Pitot Tube Installation, Completed the Electrical Installation, Spinner Trimming, Fuel Hoses, Prop Installation, Heater Door and Cable
It is getting harder and harder to keep the log up to date. Over the past days fabricated and installed the pitot tube at the front of the engine. The plans tell you to screw the pitot tube into the plastic block to a measurement of 1.5". The pitot tube bottoms out in the plastic block at a dimension of about 1.25". Screwing it in any further would damage the threads in the plastic block. The tip of the pitot tube will then end up, 0.25" more forward.
Received a care package from Van's containing some of the missing spage lugs and barrel connectors. As such, I was able to complete the electrical installation. It is nice being able to turn on the master switch, the avionics switch and watch everything come to life.
Trimmed the spinner to the scribe line. I had two scribe lines on the aft edge of the spinner. Scott told me to trim to the most forward scribe line making the spinner the shortest if it was sitting upright on the table. This worked very well. One caution, when making the cuts for the prop on the spinner, cut right down the middle of the scribe line. As such, the filler pieces you will make out of this scrap will be large enough.
Received the VA-215 fuel hose in another care package. Installed it on top of the banjo fitting. It runs to the fuel pressure sensor and the fuel return line.
Installed the prop per the Sensenich prop manual. The drawing in the plans is not quite accurate as it does not portray the bushings that have to be inserted into the prop flange on the engine.
Then worked on the heater door. When cutting the sheath on the cable, the plans tell you to trim it to a dimension of 2 27/32". Dry fit the components here. The sheath has to remain inside the F-1210 rod when the heater door is fully closed. My final cut was at a dimension of 3.1" to 3.2". Cut the sheath with a cutoff wheel in the Dremel.
Then I HAD to check the fit between the cowl and the spinner. It really does fit very well. Have a slightly tighter gap on top than the bottom.
And took a day off from the build for some flying at the Davenport airport!!
Time Over the Past Days - 26 hours
