Van's Air Force
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Fuselage Rotisserie
- Thread starter RV8R999
- Start date
flyingbeaver26
Active Member
I have one I need to sell
Ken,
Here are some pictures of one I welded together. Its in Austin though. I'll sell it for $250. There are four pices. I used it for building both wings and then used it for the fuse. Its spins like its on bearings. Shipping might make it difficult for you.
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradvier/RVPics?feat=directlink
Ken,
Here are some pictures of one I welded together. Its in Austin though. I'll sell it for $250. There are four pices. I used it for building both wings and then used it for the fuse. Its spins like its on bearings. Shipping might make it difficult for you.
http://picasaweb.google.com/bradvier/RVPics?feat=directlink
Rick6a
Well Known Member
Having done it both ways, I simply cannot overstate how much easier a rotisserrie makes working on the fuselage. Oftentimes, you can work sitting on a stool next to the cockpit. Among other things, that made wiring my fuselage very easy.
I made the rotisserie by buying a cheap JC Whitney (or was it Harbor Freight?) automotive engine mount...actually at the time I bought 2 TWO mounts because I thought I needed one to support the aft fuselage. WRONG. Actually a padded sawhorse worked just fine and I could still rotate the fuselage by myself just making sure I did not risk "walking" the fuselage off of it! I modified the engine mount by bolting (I'm not a welder) Home Depot angle iron I sized long enough to reach 4 points on the firewall. I gave the unused and unmodified engine mount to a local Zenith builder and as far as I know the rotisserrie I used on my -8 is now supporting an RV-7A project.
Make and use a rotiserrie. There is no question it will improve your mood dramatically.
I made the rotisserie by buying a cheap JC Whitney (or was it Harbor Freight?) automotive engine mount...actually at the time I bought 2 TWO mounts because I thought I needed one to support the aft fuselage. WRONG. Actually a padded sawhorse worked just fine and I could still rotate the fuselage by myself just making sure I did not risk "walking" the fuselage off of it! I modified the engine mount by bolting (I'm not a welder) Home Depot angle iron I sized long enough to reach 4 points on the firewall. I gave the unused and unmodified engine mount to a local Zenith builder and as far as I know the rotisserrie I used on my -8 is now supporting an RV-7A project.
Make and use a rotiserrie. There is no question it will improve your mood dramatically.
I agree 100% with Rick. The rotisserie is the way to go. I used scrap lumber to mount the fuse to the engine stand. Not sure if your building a TW, but I used a piece of gas pipe as a temporary rear spring and clamped it in a sawhorse. I added some castoring wheels to the sawhorse base and could move the fuse around easily.
vlittle
Well Known Member
Rotisserie
On my first project, I made this rotisserie.
It was cheap to make, but took some time. The attachements to the fuse are not shown, but I made those out of wood as well.
http://www.vx-aviation.com/rv-9a/photos/Tools/pivot_stand.pdf
It originally was designed as a cradle for an engine crate to allow inversion of an engine that was pickled. Sold engine, redesigned for fuse rotisserie.
Vern
On my first project, I made this rotisserie.
It was cheap to make, but took some time. The attachements to the fuse are not shown, but I made those out of wood as well.
http://www.vx-aviation.com/rv-9a/photos/Tools/pivot_stand.pdf
It originally was designed as a cradle for an engine crate to allow inversion of an engine that was pickled. Sold engine, redesigned for fuse rotisserie.
Vern
sglynn
Well Known Member
Fuselage rotisserie
So, you guys drilled the engine mount bolt holes in the firewall. Is there any other good way to attach the firewall besides drilling those? I'm almost ready for a rotisserie, but haven't drilled the engine mount holes yet. I was thinking just clamp some 2X4s on the firewall and attach the Harbor Freight thing to it.
So, you guys drilled the engine mount bolt holes in the firewall. Is there any other good way to attach the firewall besides drilling those? I'm almost ready for a rotisserie, but haven't drilled the engine mount holes yet. I was thinking just clamp some 2X4s on the firewall and attach the Harbor Freight thing to it.
Rick6a
Well Known Member
Refer to a Drill Index Chart
This is one of the many, many situations that becoming familiar with a drill index chart can provide illuminating and useful information to any builder. Widely available and free from multiple sources, I suggest taping a drill index chart to a convenient workshop wall. Learn to refer to it often:
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=11008&highlight=Drill+Index+Chart
Example:
I attached that part of the rotisserie assembly to the firewall by drilling the four corner holes to accept AN3 bolts (.1875 = 3/16"). Since those holes are eventually drilled to accomodate AN6 bolts (.375 = 3/8") through the engine mount, it becomes obvious that plenty of material remains to drill to full size later.
This is one of the many, many situations that becoming familiar with a drill index chart can provide illuminating and useful information to any builder. Widely available and free from multiple sources, I suggest taping a drill index chart to a convenient workshop wall. Learn to refer to it often:
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=11008&highlight=Drill+Index+Chart
Example:
I attached that part of the rotisserie assembly to the firewall by drilling the four corner holes to accept AN3 bolts (.1875 = 3/16"). Since those holes are eventually drilled to accomodate AN6 bolts (.375 = 3/8") through the engine mount, it becomes obvious that plenty of material remains to drill to full size later.
sglynn
Well Known Member
Drilling these engine mount holes w/o the mount
Rick, I appreciate your input on this thread. I am making the same kind of rotisserie for my RV-7A. I am almost ready to drill the holes through the firewall and I do not have an engine mount. So a couple quick questions. I plan to drill them #12 for AN3 at this point and will enlarge later.
Is there any angle thru the firewall that is important to the mount? Or can I drill them straight thru, perpendicular to the stainless firewall, for now?
And also, do you drill them thru the existing holes in the stainless firewall that Van's put there? Is this the right location?
And so later when I drill the "real" engine mount holes the location, size and angle will all get fixed if I drill a straight thru hole now with a #12 size bit centered on the existing holes on the stainless firewall?
much appreciated.
Rick, I appreciate your input on this thread. I am making the same kind of rotisserie for my RV-7A. I am almost ready to drill the holes through the firewall and I do not have an engine mount. So a couple quick questions. I plan to drill them #12 for AN3 at this point and will enlarge later.
Is there any angle thru the firewall that is important to the mount? Or can I drill them straight thru, perpendicular to the stainless firewall, for now?
And also, do you drill them thru the existing holes in the stainless firewall that Van's put there? Is this the right location?
And so later when I drill the "real" engine mount holes the location, size and angle will all get fixed if I drill a straight thru hole now with a #12 size bit centered on the existing holes on the stainless firewall?
much appreciated.
The holes will be perpendicular to the stainless firewall.
When I drilled my engine mount, the holes in the stainless firewall were offset somewhat from the center of the engine mount holes. They were close enough that opening up the holes to full size completely drilled out the "starter holes" in the firewall. So short answer is yes, use the starter holes in the firewall.
As above.
Rick6a
Well Known Member
Steve,
I am not familiar with the -7 series design so before drilling any holes it is best to consult with Van's or another builder who definitely knows for sure.
On my -8, the firewall already came with predrilled holes that matched the engine mount and I merely drilled them up to 3/16" to accept AN3 bolts for the rotisserie.
I can only speak to the -8. Those engine mount locations tie into steel gussets tied into the longerons and side skins and I would not drill those engine mount locations until those steel gussets are permanently attached with bolts and rivets.
I am not familiar with the -7 series design so before drilling any holes it is best to consult with Van's or another builder who definitely knows for sure.
On my -8, the firewall already came with predrilled holes that matched the engine mount and I merely drilled them up to 3/16" to accept AN3 bolts for the rotisserie.
I can only speak to the -8. Those engine mount locations tie into steel gussets tied into the longerons and side skins and I would not drill those engine mount locations until those steel gussets are permanently attached with bolts and rivets.
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