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  #1  
Old 12-16-2011, 10:57 AM
gpiney gpiney is offline
 
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Location: The Beautiful NJ Shore
Posts: 409
Default Using a Rotisserie

I have access to a rotisserie already set up for an RV8. Here is my question. The builder who gave me the rotisserie first drilled and mounted his motor mount, then fabricated the rotisserie mount based on the holes he drilled in the firewall weldments. I do not have the motor mount and need to know how to drill the holes in the firewall. Are the factory holes in the stainless firewall accurate? What would be the minimum size hole to use, knowing I will have to enlarge them when I get the motor mount? Are 1/4" bolts big enough to hold the structure? Are the motor mounts from the factory 'real close' to the firewall holes (less than 1/16' off)? I suspect the jig they use to build the mounts is 'exact' to the plans, but I have heard that no 2 mounts are exactly alike.

Your comments, suggestions and pictures appreciated.
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  #2  
Old 12-16-2011, 11:43 AM
Transporter Transporter is offline
 
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Location: Lee's Summit, MO
Posts: 743
Default Rotisserie

I used 3/16" bolts and the pre-punched holes in the firewall. In general, these holes were a good match to the engine mount-but not perfect. The bolts were plenty strong enough to support the airframe...but I wouldn't climb into it on the rotisserie to be on the safe side.

I wouldn't recommend a 1/4" hole without having the engine mount on hand to match drill since this won't leave any margin for adjustment to the engine mount.

Good luck,
Mike
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  #3  
Old 12-16-2011, 12:46 PM
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Vlad Vlad is offline
 
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Default

Fuse is light I saw somewhere on the web a builder used AN3 bolts successfully. One bolt on the mount was off center a bit but he was able to drill it right because it was AN3. With bigger bolt he would be out of luck. I see if I could find the ref.
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  #4  
Old 12-16-2011, 01:01 PM
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airguy airguy is offline
 
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Location: Garden City, Tx
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Transporter View Post
I used 3/16" bolts and the pre-punched holes in the firewall. In general, these holes were a good match to the engine mount-but not perfect. The bolts were plenty strong enough to support the airframe...but I wouldn't climb into it on the rotisserie to be on the safe side.

I wouldn't recommend a 1/4" hole without having the engine mount on hand to match drill since this won't leave any margin for adjustment to the engine mount.

Good luck,
Mike
Ditto that, it's what I did on my 9A.
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  #5  
Old 12-16-2011, 01:34 PM
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Rick6a Rick6a is offline
 
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Location: Lake St. Louis, MO.
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gpiney View Post
...... What would be the minimum size hole to use, knowing I will have to enlarge them when I get the motor mount?.....Your comments, suggestions and pictures appreciated.
Greg,

I drilled the holes for and used 3/16" bolts at the four corners of the firewall. As long as you do not attempt to climb inside the cockpit, AN3 bolts are more than adequate to do the job. Here's a suggestion. As you can see, I wanted to be able to rotate the fuselage with the gear legs attached, so when I built up the rotisserie, I extended it's height accordingly. The convenience cannot be overstated. Using the rotiserrie, internal access is much easier than the alternative and many, many tasks are easily accomplished while comfortably seated on a stool. The aft fuselage is supported by a padded sawhorse. I never needed any help to adjust the rotation, only making certain that when I did so, I did not accidentally "walk" the fuselage off the sawhorse!

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  #6  
Old 12-16-2011, 07:07 PM
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tkatc tkatc is offline
 
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Location: NJ
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Default

Hmmmm, must be talking about Hugh??"
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  #7  
Old 12-17-2011, 05:27 AM
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GusBiz GusBiz is offline
 
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Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Default Blue plastic

Greg,

(slightly off topic)

The picture is not that clear but it looks like you didn't remove the blue plastic from under the rivets. I doubt that is true. It doesn't have the usual "soldering iron" plastic deletion stips that fuses usually have.

Did you do it another way?
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  #8  
Old 12-17-2011, 09:06 AM
gpiney gpiney is offline
 
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Location: The Beautiful NJ Shore
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GusBiz View Post
Greg,

(slightly off topic)

The picture is not that clear but it looks like you didn't remove the blue plastic from under the rivets. I doubt that is true. It doesn't have the usual "soldering iron" plastic deletion stips that fuses usually have.

Did you do it another way?
Those are Rick's pictures. I've seen closeup pics of what he did with the blue plastic.
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  #9  
Old 12-17-2011, 09:11 AM
gpiney gpiney is offline
 
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Location: The Beautiful NJ Shore
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tkatc View Post
Hmmmm, must be talking about Hugh??"
Yup. He offered, I took.
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Greg Piney
RV-8 2547
Empennage Done!
Beginning Fuselage Final Assembly!
(Tub finished, on to Landing Gear).
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  #10  
Old 12-17-2011, 01:23 PM
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GusBiz GusBiz is offline
 
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Default oops

Quote:
Originally Posted by gpiney View Post
Those are Rick's pictures. I've seen closeup pics of what he did with the blue plastic.
yes sorry, I meant Rick. Care to share what he did?
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