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06-01-2017, 10:44 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: San Jose
Posts: 187
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Trimming Fiberglass wheel pants
I am planning to replace the tires soon on my 8a.
I had bought a pair of 5.0-5 monster retreads and understand that might need to trim the wheel pants for clearance a little bit.
My question is what is the simplest way of trimming them - they are painted and I have almost no fiber glass experience  |
06-02-2017, 12:33 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Dubai
Posts: 134
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I find a Dremmel with a sanding drum to be the best ,to trim fibreglass with.
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06-02-2017, 12:37 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Ramona, CA
Posts: 2,367
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I was surprised at how much larger the hole needs to be for the Monster Retreads. I went at it with the cut off wheel and die grinder and then used some 80 grit sandpaper on a long, round cylindrical sanding block to get the contour right. Work up to it slowly so you don't take too much off.
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06-02-2017, 06:06 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Hales Corners, WI
Posts: 981
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Do make sure to give "enough" clearance to the tire to accommodate the tire profile change during a not so smooth landing though. Cut mine too close and after I dropped one in one day, I found the rearward portion of the sides of the openings ripped out. The tire squishes out a bit and can snag the pant and tear the heck out of it. Repaired and widened the opening and no problems since. 
__________________
Jesse Bentley
N229Z - RV-8 - Flying - Livin' the dream!
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06-02-2017, 07:39 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Garden City, Tx
Posts: 5,120
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Veetail88
Do make sure to give "enough" clearance to the tire to accommodate the tire profile change during a not so smooth landing though. Cut mine too close and after I dropped one in one day, I found the rearward portion of the sides of the openings ripped out. The tire squishes out a bit and can snag the pant and tear the heck out of it. Repaired and widened the opening and no problems since. |
Same here - I'm rebuilding a nosewheel fairing right now because I had the clearance too tight and it grabbed.
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Greg Niehues - SEL, IFR, Repairman Cert.
Garden City, TX VAF 2020 dues paid
N16GN flying 700 hrs and counting; IO360, SDS, WWRV200, Dynon HDX, 430W
Built an off-plan RV9A with too much fuel and too much HP. Should drop dead any minute now. 
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06-02-2017, 09:40 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: santa barbara, CA
Posts: 1,681
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When trimming the wheel pants openings, you really need to account for the possibility of a tire going completely flat. Ask me how I know.
Erich
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06-02-2017, 05:31 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 774
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I would advise about 1/2 inch of clearance of a fully inflated tire to be on the safe side. A Dremel tool or hand drill with a sanding drum attachment work well.
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06-02-2017, 10:22 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Laguna Hills, CA
Posts: 1,805
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Quote:
Originally Posted by woodmanrog
I would advise about 1/2 inch of clearance of a fully inflated tire to be on the safe side. A Dremel tool or hand drill with a sanding drum attachment work well.
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Good call. I made sure I could get my thumb between the tire and wheel pant opening all the way around, and my thumb's about 3/4" wide.
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Doug
RV-9A "slider"
Flew to Osh in 2017, 2018 & 2019! 
Tail number N427DK
Donation made for 2020
You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky -- Amelia Earhart
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