When to Rivet the Upper Forward Fuselage

[carrollcw]

Like everyone has said, wait as long as you can, and THEN WAIT LONGER!!! If you haven't finished wiring, you shouldn't even be thinking of riveting it yet.

I thought I had everything done, but quickly realized there was more to do once I riveted it on. Don't be in a hurry. Your back will thank you.

As to the the support ribs, I too cut them off and then fabricated 2 ribs that operated as both support ribs for the panel and to support the radio stack/nav stack in the middle.

[grayforge]

A couple questions about riveting the forward top skin:

1. Do you leave the electronic components in place when riveting? I worry about the rivet gun vibrations damaging equipment attached to ribs, like the AHRS, Engine Monitor box, ADS-B Receiver, Transponder, etc.
2. How do you fit the top engine cowl without riveting the forward top skin? I'm using Skybolts... just cleco the tabs on?

Thanks,
Russ

[Bugsy]

The sky bolts have some give to them, not a lot. Plus as the cowl heats up it tend to flex and settle in to the right spot once everything is tight.

With regard to the forward skin, whenever you have it cleakoed in place for fitting something make sure that you use a ton of clecos. Normal we just put in a couple clecos to hold a piece in place, for the forward skin I only skipped every other hole, it used up my whole bucket of clecos. That will get it as close to right as you can. It will shift a bit when you rivet. Just use a ton of clecos.

[Rupester]

You can buy all-aluminum cheapo blind rivets in 3/32 size ... they come out with a mere touch of a drill. I used those in every 2nd or 3rd rivet hole to hold the Camlok strips in place until I was ready to rivet the front top panel. You can find those rivets at McMaster-Carr... i'd have to look for the product number.