Cowl Oil Door

[77bonanza]

What type of fastener do you recommend for the oil door? There has to be a better solution than the fasteners recommended by Van’s.

[alpinelakespilot2000]

Here's what happens if you plug "oil door latch" in the search function above.
https://vansairforce.net/community/s...rchid=47737400
Hope this helps, and happy reading

[bjdecker]

I replaced the "Winged" studs with camloc 26S8-4; seemed the simplest and mostly solved my issue with things sticking out into the boundary layer...

There are dozens of really cool ideas running around on the forum (hidden latch, press to release, double cam action split fasteners, etc etc.)

[MED]

I used Camlock KM610 flush latches and a spring hinge from Cleveland Tools. Looks clean and works great. Make sure you get Camlocks for the correct thickness (e.g., 0.064 inch).

[rvanstory]

Here's what I used. Works great. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...ch-surplus.php

[rvanstory]

Originally Posted by rvanstory

Here's what I used. Works great. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...ch-surplus.php

Thought a pic would help....

[Bill Boyd]

I'll put in a plug for the way I did it in the -10. Wouldn't change a thing about it.
https://vansairforce.net/community/s...&postcount=224

[CJ in EP]

The trick to the nice fit was to use an English wheel to shape the aluminum door for a good fit, giving the door a good coating of mold release, and buttering it in well with micro. Once the micro dried I sanded the excess off to the surface of the door, popped the door out, and carefully sanded back the edges of the door. I'll be able to adjust this as necessary when it comes time for paint.

The aluminum reinforcement inside the cowl was bonded in with some remaining proseal and riveted in place. This most likely wasn't required, and surely adds some weight, but I doubt I'll ever have problems with it. YMMV.

[Erimo]

Mine are flush latches Hartwell H-5000-2. There are many references (depht, thickness and offset depending door and cowl thicknesses).

I preferred to orient the latches in the axis of the plane due the curvature of the oil door on the RV14.
The Cleaveland hinge need a spacer on the cowl attach to keep the oil door flush on it.

I had to fill the Van's holes on the door with flox and compo.

[DanH]

The cowl opening doesn't seem to need any reinforcement, but the door does, in particular if cowl pressure is raised with an exit size reduction.

This door has between six and ten plies of 9 oz glass (don't remember exactly) added to the inside of the glass door, and it still bends a little when the exit is closed down; the load is about 10 lbs. An error on my part; this would have been a good application for carbon's stiffness.

Tg for West epoxy may be a factor too, as well as the single latch.