REFLECTOR: Of door seals

Sat Dec 15 11:02:13 CST 2007

Andy/Terry

I used the factory U channel and it has worked well.  The first time I mounted it, it leaked like a sieve.  I tried putting silicone caulk on the edge, but no luck.  Then I removed the U channel, cleaned up the caulk, and reinstalled it with the silicone caulk in the bottom of the U.  WORKS!  Actually, I do have a bit of a leak behind the pilot's head.  The problem is that I mounted the carbon fiber stiffener too far forward and did not get a wide enough flange for the U channel.  But with the canopy cover, she stays pretty dry inside. 

Ronnie
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Terry Miles 
  To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list' 
  Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 11:08 AM
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Of door seals

  Andy,

  Great find!  The factory U channel-like all of what's on that McM page--will distort some as it goes around the corners, and it has to be fully inserted into the corners but not stuffed to the point of serious distortion.  That said even in flat areas it can spread apart excessively if you get too big a whack with that mallet---or (as I have) you pull it off and on a lot of times.  You can re pinch the metal inserts back into form somewhat, but the more handling it gets the worse the good pinch quality becomes.     

  #21 of the ones on that catalog page you ref'd could be great in the flats because of its compressibility potential, but it could distort pretty bad in the corners, or need little slits cut so it didn't bunch up and then the slits could compromise the water seal, and all this at a much higher per foot price than straight strip material or better info on how to make the best use of kit parts.  I am trying to give the rain water entering along the top edge of the door a large enuf running path (volumetric capacity) to go around the top portions of the door-to-frame using as light a seal compression as I can.  With a more robust compression seal, especially one applied all the way around, you will have a door that is a bear to close and latch. That flexible feeler gauge idea that Larry or Dave or somebody suggested is a good one.  I am going to work with that and with flat strips supplementing my factory U channel, and see if I can't get this solved.  

  Thank you to everyone who has chimed in here.  I will report back with what I used in the end.  

  Terry 

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  From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Ellzey
  Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 10:25 AM
  To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Of door seals

  Look at pages 3342 & 3343 of McMaster car, seals 15 or 16 looks like should seal out air or water. Has anyone tried these? http://www.mcmaster.com/

  Andy Ellzey

  ----- Original Message ----
  From: Terry Miles <terrence_miles at hotmail.com>
  To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
  Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 8:12:13 AM
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Of door seals

  Lar,

  I am not sure that I put this out there before.  Here is a P/N from McMaster car.  My feeling is this stuff likely in combination with the kit door seal has good potential for further testing.  

  First http://www.mcmaster.com/       the search on PN 9369k64   It looks like it could be similar to that non inflatable product you showed us that avtec is selling.  In the McM website they explain the properties of all the sealing materials that they sell.  My first go at this I bought the narrowest strips 3/8ths out of concern for the total compressibility I would have to overcome to get the door closed, but I found it compresses real nice.  

  I am going to order the wider strips for my next shot at a water tight seal for the doors.  .except the only shots I am doing for the next 3 weeks will be brandy going into the egg nog.  This can wait until January.

  Terry

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  From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of lawrence epstein
  Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:14 PM
  To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Of door seals

  Has anyone tried these door seals?:

  http://www.avtek2.com/door-Seal%20Chart.htm

  I know that someone had posted the url in the past.

  Larry Epstein

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  > Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 23:42:43 -0800
  > From: drgolf369 at yahoo.com
  > To: reflector at tvbf.org
  > Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Of door seals
  > 
  > Bob Fields Accessories Company number is : 805) 525-6236 (w)
  > 
  > ----- Original Message ----
  > From: David Scharfenberg <dave at winco.net>
  > To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
  > Sent: Saturday, December 8, 2007 11:52:07 PM
  > Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Of door seals and two bars
  > 
  > 
  > Hi Terry
  > 
  > Here are a couple of pics of my tow bar. The handle is made from some 
  > different sizes of steel tubing that telescope, and two quick pins. 
  > The end that clamps to the nose fork is made from some steel strap, 2 
  > hinges, 2 short pieces of round tubing, a 5/16 bolt with the treads cut
  > 
  > off, and some stick-on felt. I just place the jaws around the nose 
  > fork and slide the bolt through the 2 tubing pieces. I also have a 
  > longer handle to replace the "T" handle. It hooks to my tug (golf 
  > cart). It works really well.
  > 
  > Dave
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > Tow bar
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > Tow bar 2
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
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