RV-8 Rear Battery Access Door Pictures!

[Ironflight]

Twenty years ago when I built my -8, I sort of pioneered an access door for my rear mounted batter in the “hat shelf” of the baggage compartment. It’s too small becasue I built it with “scrap on hand”. I am now building a Rocket with essentially the same baggage configuration and rear mounted battery, and would love to see pictures of everyone’s battery access doors so I can steal….uh….learn from what others have done! All to avoid removing ten #8 screws to access the bellcrank/battery/pitch servo….

And my scrap box is huge these days, so materials are no limitation!

Paul

 

[Daida]

”stolen” from here…………
i think it is perfect.

i formed a loop at the end of the pin, put in a nutplate and secure the entire thing with a screw.
Remove 2 screws, pull the pins out, remove hatch. 30 seconds, full access.

 

[Webb]

I can access the front or top of the rear shelf or take the panel out. The frame around the opening is angle to make the shelf stronger. In hindsight, I should have used camlocks. The bulkhead is a door with camlocks that lays down so I can fit something long or light items.

 

[ryoung]

Twenty years ago when I built my -8, I sort of pioneered an access door for my rear mounted batter in the “hat shelf” of the baggage compartment. It’s too small becasue I built it with “scrap on hand”. I am now building a Rocket with essentially the same baggage configuration and rear mounted battery, and would love to see pictures of everyone’s battery access doors so I can steal….uh….learn from what others have done! All to avoid removing ten #8 screws to access the bellcrank/battery/pitch servo….

And my scrap box is huge these days, so materials are no limitation!

Paul

Got this idea from Dan Horton:

 

[Lkitson]

I used a laminate cutting blade in a utility knife to cut the access doors for battery and ELT access in the baggage shelf by making multiple straight scoring cuts in the aluminum. This allowed me to use the cutouts as the doors so I didn't have to make them from scrap pieces. Plus they fit perfectly. I used scrap aluminum to make support flanges and rolled one edge of the two longer battery hatch flanges to add stiffness. Added piano hinges and Hartwell latches that I bought used.

 

[Carl Froehlich]

This is what I did.
Carl

 

[SuperCubDriver]

Here is mine.
There is a stiffener angle below left and right of the access door.

Meanwhile I put a checklist on the inside of the door.

 

[Laird]

Here's mine. Little door for checking ELT

 

[Saville]

I would like to do something like this to make the battery easier to get to, but I'm concerned with structural weakness.

 

[N804RV]

Here's mine. Little door for checking ELT

I'm buying a second hatshelf so I can do this once the airplane is flying and I get the hankering to cut up and rivet something.

 

[Rich Pulman]

I used a laminate cutting blade in a utility knife to cut the access doors for battery and ELT access in the baggage shelf by making multiple straight scoring cuts in the aluminum. This allowed me to use the cutouts as the doors so I didn't have to make them from scrap pieces. Plus they fit perfectly. I used scrap aluminum to make support flanges and rolled one edge of the two longer battery hatch flanges to add stiffness. Added piano hinges and Hartwell latches that I bought used.

I’m trying to find some of those latches but I’m feeling dumb. What are they called?

 

[RV7 To Go]

I’m trying to find some of those latches but I’m feeling dumb. What are they called?

Hartwell latches available at ACS but less expensive on eBay.

 

[Rich Pulman]

Hartwell latches available at ACS but less expensive on eBay.

Thank you!

 

[Lkitson]

Hartwell latches available at ACS but less expensive on eBay.

Ebay is where I bought mine

 

[Little Wing]

 

[Toobuilder]

Twenty years ago when I built my -8…

…we did not have the incredible battery technology we have today. I’d recommend you abandon the rear mounted battery and the compounding issues of bigger, longer, heavier battery cable and move a new tech battery well forward. The main battery for my Rocket is a PC 525 mounted on the bulkhead just fwd of the fuel selector valve. You may have to add a small amount of weight at the tailwheel in the end, but you are likely to net 20 plus pounds saved. And in a Rocket, every ounce counts.

 

[Saville]

View attachment 60219

This seems like a nice design as it extends the angle aluminum almost all the way side to side.

 

[Carl Froehlich]

I would like to do something like this to make the battery easier to get to, but I'm concerned with structural weakness.

This was my concern as well. See post #6 on how I address this.

Carl

 

[Saville]

This was my concern as well. See post #6 on how I address this.

Carl

Hi Carl,

I studied your pictures carefully. I take it that the structural support that the un-modified baggage shelf provides is for and aft and now side to side?

 

[Carl Froehlich]

Hi Carl,

I studied your pictures carefully. I take it that the structural support that the un-modified baggage shelf provides is for and aft and now side to side?

You will need to ask Van’s, but my understanding is the baggage shelf is considered structural.

Carl

 

[dmn056]

You will need to ask Van’s, but my understanding is the baggage shelf is considered structural.

Carl

Check with Van's, but it can't be carrying any significant structural loads. It's installed with AN515-8R8 screws on about 6" spacing. I'd guess its function is just to prevent baggage getting into the tailcone. If so, the simple door shown in post #8 is probably all that is needed.

 

[Saville]

You will need to ask Van’s, but my understanding is the baggage shelf is considered structural.

Carl

That's my understanding too. Which is why I am trying to figure out which direction the structural support is provided.

 

[Ironflight]

That's my understanding too. Which is why I am tryign to figure out which direction the structural support is provided.

In the side-by-sides, the rear baggage bulkhead is providing torsional stiffness to the fuselage and is very important. I hav never seen a direct statement from Van’s regarding the “hat shelf” that we’re talking about in the -8, but can imagine that it also adds torsional stiffness…but I have no idea if that is critical (required) torsional stiffness or not.

 

[DiekerT]

Here is what I have just completed. I just used a cutoff wheel to make the cut so that I could use the original metal as the door itself. It is secured with a few number 8 screws and is just as strong as the original hat shelf.

 

[vfrazier]

I simply hinged the front wall of the battery compartment cover. Use another piece of hinge in lieu of the screws if you like and you'd not even need tools to get in there.

 

[chaskuss]

Here is how I did mine. The cover panel is secured with flush 1/4 turn fasteners. The old ELT shown has since been upgraded with a new 406 unit.