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Keeping oil door open

Cth6

Cth6

Well Known Member
I remember seeing a post in the past, but can't find it with search. How are others securing their oil door open?

I have a spring loaded oil door, but looking for suggestions on how to secure it in the open position beyond the spring force when I walk away from the plane on the flight line for breakfast. My concern is getting an unfortunate prop blast that stresses the hinge. Balancing that with the value of engine cooling in the hot FL sun.
 
Tony_T said:
I made several of these for my RV12 buddies at the airport.

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The design intent of the new style oil door hinge as used on the RV-12 and 14 is that the pivot bolt get torqued just tight enough that there’s some friction in the pivot point where the door will stay open, but is still easily closed with hand pressure.
It is not too difficult to get it adjusted properly and then no extra attachment is needed.
 
The usefulness of an external attachment is not limited to the RV-12. This is the one that I copied, and it is on an RV-7 which may or may not have an adjustable pivot bolt on the oil door. That feature may only be on the newer RV-12 and the 14 as said in Post #4.

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Tony_T said:
The usefulness of an external attachment is not limited to the RV-12. This is the one that I copied, and it is on an RV-7 which may or may not have an adjustable pivot bolt on the oil door. That feature may only be on the newer RV-12 and the 14 as said in Post #4.

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Exactly what I am doing. Need to run up to skybolt next week.
 
Cth6 said:
Balancing that with the value of engine cooling in the hot FL sun.
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Better yet, I purchased an inexpensive computer tower cooling fan and an inexpensive programmable timer and made a flat piece of fiberglass the size of the oil door opening (with notches dremeled where the hinges come through the opening). Used the dremel to cut the correct airflow opening in the fiberglass piece and wired it with a connector that fits my battery tender connection.

In the summer I put it in place when I get to my destination and set it to suck out hot air from under the cowling for 30 minutes.

The oil door cannot close when this is sitting on the opening.
 

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Just for a bit of clarity, I am more concerned about it being forced open further. Far too many pilots around here believe you need to taxi at 2000 RPM dragging the brakes.
 
Cth6 said:
Just for a bit of clarity, I am more concerned about it being forced open further. Far too many pilots around here believe you need to taxi at 2000 RPM dragging the brakes.
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I learned my lesson. Flight schools across from me. They always sit there instead of taxi down the row away from open hangars. One day my cowl was beside me. Then it wasn't. It slid across the hangar. Yep, shiny side down. I had to sand and repaint it. Ever since then I am very aware of anything that can blow in the wind.
I talked to them, but they don't care. Time builder kids headed to the airlines. Karma.
 
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