5KN635B
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  #7  
Old 03-15-2016, 06:52 PM
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Saville Saville is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rv7charlie View Post
Will they fit in a dish washer? If so, that's probably the best way to really clean them. I used ours to clean every part that would fit, prior to alodine or priming. Dishwasher soap is amazing at cutting grease and grime (duh...). This wasn't my original idea; I heard somewhere about engine rebuilders using them to clean cylinders, etc. Might be worthwhile to monitor the water temp, since they are fiberglass, but it won't go over ~200 degrees, in any case. What temp will your paint withstand without actual damage?

If you think you can measure the drag of the door ( :-) ), the farther aft you can go the less it should disrupt flow. If you put it in an area where the cross section is still growing, it will trip any boundary layer that's left at that point.

The point about marking the tire is a good one. If you can position the hole low enough to see the mark while the valve is aligned with the hole, you'll find it is a lot quicker to get the valve aligned with the hole. At least it has for me on my -4 (old style one piece pants).
EDIT: I just realized what Bill meant; the mark doesn't have to align with the valve itself. But if it does, it will still make it a bit easier.

Charlie
I think what you do with the mark is place a mark on the tire such that when the mark is at the 6 o'clock position (where you can see it) the valve stem is lined up at the door.
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  #8  
Old 03-15-2016, 06:54 PM
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Saville Saville is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyle Boatright View Post
If you want spring loaded doors, continue down that path.

An easier path is the snap plugs you can buy at your local hardware store. All you do is drill the appropriate hole, then snap the matching plug in and out as necessary.

Here's the 3/4" size. 1" is better.

http://www.amazon.com/Hubbell-1043B4...4QXAMQH5KN635B
You know.......I like this idea. Infinitely simpler. No riveting nor fiberglassing to do. Unless the hole edges need to be beefed up to withstand the insertion/removal of the plug. No worrying about the door clearing the valve stem.
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  #9  
Old 03-15-2016, 07:55 PM
Kyle Boatright Kyle Boatright is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Saville View Post
... Unless the hole edges need to be beefed up to withstand the insertion/removal of the plug. No worrying about the door clearing the valve stem.
Mine (the hole edges) are unblemished after 15 years of use. They may collapse into a pile of dust tomorrow, but...
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  #10  
Old 03-16-2016, 03:57 AM
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ronschreck ronschreck is offline
 
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Default Got you covered.

I bought a few dozen black plastic snap covers from McMaster-Carr. (You can't just buy two!) You can clearly see them in the photo. Send me a PM with your mailing address and I'll put several in the mail to you. A one inch hole is required and it helps to put a stripe on your tire at six o'clock when the valve is aligned with the hole. I suppose you could paint them if you want. I don't find them objectionable in black.

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