Tip: Hidden Hinge Oil Door

[f1rocket]

If you mount the oil door on the cowling the way the plans show you, your door will work just fine. However, over time, you'll notice a black streak on your cowl from the hinge line streaking aft. I'm not sure of why the streak forms, but it does. So on my Rocket, I fabricated a hidden hinge on the door.

I bent some aluminum to make a hinge as shown. I also reinforced the hinge mounting area with about 10 plys of fiberglass. The idea is to allow the door to swing up and away and not hit the cowl until the hinge is stopped by the lip in the opening.

When you're done, it looks like this.

[RudiGreyling]

Another very nice tip from Randy...thanks

[akarmy]

And here are some pictures of my very similar install.

Cowl install pictures

[Tom Maxwell]

Would you please provide the source of the latch? Also, is the door spring loaded in any way (doesn't appear to be) or is it loose flapping except when latched?

[Aviax, Inc.]

Here is your source for oil door hidden latch system!

This state of the art latch mechanism is made out of 6061 anodized aluminum with a stainless steel latch pin, pull cable with handle, and latch recepticle. Latch recepticle operates on a bevel to bevel sliding action, allowing automatic bolt lock when oil door is shut.

The Kit includes the 6061 anodized aluminum hinge a complex shape designed from extrusion. Thouough instructions include builders tips, and the much needed reinforcement designed out of carbon fiber, to prevent in-flight flexing of the oil door.


Pictures of hidden oil door latch system mounted on a RV 7.


(pictures won't download!)
Why?



Here is the link to more hidden oil door latch systems, mounted on different planes we have built.

http://www.advancedaviationinc.com

The Hidden Oil Door Latch kit is available through:
Aviax, Inc.
1661 N.E. Cackler Ln.
Bend, Or. 97701
Order though e-mail at: aaronbrook@bendbroadband.com

[DeltaRomeo]

How to insert pictures:
http://www.vansairforce.net/articles...ums/images.htm

Best,

[Hwood]

You can always count on Doug to be looking over your shoulder.....

Hwood

[rvpilot]

I believe the hinges shown in Andy's picture are the ones available from McMaster Carr, P/N 11205A35 - $3.60 each, 11205A36 - $7.45 each. P/N's are from Dan Checkoway's site! Used them on my -8, worked great!
Bill Waters

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by Aviax, Inc.

Here is your source for oil door hidden latch system! This state of the art latch mechanism........

Nice, but no offense, $200 is a bit steep (that's Lancair money). There is an easier way to have a hidden latch. Use some spare piano hinge and wire. Lighter, cheaper (free if you have spare hinge) and looks great. (Stole idea from RV featured in EAA Sport Aviation). Cheers George

[dan]

Originally Posted by rvpilot

I believe the hinges shown in Andy's picture are the ones available from McMaster Carr, P/N 11205A35 - $3.60 each, 11205A36 - $7.45 each. P/N's are from Dan Checkoway's site! Used them on my -8, worked great!
Bill Waters

Here's a message from Tom Sargent that appeared on the Matronics rv-list a couple of weeks ago. Thanks much to Tom for pointing out a great source for aluminum, not steel, hinge brackets equivalent to the steel ones I bought from McMaster. They're cheap, too!

FWIW, I found a concealed hinge that I believe will work well for an oil
door. It is like the hinges from McMaster-Carr that I have seen
referenced on the list before, except that it is made of aluminum
instead of steel.

http://www.guden.com/display-chh.asp

The Guden part number is NHAL9290. I think if it is positioned
properly, it should allow the door to swing open about 120 deg., so it
should stay propped open.
--
Tom Sargent
RV-6A, Cowling