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10-16-2014, 03:04 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Westland, MI
Posts: 311
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Seat belt attachments...
I know that Vans has an almost cult like fanatical religious following and it's taboo to say anything negative about Vans, but in all honesty, I feel that a lot of the steel parts in my kit are poorly made. I don't think I've received one steel part that actually fits as it's suppose to. Very frustrating.
Did you guys have the following issue with the seat belt attach brackets?
With both brackets sitting flush on the bar stock on the bottom of the F-705 bulkhead, the holes don't even come close to aligning...
If I put a bolt through the hole (that the seat belt would attach to) then the bottom of one bracket doesn't even touch the spar...
Every single pair of these is like this. If I bolt the brackets to the bar as is, then the bolt at the top for the seat belt will never go through the hole.
I'll send the same pics to Vans, but I figured that these brackets are made on a machine so everyone of them should be the same. I can't be the only one to have so many parts that don't fit...right??
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10-16-2014, 03:13 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL KCLW
Posts: 1,281
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I tried matching a few of the left brackets with different right brackets until I came up with pairs that matched the best. Still not perfect, but workable. Then just be sure to label them.
I suppose you could fabricate a spacer as well to help align them (with Vans approval of course...)
Chris
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Chris Johnson
RV-9A - Done(ish) 4/5/16! Flying 4/7/16
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10-16-2014, 03:28 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: McKinney, TX
Posts: 689
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I don't recall having that issue on the seat belt mounts. Don't get me started on the bell cranks, though.
__________________
Gil Brice
McKinney, TX EAA-1246
RV7 - Working on fuse, fuel, brakes etc...
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10-16-2014, 08:32 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 2,692
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Just because it is powder coated doesn't mean it is inviolate. Bend it until you like it and move on. The only place the flange needs to fit the spar is where the bolt is. The rest of the flange sitting on the spar does zip for strength when a tension load is put on the belt.
__________________
Bill Pendergrass
ME/AE '82
RV-7A: Flying since April 15, 2012. 850 hrs
YIO-360-M1B, mags, CS, GRT EX and WS H1s & A/P, Navworx
Unpainted, polished....kinda'... Eyeballin' vinyl really hard.
Yeah. The boss got a Silhouette Cameo 4 Xmas 2019.
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10-17-2014, 02:19 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
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The easier solution may be to make an aluminum shim the same size as the lower flange.
If needed, use the next length longer bolt.
__________________
Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
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10-17-2014, 04:46 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coal Point, Australia
Posts: 128
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I feel like an old salty saying this but...
Just build on this wont cause your wing to fall off.
__________________
Regards,
Rob.
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M: (61) 401 578 700
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10-17-2014, 08:21 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Westland, MI
Posts: 311
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"Build on" is simple advice, but one can not build on when there is no way to attach these brackets.
If I line up the holes, the bottom of the other bracket does not touch the spar. If that was the only case, then yes I suppose I could use these poor quality parts and "build on". But the bottom of the bracket not only doesn't reach to the spar, but it is at an angle to it. So there is no way to put a shim under there.
When manufactured, the left ones were not bent at the same angle as the right ones. There is no way to re-bend the angle so no amount of re-bending on my part will make them fit.
I've sent an e-mail to Vans this morning so I'll see what they say. I've asked them to go grab a few brackets off the shelf and see if they fit like mine do.
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10-17-2014, 08:48 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: St. Paul, MN.
Posts: 4,792
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You say "they're all like this." So all the ones on the left are shorter than the ones on the right?
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10-17-2014, 09:11 AM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by s10sakota
"Build on" is simple advice, but one can not build on when there is no way to attach these brackets.
If I line up the holes, the bottom of the other bracket does not touch the spar. If that was the only case, then yes I suppose I could use these poor quality parts and "build on". But the bottom of the bracket not only doesn't reach to the spar, but it is at an angle to it. So there is no way to put a shim under there.
When manufactured, the left ones were not bent at the same angle as the right ones. There is no way to re-bend the angle so no amount of re-bending on my part will make them fit.
I've sent an e-mail to Vans this morning so I'll see what they say. I've asked them to go grab a few brackets off the shelf and see if they fit like mine do.
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Make your own, make existing fit, check with Van's about a replacement. Is there any other course of action?? Based on the pic, I'd shim it and move on.
These kits have improved immensely over the last 10-15 yrs. But they're still kits. You'll need to look at a production plane if you don't want to have to deal with this type of thing.
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10-17-2014, 10:40 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central IL
Posts: 5,516
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Sometimes it is a matter of adjustment. You don't really say if the feet are square, I would simply mount and lean the tops until the holes line up, It won't be much. If that works, it means that the feet just might not be square.
Some day you might take apart a car, like the fenders, doors, etc. Now, they all fit nicely when they were removed, but I can guarantee that they won't fit when you reassemble. Were they all bad? No, a lot is technique of assembly.
Final comment - and yes, sometimes they are just made wrong.
Process control is not one of Van's strengths (yet). They do seem to be improving. When they are perfect, will a kit cost the same as a "production" airplane?
__________________
Bill
RV-7
Lord Kelvin:
“I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about,
and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you
cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge
is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind.”
Last edited by BillL : 10-17-2014 at 10:43 AM.
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