Timing for riveting outboard seat ribs

[alpinelakespilot2000]

Can't tell from the manual... do the outboard seat ribs get riveted to the bulkheads and bottom skin before or sometime after mating the center section and aft sections of the fuselage? Thanks.

 

[RV7ator]

Before.

Make sure the forward flange nest well with the center section. It tends to be overlong.

Also, leave out the bolt holding the 1/4" thick spacer between the rear spar ends until all skins are riveted. It inhibits access to a bottom and a side skin rivet.

I know the -7, and the -9 is the same fuse, so here's a tip. Rivet the 706 (or is it a 906 for you?), the baggage bulkhead assembly, to the ends of the baggage floor ribs before you join the center and tail cone sections. It's awkward with the bellcrank ribs dangling, but you have clear access to buck the rivets. Installed in the fuse, the cone bottom skin angle and the overhanging floor rib flanges make a direct shot with bar or gun (no way a squeezer) horribly difficult if not impossible.

John Siebold

 

[alpinelakespilot2000]

Thanks John. That's really helpful advice. I appreciate it.