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-7: Hang the engine with fuselage still on a dolly?

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ceengland(at)bellsouth.ne
Guest

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:38 pm Post subject: -7: Hang the engine with fuselage still on a dolly?

Being somewhat of a deviant in some (not all) areas, I've installed the 

motor mount, gear legs, wheels, leg fairings, and pants to get all those 

odds & ends properly aligned without the wings in the way. Pants & 

fairings have now been removed & stored.



I haven't yet riveted on any of the fuse top skins, front or rear. 

Wings/tail have not yet been fitted to the fuselage.



Now I'm contemplating the removal of the gear legs & returning the fuse 

to its dolly to do the engine/cowl fitting, plumbing, wiring, etc. This 

is with the idea that work will be easier with the fuse closer to the 

ground. I'll eventually need to 'unhang' the engine to have it 

overhauled (waiting until the last moment for that expense), so any 

rework would likely have to happen anyway.



Anyone see any major issues with this idea?



Thanks,



Charlie

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rv8tor(at)lazy8.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:35 pm Post subject: -7: Hang the engine with fuselage still on a dolly?

Sounds like a lot of work. A straight 7 right? Consider hoisting the tail

from the ceiling, it will bring the engine end down nicely.



John

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vshimsl(at)live.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject: -7: Hang the engine with fuselage still on a dolly?

Yes-Hanging the engine twice, mounting the gear legs twice, mounting the fuselage to the dolly twice...you get the idea.  

   

Leave the fuselage as it is, raise the tail to level the fuselage (see pic), throw in a bunch of cushions (I like small plastic boat bumpers and cheap Wal-Mart blue camping matt foam) and move on. You could build a bench that runs the length of your fuselage as I did, but you may find, as I did, that a small ladder that you can easily move is more effective.  

   

Even with the dolly, I doubt you will escape the extreme pleasure of being upside down, on your back with a flash light in your teeth, under the panel and trying to figure out a connector (or fitting) that is located right between the effective ranges of your bifocals.  

   

Don't do any step in this project more than necessary!  

   

[img]cid:image001.jpg(at)01C9C43C.E1DFEB40[/img]  

   

My RV-8 a year ago  

   

   

Regards,  

Vince H.  

RV8 N8432 - Taxi tests & Preparing for final inspection  

   

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Bob Perkinson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 51
Location: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: -7: Hang the engine with fuselage still on a dolly?

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rv8iator

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 144
Location: Newberg, OR

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 5:46 am Post subject: -7: Hang the engine with fuselage still on a dolly?

Charlie...



I have tried it both ways.  The first RV-8 we built was set on it's gear as soon as the fuse was skinned.  It was a nightmare climbing in and out of hundreds of times during the course of finishing.  RV-8 no. two is currently on a four wheel dolly.  I lifted it on to saw horses to fit the wings.  After removal returned to the dolly.  Easier to get in and out of for wiring, plumping and cockpit work. (sticks, floors, etc.).  Easy to reach everything for forward fuse skinning and canopy installation. Also very easy to fit up vert and horz stabs, rudder and elevs.  Easy to flip inverted for gear fit-up.  Having tried it both ways, the dolly is the way to go... of course if you are interested in a brutal physical exercise program put it on the gear as soon as possible!



Chris Stone

RV-8

Newberg, OR



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_________________
C. Stone (RV8iator)

ceengland(at)bellsouth.ne
Guest

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:17 pm Post subject: -7: Hang the engine with fuselage still on a dolly?

That's how I'm thinking, too. Did you go ahead & fit the engine, or did  

you put it back on the gear for that?



Chris Stone wrote:

[quote] 



 Charlie...



 I have tried it both ways.  The first RV-8 we built was set on it's gear as soon as the fuse was skinned.  It was a nightmare climbing in and out of hundreds of times during the course of finishing.  RV-8 no. two is currently on a four wheel dolly.  I lifted it on to saw horses to fit the wings.  After removal returned to the dolly.  Easier to get in and out of for wiring, plumping and cockpit work. (sticks, floors, etc.).  Easy to reach everything for forward fuse skinning and canopy installation. Also very easy to fit up vert and horz stabs, rudder and elevs.  Easy to flip inverted for gear fit-up.  Having tried it both ways, the dolly is the way to go... of course if you are interested in a brutal physical exercise program put it on the gear as soon as possible!



 Chris Stone

 RV-8

 Newberg, OR



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rv8iator

Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 144
Location: Newberg, OR

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:25 pm Post subject: -7: Hang the engine with fuselage still on a dolly?

All the engine & related systems installation FWF are easiest done with the fuse on the gear.  The height is just right for access to everything.  I'll qualify that, I'm 6'2"...



Chris Stone



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C. Stone (RV8iator)

retasker(at)optonline.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 3:34 pm Post subject: -7: Hang the engine with fuselage still on a dolly?

Well, I am 5' 10" and I agree.



Dick Tasker



Chris Stone wrote:

[quote] 



 All the engine & related systems installation FWF are easiest done with the fuse on the gear.  The height is just right for access to everything.  I'll qualify that, I'm 6'2"...



 Chris Stone



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ceengland(at)bellsouth.ne
Guest

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:04 pm Post subject: -7: Hang the engine with fuselage still on a dolly?

PeterHunt1(at)aol.com wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I built a tail dragger and put the motor mount on once the fuselage 

 was skinned.  Then I used a short piece of concrete reinforcing rod to 

 fashion two very short legs.  The reinforcing rod had just the right 

 diameter so I could tape the end and fit it snugly into the motor 

 mount.  I set the base of the temporary legs into a wood beam and 

 screwed six small swivel wheels onto the bottom.  You must keep the 

 temporary legs short so you can get into and out of the fuselage 

 easily and so working on the engine and wiring later places the 

 engine below chest level where it is more easily accessed.  The swivel 

 wheels enabled me to wheel the airplane around the shop in any 

 direction quite easily.

  

 Pete in Clearwater

 RV-6  "Best Metal - Homebuilt"  2009 Sun 'n Fun


	


Thanks Pete; that's what I was thinking of doing. No problems with 

working on the sides or bottom of the engine?



Charlie

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