VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #1  
Old 01-19-2013, 11:41 PM
dhmoose dhmoose is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 337
Default Oil door latch

I'm starting on the oil door and purchased the hidden hinge from Non-stop Aviation. It came with 1 camloc...but every picture I've seen of a -10 oil door has 2 Camlocs side-by-side opposite the hinge. Can someone confirm that 1 camloc placed in the center of the door is enough?

Thanks!
__________________
David Halmos
RV-10
Flying - 570+ hours
Portland, OR
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-20-2013, 01:03 AM
jmates jmates is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 22
Default Thanks for asking this question, David

I've put just one latch on my oil door which has the hidden hinge. I did reinforce the door a lot with several layers of glass, but I'm concerned that the door may still pop open in flight.

Comments anyone?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-20-2013, 05:06 AM
rleffler's Avatar
rleffler rleffler is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Delaware, OH (KDLZ)
Posts: 4,196
Default

The correct answer is to use how many it takes to hold the door securely in place, which doesn't really answer your question.

I installed two latches, one forward and one aft. This was the only way I saw to ensure that the leading edge would be held firmly in place. My door wanted to sit slightly proud in a couple places due to the shape of the door. Putting the latches where I did holds the door perfectly flat.

I've seen folks install two latches on the opposite side of the hinge. I know of one 10 where air still lifts the door slightly in flight. This 10 has hundreds of hours, so I don't think it's a safety issue, but more of a cosmetic issue.

If you have a door that is perfectly shaped and extremely rigid, one latch may work just fine. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case on my 10.

While its not a finished picture, you can see the latches in the photos on this page.

http://www.mykitlog.com/users/displa...154796&row=121

Bob
__________________
Bob Leffler
N410BL - RV10 Flying
http://mykitlog.com/rleffler

Last edited by rleffler : 01-20-2013 at 05:14 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-20-2013, 05:28 AM
Ron B. Ron B. is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,408
Default

I had two opposite the hinge and it still popped open. I had to replace it with an alum. one. Like Bob said, if I were to start over I would not put them opposite the hinge, I would put one forward and one aft.
__________________
Thanks Ron
RV-10 SOLD
RV-14 Flying
AirCam flying
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-20-2013, 06:57 PM
Bill.Peyton's Avatar
Bill.Peyton Bill.Peyton is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 1,788
Default

I used the hidden hinge and two skybolt 1/4 turn fasteners on the left side fore and aft corners. I reinforced the inside of the door with piece of fiberglass I removed from the door cut out. When I am flying, I can see a very slight bit of bowing between the fasteners and the overall hinge lifting up. It's almost not noticeable unless I point it out to someone. Just shy of 100 hours and never come open.
__________________
Bill Peyton
RV-10 - 1125 hrs
N37CP
First Flight Oct 2012
Aviation Partners, LLC
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-21-2013, 05:29 AM
Wayne Gillispie Wayne Gillispie is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 1,499
Default

I built per plans other than using the next longer stud. It does not flex or pop open. I would assume you would need two since Van's designed it that way.
__________________
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-21-2013, 07:26 AM
douglassmt douglassmt is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Missoula, MT
Posts: 714
Default Hidden hinge, Cessna lock

I used the hidden hinge and one Cessna type push button latch, reinforced the door with fiberglass on the inside. Mine still lifts slightly (1/8") around the edges in flight, but I've pushed on it and tested it on the ground and the latch is secure. After 245 hours it hasn't come open once so I'm pretty comfortable leaving it as is. It's just the pressure lifts it up slightly. If I did it again I would at least put two of the Cessna type latches, or go with Skybolts. Oh, and I riveted an aluminum strip for the Cessna latch to hold onto, and I think that makes a big difference on the latch security as opposed to it latching onto a piece of fiberglass.
__________________
Bryan Douglass
=VAF= 2020 dues paid
RV-10 N242BD
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-21-2013, 09:52 AM
Space Cadet's Avatar
Space Cadet Space Cadet is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 211
Default Mine works with one

I used just the one (opposite from hinge, centered) and it holds fine, but there does seem to be enough flex to let air leak out. Not a cooling problem for me though, and just starting to think about alternatives to seal it up.

Dwight
__________________
RV-10 #40762 - 100 hrs+
Denver, CO
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-21-2013, 11:04 AM
MauleDriver's Avatar
MauleDriver MauleDriver is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lake Ridge Aero Park - Durham NC
Posts: 199
Default

(I posted this on Matronics today)
I lost track of the thread where this discussion was taking place but I said that I'd post a pic of some silicone strips I used somewhat successfully to reduce the oil door deformation in flight.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/t459zmd5b3...20Door%203.jpg

You can see I used the hidden hinge and the two latches on the front and rear edges of the door. I used a piece of foam overlayed with some light wt glass cloth to stiffen the door. I later glommed some graphite strands on top to absolutely no effect. Please ignore those.

In flight, the door would bow outward along 3 of the 4 edges. Notably it did not bow out on the hinge edge since there is a stack of aluminum strips underneath hinge attach point.

I've since added the 3 strips of silicone you see in the pic. It's the same silicone I used for the engine baffling. They are bonded with high temp silicone which is just about the only thing that will bond to that stuff. These significantly reduced the bowing, especially along the left edge where the strip is continuous. Leakage around the latches appears to still allow some bowing along the front and rear edges. Not sure how to address that at this point. (Of course, the bowing is mainly an aesthetic thing and possibly a small cooling performance issue so it could just be left alone)

In the end, I'd like to fabricate a new, much stiffer door. A sandwiched carbon fiber piece should do the trick. I like the hinge. I'm not in love with the latches but not sure what I would use in their place. Camlocs might be good but would require a tool to operate.

FYI, I had inserted some small strips of stainless steel into the cowling as catches for the latches. For those of you worried about the door opening in flight, they flew open on me twice when one of the steel catches unbonded itself. The door opened but was securely retained by the hinge only. It turns out you can fly at moderate cruise speeds with the door hanging open. It didn't even appear to be under much stress.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-21-2013, 11:14 AM
jimgreen jimgreen is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Vancouver island, BC Canada
Posts: 385
Default

The advantage of an aluminum door is that you can easily tweak it. A little extra curve can be added as necessary to hold it smooth in flight.
__________________
Jim Green
RV7 tip up
IO360 Whirlwind 200RV
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:33 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.