REFLECTOR:Flying without Cowl Fasteners

[Scott Derrick]

I may resort to that temporarily.  Locktite is not an ideal choice for a 
fastener that is R&R regularly.  It builds up and you end up with a 
gummy mess on the nut and screw after awhile.

I'm thinking about changing to longer screws and possibly attempting to 
replace the nuts in the nut plates.  quite a few of them do not squeeze 
the screws very tight.

Or figure out a way to use captured 1/4 turn fasteners as it should have 
been designed in the first place.

Having the propeller behind the aircraft requires a different approach 
to fasteners because any that come loose will most certainly go through 
the prop.  With a tractor configuration you just want enough to stay 
fastened so major components donut depart the airframe!

Scott

N.V.Frederick wrote:
> Scott, what would be wrong with using a little loctite?
> nolan.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Scott Derrick" <scott@tnstaafl.net>
> To: <reflector@tvbf.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 21, 2003 9:54 AM
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR:Flying without Cowl Fasteners
> 
> 
> 
>>I dunno?  It happens. I've lost two in 125 hours.  The screws and nut
>>plates are the same size.  I'd hazard a guess its the compression of the
>>fiberglass when its vibrating that allows the screw to back out. Metal
>>doesn't compress as much(or at all) so once its tight it stays that way.
>>
>>Maybe I'm not torqueing them down enough?  I've also had the cowls off
>>numerous times working out cooling issues, ignition installation,
>>working out the bugs....
>>
>>How many hours on your SE? Lost any cowl screws yet?  I don't know how
>>valid a comparison is between a Cherokee and a Velocity?
>>
>>Scott
>>
>>Laurence Coen wrote:
>>
>>>Scott,
>>>
>>>I don't understand why your cowl screws are coming unscrewed.  I have
>>
> been
> 
>>>flying a Cherokee 180 for 16 years and have yet to lose any of the lower
>>>cowl screws.  These screws pass through the cowl and into a nut plate
>>>mounted to the fuselage which is the same arrangement that is used on
>>
> the
> 
>>>Velocity.  Is it possible that you have 10-32 nut plates and 8-32
>>
> screws?
> 
>>>Just a thought but I can't think of any good reason you are having this
>>>problem.
>>>
>>>Larry Coen
>>>SE-RG/Franklin
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Scott Derrick" <scott@tnstaafl.net>
>>>To: <reflector@tvbf.org>
>>>Sent: Monday, April 21, 2003 9:31 AM
>>>Subject: REFLECTOR:Flying without Cowl Fasteners
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Is anybody actually flying without cowl fasteners where the cowl meets
>>>>the fuselage?
>>>>
>>>>The plans call for a lip extended rearward from the fuselage that the
>>>>cowl slides inside of.  Screws(through the fuselage lip) and captured
>>>>nuts(on the cowl) are then installed about every 6 inches along this
>>>>overlap.
>>>>
>>>>Some ,all non-flying or not-tested I guess, say they are not using any
>>>>screws?  Merri says he has built a U shaped slot instead of just a lip
>>>>for he cowls to slid into so he doesn't have to use screws.  This sounds
>>>> doable and secure.
>>>>
>>>>I'd really like to reduce the number of screws(uncaptured) used to hold
>>>>the cowl on since they have a tendency to come un screwed during flight
>>>>and put large nicks in the prop.
>>>>
>>>>I'd also like to use something that has some flight hours on it.
>>>>
>>>>Scott
>>>>
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