An Unforeseen Journey

[Bill Boyd]

Originally Posted by Mike S

Yes, that is correct. Dimple the plate, countersink the billet part.

I would suggest that you use screws and nuts to hold the parts instead of riveting them----------much easier to install the parts separately compared to a riveted together assembly.

Is this so that one can thread the billet parts onto the cable jacket ends and then bolt them down as opposed to having to spin the cable into the threaded billet? Not sure of the advantage otherwise, but I haven't scoped out the trim system design from end to end yet, Mike. Thanks for the info.

[Bill Boyd]

Billet aluminum. Got separated from its bag-mates. From where I found it, I'd suspect section 11... no joy. Maybe I've been staring at these plans too long.

Can anyone ID this so I can tag it and bag it until I need it? Thanks!

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by Bill Boyd

Is this so that one can thread the billet parts onto the cable jacket ends and then bolt them down as opposed to having to spin the cable into the threaded billet? Not sure of the advantage otherwise, but I haven't scoped out the trim system design from end to end yet, Mike. Thanks for the info.

The idea is it is a lot easier to spin the billet part onto the cable then attach the plate, vs spinning the two parts when attached to each other.

Will make more sense when you start to do assembly work, the far end of the cable housing is buried in the fuse, and the cable will not spin. The stab will be mounted to the fuse, and there is just barely enough cable sticking out to work with.

Also, another trick when you get that far, insert a couple pieces of plastic tubing through the snap bushings in the stab, before you install the stab on the fuse. Start the trim cables into the tubes, and let the tubes guide the cables into place. The cables will follow the plastic tubing out as you work the stab into position, and push the tubing out as they do so.

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by Bill Boyd

Billet aluminum. Got separated from its bag-mates. From where I found it, I'd suspect section 11... no joy. Maybe I've been staring at these plans too long.

Can anyone ID this so I can tag it and bag it until I need it? Thanks!

Methinks this is some aftermarket part, you might not find it on the plans.

No idea what it is........

[Bill Boyd]

Most curious. Maybe part of an alternative plumbing scheme in the tunnel. (If so, don't worry - I'd never depart from Van's fuel system.)

I know! It's a tunnel heat-blocker AND a secure door pin containment system all in one. Made of unobtanium. And I have the only one

Maybe someone else has seen this thing somewhere.

[6S4 Hugo]

A completely screwball idea that has worked for me.

Step 1) Take a photo of the part on a piece of white cloth with nothing else in the photo but the part. (You may want to shoot multiple angles)
Step 2) Go to Google images and click on the camera icon in the search box.
Step 3) Upload your photo and let Google do all of the work

My 2?...

[Bill Boyd]

Here's an obligatory pic of me doing some actual work on the airframe last month.
A few more before the skin riveting began:

[Bill Boyd]

Plans say to put it in so you can take it out again

[flion]

Yes, you will remove it again, more than once. You have to do some work in there when you join the tailcone to the forward fuselage, and you will also have to get in there to do the pushrod attachment. Not to mention if you add a pitch servo or do other work, plus the belcrank is just in the way if you need to do work further back. Aside from my A/C inlets, the next section aft is where my ELT antenna is and also where the seatbelt cable attachments are. I suggest removing the screws and using clecos (you won't hurt the nutplates) until final attachment. And I'd also replace the panhead screws with socket head screws with washers under the heads, but that's just me being tired of stripped phillips-head screws in tight quarters.

[Bill Boyd]

Including some oversize holes in the HS spar to attach the VS forward spar, but that may not be a big deal (fingers crossed, see temporary thread, waiting to hear from Van's , etc.) As we are all fond of saying, it's getting easier to tell what this thing in the basement really is.