Cowl Ideas Wanted

[David Paule]

I'm building an RV-3B. Its cowl is much like the RV-4 cowl, with the cheeks. As I work on the lower cowl, I've been using these aluminum tabs, clecoed to the bottom cowl, as a convenience during installation. My procedure now is to:

Hang a bungee over the engine mount,
Raise the cowl up to the fuselage,
Supporting it with one hand, while
Snapping the bungee on with the other.

Then I can fasten the cowling to the fuselage when it's convenient.



This works pretty well. But now I want to make the arrangement permanent and get rid of the metal bits. My question, is how should I replace these in composite?

I don't want to just make green tabs with a drilled hole as that would be crude. I'd like to have something that has a nicely rounded loop to clip the bungee to, but haven't come up with the sort of idea that's appealing.

Anyone?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[KiloPapa]

Not composite but: How about a short length of aluminum hinge. Half riveted to the cowl and a hole in the free half.

 

[fixnflyguy]

I don't have any "assist" attachments on my RV-4 cowl, but I have an old office chair with a screw jack up/down feature that I removed the back from It has some eggcrate foam on it and I have set my cowl on that to roll it under. Its easier if i just sit on that chair, leave the cowl on my lap and scoot under, then lift it up. Depending on how your baffle at the air inlets fit, the cowl easily sits on the gear leg upper end while he front is finagled in. I always tape the gear leg fairings and the nose of the cowling where it goes past the spinner.

 

[David Paule]

I want to do a nicer design in composite. I'm not looking for alternative tooling or techniques here, friends. Thanks, though.

More ideas appreciated!

Dave

 

[wirejock]

You already have a couple holes each side and a set up that works for you.
So, I would fab the fiberglass parts as you describe and bond them in place using the holes for clekos till it cures. Then use the piece of the existing clips as a backing for rivets to add structure. I know it shouldn't separate, but if it does, it ruins a good day and possibly a nice paint job. You obviously have a system that works. That's important.

Photo is my lower cowl hoist. I rests on the valve covers. It works great. However, mine is an "A" model and I have Skybolts to use for the lifting clips. My cowl is also very different because the inlets are not split.
Just an idea.