RV-9A main gear weldments question

Steve Barnes · #1 01-12-2011, 08:12 PM

I just inserted the left gear leg into the weldment (this was the tightest one I have ever installed) About an hour of very hard twisting and pushing. Once in, I went to install the #5 bolt and it wouldn't fit. I thought the hole got buggered up so I carefully checked it and it was OK. Put the bolt on the bottom side and went in fine. I measured the top hole and it was a 9/32 hole and the bottom hole was a #5. I checked the right side and exactly the same. Am I missing something? It didn't say in the plans that there had to be drill to fit on the weldment.

Steve Barnes "The Builders Coach"

jwyatt · #2 01-12-2011, 08:21 PM

My circa-2009 weldments were the same way; one side of the weldment tube is undersized, and definitely needed to be match-drilled. I used a 5/16 undersize reamer and it turned out nicely.

Steve Barnes · #3 01-12-2011, 09:34 PM

I thought about doing that, but have to come up from the bottom. Doable but a hassle.

Steve