I was actually looking forward to fitting the cowling as it seemed to mark a milestone... but now I realize why others don't like it ![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I'm using the Skybolt complete kit rather than hinges.
I fit the upper cowl to the spinner back plate with 3/16" clearance using shims around the perimeter and trimmed at the firewall to match. It all came out great and I was happy.
So I spend some time cleaning up the lower cowl inner inlet flanges and cut away about 1/2" from the outer inlet flange to about 6" aft to allow the two halves to mate (roughly).
When I trial fit the lower cowl to the spinner backplate using the same 3/16" spacers I notice the whole cowl is too short at the firewall by about 1/16". Then when I put the upper cowl clecoed in place and align the forward faces of both cowls the lower cowl ring is a full 1/2" lower than the spinner backplate - basically these things are not round when matted together are they? I guess I can shorten the upper female flanges to allow the lower cowl face to slide upward to match the spinner, however; this increases the gap at the lower firewall corner as I cannot simply translate the whole lower section upward but rather have to rotate the forward face instead - a conundrum???
I'm surprised the lower cowl is too short and expected to trim a bit off just like the upper. Hmmm
Im not so worried about the interface between the cowl and lower firewall as the skybolt system provides plenty of structure but I'll have to fix the cosmetic 1/16 to 1/8" gap though![Frown :( :(](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I'm assuming most of you had to really work the spinner flange area quite a bit to get it round and even? Any tips? I suppose an alternative would be to increase the gap to 3/8" and redo the upper cowl fit to allow some excess to be trimmed from the lower
but that seems like a really large gap to me. Any thoughts?
Thanks!
I'm using the Skybolt complete kit rather than hinges.
I fit the upper cowl to the spinner back plate with 3/16" clearance using shims around the perimeter and trimmed at the firewall to match. It all came out great and I was happy.
So I spend some time cleaning up the lower cowl inner inlet flanges and cut away about 1/2" from the outer inlet flange to about 6" aft to allow the two halves to mate (roughly).
When I trial fit the lower cowl to the spinner backplate using the same 3/16" spacers I notice the whole cowl is too short at the firewall by about 1/16". Then when I put the upper cowl clecoed in place and align the forward faces of both cowls the lower cowl ring is a full 1/2" lower than the spinner backplate - basically these things are not round when matted together are they? I guess I can shorten the upper female flanges to allow the lower cowl face to slide upward to match the spinner, however; this increases the gap at the lower firewall corner as I cannot simply translate the whole lower section upward but rather have to rotate the forward face instead - a conundrum???
I'm surprised the lower cowl is too short and expected to trim a bit off just like the upper. Hmmm
Im not so worried about the interface between the cowl and lower firewall as the skybolt system provides plenty of structure but I'll have to fix the cosmetic 1/16 to 1/8" gap though
I'm assuming most of you had to really work the spinner flange area quite a bit to get it round and even? Any tips? I suppose an alternative would be to increase the gap to 3/8" and redo the upper cowl fit to allow some excess to be trimmed from the lower
Thanks!