Daily Archives: 10/06/2019

Aerials, Cowling, Dave Mills, Electrics, Instrument Panel, Propellor, Wiring

Monday 10th June 2019

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Music: Star Sailor and Turin Brakes

Dave came down to spend a day with me to see how the build is going so far and help me with fitting the prop hub and transponder aerial.

Forgot to attach the panel air vent ducting before I installed the panel. It’s a lot more fiddly i can tell you!
Now I’ve received the drive lugs I ordered from CFS Aero I can attach the prop extension to the drive plate. The bolts to attach the extension to the drive plate are 8mm and the bolts to attache the prop back plate are AN5. So metric and imperial in the same installation – how ridiculous!
The drive lugs are press fit and have a slight taper so the bolts are used to draw the lugs into the drive plate.
The bolts have been lightly tightened before torquing up to 24NM.
The mini slip ring control wires are adjusted so they hang just out the of the front of the prop extension.
Heat shrink tubing is added to each wire and the hub offered up to allow the control wires to be connected.
A heat gun is used to heat the heat shrink and the wires are pushed into the hollow shaft.
Some Duralac is added to the lugs that enter the hub to ease disassembly and the bolts tightened.
Time to check that I’ve got the measurements right for the prop extension so the engine cowlings are fixed in place.
A good fit with an acceptable gap, so shouldn’t rub in service. I’ll fit the blades closer to finishing the plane to save them getting damaged.
Next up is to install the transponder aerial. I’ve decided to mount it centrally between the main wheels. Still have to make up the coax for the radio and transponder but going to Air Expo on Thursday so will look to pick it up there.
Dave checking out the pilots seat before leaving for home.
So most of the main work has been completed so it’s time to start on the wiring. Not sure how long it’s going to take but need to make a tidy job of it and make sure that it’s easy to trace and maintain in the future.