RV-8 baggage door

[Pmatt]

I'm new to the forum so this may be an old topic. Has anyone come up with a prop rod or gas strut modification to hold the RV-8 baggage door open?

[VA Maule]

12” long old fashion screen door spring, with cloth jacket about 24” long fitted over it.

[Mikeyb]

Another option

http://forum.matronics.com/viewtopic...2e6e7212f6bca1

[scsmith]

There is a baggage door support spring that I believe was original equipment on some Beechcraft baggage door. But don't try to buy it as a Beechcraft part, because it would be stupid-expensive. But You can find the same part sold generically. I think mine was something like $10.

It is a 'coil-locked' spring with nice brackets on each end. When you want to close the door, you poke the spring in the middle and it essentially folds in half and all its support effect goes away.

When you open the door the spring straightens out and holds the door open.

I'll try to find a vendor for it.

[rv8ch]

About $5 on ebay. Kitchen cabinet struts.



http://www.rv8.ch/baggage-door-hydraulic-gas-strut/

Note that there are different strengths - I found that the 20N struts (about 5 lbs) was good for my door.

[goatflieg]

I wanted mine to be supported from both sides to increase rigidity and better protection from wind gusts, so I cobbled this together. Stupid-complicated-yet-simple, I may refine it in the future. The upper strut pins are pulled into the latch pin holes with springs when the latch is open (plastic tubing was placed over the springs after this photo was taken). The lower strut pins insert into the latch pin blocks and are held in place with a flared length of aluminum tube which is flexed to install and remove. It will do for now.

[74-07]

Originally Posted by rv8ch

About $5 on ebay. Kitchen cabinet struts.

Attachment 21079

http://www.rv8.ch/baggage-door-hydraulic-gas-strut/

Note that there are different strengths - I found that the 20N struts (about 5 lbs) was good for my door.

Mickey, do you recall the length? I'm looking at them on ebay and they come in different lengths.

[rv8ch]

Originally Posted by 74-07

Mickey, do you recall the length? I'm looking at them on ebay and they come in different lengths.

Looked through my emails from ebay and they don't mention the length, and the item that I bought brings up a 404 error on ebay. I can measure it next time I'm in the hanger. I doubt it will make a huge difference if they are + or - a couple of inches - you can change the position on both the door and where it mounts inside the fuselage to match the length. I put it on the rear side of the baggage door to avoid more holes in the FW.

[RYOUNG]

I plan to use this spring from Performance Aero that was once mentioned in previous posts.

[Lkitson]

Originally Posted by Mikeyb

Another option

http://forum.matronics.com/viewtopic...2e6e7212f6bca1

I used the one from McMaster Carr Described in the link above and it works great. Hold's the door open when it's open and holds it closed when it's in the closed position. You just need to be sure to get the brackets in the right spot to get the full range of the strut.