I just started annualing my RV9A today and when I pulled the front wheel pant (new style pant bracket) I noticed the threads in the front fork for the allen screws, which capture the pant brackets and the tow bar goes over are deteriorating. I remember using locktite on them last year because they'd loosened up a bit over the prior year. Now there's a pastey residue in the threads which is aluminum powder and locktite. Has anyone else had this problem?
In researching the plans, I noticed that with the old style wheel pant brackets, in addition to a flat washer, there was also a lock washer under the allen screw. Now that the allen screw captures the new wheel pant bracket, it would be very difficult or impossible to get a lock washer in place, at least where it would do any good. The allen screws were nice and tight this year when I removed them, so the locktite did it's job but I don't want the threads to continue deteriorating.
I think the real problem is a steel allen screw inserted into the aluminum threads of the fork when the allen screw has to be removed and retightened every time the wheel pant is removed, which can be several times per year. The real solution might be a steel bushing pressed into the fork which can then be re-threaded for the allen screw. Any other thoughts or solutions?
Thanks in advance.
Rick Luck
N109RV
RV9A
In researching the plans, I noticed that with the old style wheel pant brackets, in addition to a flat washer, there was also a lock washer under the allen screw. Now that the allen screw captures the new wheel pant bracket, it would be very difficult or impossible to get a lock washer in place, at least where it would do any good. The allen screws were nice and tight this year when I removed them, so the locktite did it's job but I don't want the threads to continue deteriorating.
I think the real problem is a steel allen screw inserted into the aluminum threads of the fork when the allen screw has to be removed and retightened every time the wheel pant is removed, which can be several times per year. The real solution might be a steel bushing pressed into the fork which can then be re-threaded for the allen screw. Any other thoughts or solutions?
Thanks in advance.
Rick Luck
N109RV
RV9A