Fuselage August 2007 Updates
August 1, 2007
Right Crotch Strap and Front Wheel.... - 3.0 hrs

Again I came out with the intent to do knock out the crotch strap bracket. Last week I had put the front wheel together and when I aired it up a few times without the valve core in it seems fine. I put the core back in and aired it up and the tube exploded. Turns out I had pinched the tube between the 2 wheel halves. Now I know why Van's sends you 2 tubes for the fron wheel only. :)

Anyway the other day I installed the other tube and tried it again. This time I aired it up several times with about an 1/8 inch gap in the wheel halves. With the core removed again so I could inflate and deflate quickly only to about 30 lbs to flex the tube inside. Then before I left I put the cap on with only 30lbs and let it sit for several days hoping the tube would stretch in the hot hangar. My thought was after a that I could completely deflate it and push the rubber out of the cracks and tighten up the bolts. Today I did that and put the final torque on them. Seems to have worked out. I have left the core out with it inflated to 35 now and we will let it set a few days again before installing the core and filling it up for the last time.

Next I got on the 5th point holder on the right side. I did the one on the left months ago and it was a pain in the ass. It would be better to do it when you are putting the fuse bottom together but the crotch kit is seperate and you don't know about it until later. Anyway its just the standard drilling and deburring but what makes it hard is getting the holes drilled with the angle drill with no room to work and still keeping the bracket in place. In addition you need to drill a hole for a AN5 bolt which is pretty big and that just will not fit in a completed floor area. Anyway it took more time than I like in a freakin hot hangar with 98% humidity but its done now so I can move on. CASE CLOSED!





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My experiences and comments are by no means to be considered as instructions on how to build any aircraft.