September 2, 2005

Here’s a bit of a problem… I’ve got to squeeze this transducer into a tiny space between the oil filter adapter and the secondary alternator. Hmmm. That ain’t gonna happen. I’ll be needing to find a solution to that. Maybe I can get a right angle adapter drive or something.

The other week, Aart asked me if I could post some info on hanging the engine. So, here we go… It’s not too bad really. I can do it on my own now too!

First thing is to get the fuselage level. It’s almost an impossibilty to do this with the tail on the ground. Next, tape on the mounts, and put something on the engine mount to protect the powder coat. The stuff is a bugger to get off, except when you don’t want it off! Note the mounts. The top and bottom mounts are mounted oppositely, as a different side of the mount is in compression. Check the RV7A drgs, as this isn’t shown on the taildragger drawings.

Oooo… Here’s the first problem! This one is easy though. You can just drop the engine a tad, tilt it a bit and it’ll go under.

Which leads you too the next problem! This ine is a little trickier, but with a bit of manipulation, the hose doesn’t have to be removed. Ultimately for final fitting it will need to be removed so it can be routed more effectively.

Once you have the engine offered up to the mounts, the first thing to do is get one bolt in and tightened down. When everything is loose, it looks like it’ll never fit as none of the holes line up when the mounts are in their free state. I always do the top left first (from the pilots perspective). This nut is a pain too. You can barely get a spanner on it, you can’t use a ring spanner coz once it’s tightened down you can’t get the ring spanner off because of the pushrod tube. Basically patience and care, and tighten all the way down so the tube inside the mount bottoms out.

Next, you can have a go at putting the other bolt in the top. This requires some pushing and pulling to get it in! Remember I said the holes won’t line up? Well, here’s your first one. Only two more to do after this one, and they get progressively worse! Fortunately at this point in time, I only need do the top two, so I’ll not worry about those pesky lower mounts for now!