alpinelakespilot2000
Well Known Member
Kind of hard to describe but I'll do my best...
Per instructions: the FAB top plate (VA-131B) is to be drilled to the 6 holes in FAB carb plate (VA-131A). The carb plate aligns itself straight forward and aft. Then the top plate must be rotated in order to align the forward portion of the top plate with the cowl air scoop.
When I prepare to do this, however, it is impossible to get good edge distance for the six 3/16 holes that attached the top plate to the carb plate because Van's has already cut a filter shaped oval in the top plate. Two of the six holes that I would have to drill in the top plate would have 9/32 or 10/32 edge distance respectively from the precut oval opening.
Two main questions:
1. Is this edge distance issue on the top plate around the precut oval common and, if so, is it OK? Or am I am I incorrectly understanding how the FAB is put together? (With all the FAB failures I've read here recently, this edge distance seems of extra concern.)
2. Since the filter is centered on the oval carb plate (and since the top plate does not align with carb plate) I assume I will have to cut out more of the oval opening Van's provides on the top plate--but in a different orientation--in order to allow the top plate to sit AROUND the circumference of the filter?
It seems like both of these would really be a non issue if Van's would refrain from cutting any oval out of the top plate in the first place, thus letting the builder cut the oval per his/her installation. But again maybe I'm missing something.
I know this probably is hard to follow, but any help on these two questions would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks.
Per instructions: the FAB top plate (VA-131B) is to be drilled to the 6 holes in FAB carb plate (VA-131A). The carb plate aligns itself straight forward and aft. Then the top plate must be rotated in order to align the forward portion of the top plate with the cowl air scoop.
When I prepare to do this, however, it is impossible to get good edge distance for the six 3/16 holes that attached the top plate to the carb plate because Van's has already cut a filter shaped oval in the top plate. Two of the six holes that I would have to drill in the top plate would have 9/32 or 10/32 edge distance respectively from the precut oval opening.
Two main questions:
1. Is this edge distance issue on the top plate around the precut oval common and, if so, is it OK? Or am I am I incorrectly understanding how the FAB is put together? (With all the FAB failures I've read here recently, this edge distance seems of extra concern.)
2. Since the filter is centered on the oval carb plate (and since the top plate does not align with carb plate) I assume I will have to cut out more of the oval opening Van's provides on the top plate--but in a different orientation--in order to allow the top plate to sit AROUND the circumference of the filter?
It seems like both of these would really be a non issue if Van's would refrain from cutting any oval out of the top plate in the first place, thus letting the builder cut the oval per his/her installation. But again maybe I'm missing something.
I know this probably is hard to follow, but any help on these two questions would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks.
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