I am looking for an easier way to check my tire pressure on my RV-7A. Currently I have small, 1” x 2” rectangular panel, secured by screws, that I have to remove every time I want to check my tire pressure on all wheels. Has anyone invented a spring-hinged small access door so I don’t have to hassle with the screws?
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Spring loaded access door on wheel pants to check/refill tire pressure on RV-7A?
- Thread starter Mils1977
- Start date
Lkitson
Well Known Member
I used these spring loaded doors on my 8. I bought them from AC Spruce but i don't see them listed on their US website anymore.
This inflation tool from Cleaveland works great to get to the valve stem through the door.
I marked lines on the tires with tire paint to help me know then the stems are aligned with the holes.
This inflation tool from Cleaveland works great to get to the valve stem through the door.
I marked lines on the tires with tire paint to help me know then the stems are aligned with the holes.
I've been thinking about doing something like you describe before my plane goes to paint. Cessna has the spring loaded doors on some of their singles. It wouldn't be hard to fabricate something like this up with a segment of piano hinge and a mousetrap spring like what causes the oil door to pop up.
I had some spring loaded doors on my wheel pants, but they were pretty small....about 1". I found them to be a pain in the arse. Couldn't see inside, and they would spring back against whatever I was attempting to insert. Removed them, enlarged the hole, and used some plastic snap in plugs to cover them up. Works much better for me.
Thanks
Thanks
Thanks
Thanks
I've had a pair of the spring loaded hinges on the shelf for about 18 years & never installed them. You may have just inspired me to do it. They were given to me by another builder & are about 2.5” long. No round push button, but the spring resides on the hinge pin. If you'd like a picture, I can get one. I'm sure you could just make one from a small piece of hinge with a spring from an Ace hardware.
Since my new ER tank is installed & my RV7 small rudder is getting painted, I'm running out of winter projects.
Since my new ER tank is installed & my RV7 small rudder is getting painted, I'm running out of winter projects.
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sansoneservices
Well Known Member
This ^^
Not what the OP asked for exactly, but I used some hole plugs from McMaster Carr. Just drill and shove the plug in. Easy in and out and shiny nickel plated... just have to line them up correctly. I used 1" but should have gone bigger. I put arrows on the wheel pointing in the direction of the valve stem. Pretty easy if you use 70 degree valve tubes.
McMaster sells them by the 50 count bag.... happy to send you 30 or 40...
www.mcmaster.com
McMaster sells them by the 50 count bag.... happy to send you 30 or 40...
McMaster-Carr
McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.
What size would you recommend?Not what the OP asked for exactly, but I used some hole plugs from McMaster Carr. Just drill and shove the plug in. Easy in and out and shiny nickel plated... just have to line them up correctly. I used 1" but should have gone bigger. I put arrows on the wheel pointing in the direction of the valve stem. Pretty easy if you use 70 degree valve tubes.
McMaster sells them by the 50 count bag.... happy to send you 30 or 40...
McMaster-Carr
McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.
has anyone added a hole in the side for easier access to the 7/16" bolt that holds the bracket for rear pant to the wheel?
Thanks
Tom
Rubber NMO (new motorola) hole plug.
3/4". Plenty big enough.
Amazon.
Another shameless plug (pun intended). https://avbrief.com/perfect-alignment-a-wheel-pant-valve-stem-trick/
3/4". Plenty big enough.
Amazon.
Another shameless plug (pun intended). https://avbrief.com/perfect-alignment-a-wheel-pant-valve-stem-trick/
For some time, I’ve had the 1” hole with the flush plastic plug on my various RV’s. That seemed fine except that prying that plug out of there started become a pain. So, I just tossed the plug in the trash, leaving a 1” smooth open hole, and I also have the paint line on the tire to located the tire valve. So look at the pic below. Do you really think that open hole is going to slow you down? What about that great big hole on the bottom with a tire sticking through it?
I don’t think it makes me slower, in fact, I think it might make me a little faster - here’s why: as you’re “flying along in flight” that opening in the bottom of your wheel pant is ‘scooping’ a certain amount of air. That air has no where to go. There is a certain amount of back pressure builds up looking for a place to escape(drag). My little hole relieves a little of that back pressure build up/drag - ergo - I’m a little faster now. Why do I think that way you ask? Allow me to “splain”……. Several years ago, a friend of mine from Louisiana had Radial Rocket (taildragger). It had wheel pants like ours. They were bigger, but pressure recovery ones shaped just like ours. He installed NACA vents in the aft end of the wheel pants, backward so they were sucking instead of blowing. He “claims” he picked up 5 knots with this mod. In the end though, do I really need to be any faster? I say no. I only need to be faster than all my RV formation buddies - and I am!!
I don’t think it makes me slower, in fact, I think it might make me a little faster - here’s why: as you’re “flying along in flight” that opening in the bottom of your wheel pant is ‘scooping’ a certain amount of air. That air has no where to go. There is a certain amount of back pressure builds up looking for a place to escape(drag). My little hole relieves a little of that back pressure build up/drag - ergo - I’m a little faster now. Why do I think that way you ask? Allow me to “splain”……. Several years ago, a friend of mine from Louisiana had Radial Rocket (taildragger). It had wheel pants like ours. They were bigger, but pressure recovery ones shaped just like ours. He installed NACA vents in the aft end of the wheel pants, backward so they were sucking instead of blowing. He “claims” he picked up 5 knots with this mod. In the end though, do I really need to be any faster? I say no. I only need to be faster than all my RV formation buddies - and I am!!
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This.
I put spring doors in the wheel pants of my first build. They failed after a couple of years. Since then I just put a ~5/8” hole in the right spot to insert a 10mm nut driver in the hole to remove the valve cap, and then a valve stem extension on the valve, using the same 10mm nut driver to tighten. I put a vertical white mark on the tire (both inside and outside) where the stem lines up with the hole.
Here is one of many options for a valve extension:
Carl
Or these. Don't have any of the fancy things you won't use. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q5S2ZDG?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3
I’m with you Carl (usually am). I have one of those 6” extension tools that make filling/checking my tires quick and easy.
The one inch dia was a little small. I'm not sure those plugs get much bigger. I drew arrows on wheel pointing in the direction of stem so I knew which way to move the plane to get to the stem. It's a little hard to get on there with a pressure gauge and air chuck, but doable (and with good tubes, you don't have to do it very often - once or twice a year). Make sure you have the 90 deg valve stems... or it is much more difficult (I have Matco wheels).
+1 for Larry's alignment method. I did something similar yesterday and it turned out perfect. In my case I didn't have any brass tube, but I did have some delrin rod stock, so I made the world's first and only .305-32 thread to pencil adapter!
