Trimming SV-6 Aluminum Eyeball vent

[Tandem46]

Replacing my old SV-5 plastic eyeball vents on my RV-7 with the aluminum SV-6. Per drawing 24 instructions, I trimmed the bottom right corner flange of the SV-5 to make it fit. I’m assuming I am going to have to trim the SV-6 in a similar manner… Trimming plastic was easy, but the SV-6 aluminum flange is very thick. So now I’m not so sure. Anyone else replace the SV-5 with an SV-6 and have to trim the flange?
Thanks!

 

[rapid_ascent]

Replacing my old SV-5 plastic eyeball vents on my RV-7 with the aluminum SV-6. Per drawing 24 instructions, I trimmed the bottom right corner flange of the SV-5 to make it fit. I’m assuming I am going to have to trim the SV-6 in a similar manner… Trimming plastic was easy, but the SV-6 aluminum flange is very thick. So now I’m not so sure. Anyone else replace the SV-5 with an SV-6 and have to trim the flange?
Thanks!

Its hard to tell what you mean by "trimming". How much material do you need to remove and how thick is the flange?

 

[Tandem46]

Its hard to tell what you mean by "trimming". How much material do you need to remove and how thick is the flange?

Ray, thanks for reply. Above I referenced drawing 24 which shows how much to trim. It is substantial. Considering the vent is $170, I don’t want to screw it up. The flange is 1/16”. Doesn’t sound thick, but it is. I was hoping to find somebody that has swapped out their SV-5 for an SV-6 on their RV-7.

 

[Cessnadog]

The ball is aluminum, but I think that flange is plastic.
I used my 1 inch belt sander and was done in 2 minutes.

 

[Tandem46]

The ball is aluminum…

Not sure the vintage of yours, but the one they’re selling now is 100% aluminum. But maybe the aluminum is softer than I thought and a belt sander will do the trick. Thanks Tim!

 

[AlphaCharlieBravo]

I did this exact swap. Ill take pics tomorrow at the hangar and post them for ya.
A

 

[skelrad]

Accidentally deleted my other post - you should be fine just using a belt sander to trim the vent. It’s pretty easy material to work with. I don’t remember needing anything but my 1” sander to do it.

 

[Tandem46]

Thanks Arnie and Brandon!

 

[hgerhardt]

No one owns a bandsaw anymore?

 

[skelrad]

No one owns a bandsaw anymore?

Sure, you could use a bandsaw...or a hacksaw...or a die grinder....or.... Point is, it's not hard material to work with and virtually anything will work.

 

[AlphaCharlieBravo]

I used a 6” disk sander on mine.

 

[Tandem46]

Thanks again Arnie! Brandon too! Used my bench grinder today with the scotch bright wheel… the aluminum was like butter and only took a few minutes per side. It wasn’t that I didn’t know what to do… It was more like I didn’t want to trim the vents in the first place, especially at $170 x 2. I was hoping there was better way… But in the end, trimming both vents was a complete non-issue.