Well, yesterday I managed to install a grand total of four bolts on my -7A. It took me all day, allowing for a couple of breaks. Blood was spilled in the process, I ache all over today, and I have bruises all over my arms.
These were the bottom four close-tolerance bolts on the right wing on my -7A. Putting the bolts in wasnt bad, it was getting the nuts on them and tightened that totally sucked. To make a tough job even harder, I had previously run a wad of wires thru a hole in the landing gear weldment in the area where the threaded portion of each bolt exposes itself, and I really didnt want to rip these out and have to re-do them. Warning to others: Run your wires to avoid the area where the nuts on your bottom wing attach bolts will be!
I was able to get the four nuts on only after fabricating special nut-holding strips of aluminum sheet and finally getting each nut started on the threads after many many unsuccessful attempts on each nut. Im telling you, it was enough to make me wish I had gotten a tail dragger!
Next weekend, I move on to the bottom four bolts on the left wing. Cant wait - NOT! Still debating whether to yank all the wires in that area first, but am leaning that way, as I think it may reduce the blood and bruising.
Even without the wires in the way, I cant imagine how this job would ever become easy, but if any of you have some tips, my body would appreciate it.
erich weaver
These were the bottom four close-tolerance bolts on the right wing on my -7A. Putting the bolts in wasnt bad, it was getting the nuts on them and tightened that totally sucked. To make a tough job even harder, I had previously run a wad of wires thru a hole in the landing gear weldment in the area where the threaded portion of each bolt exposes itself, and I really didnt want to rip these out and have to re-do them. Warning to others: Run your wires to avoid the area where the nuts on your bottom wing attach bolts will be!
I was able to get the four nuts on only after fabricating special nut-holding strips of aluminum sheet and finally getting each nut started on the threads after many many unsuccessful attempts on each nut. Im telling you, it was enough to make me wish I had gotten a tail dragger!
Next weekend, I move on to the bottom four bolts on the left wing. Cant wait - NOT! Still debating whether to yank all the wires in that area first, but am leaning that way, as I think it may reduce the blood and bruising.
Even without the wires in the way, I cant imagine how this job would ever become easy, but if any of you have some tips, my body would appreciate it.
erich weaver