Neal – Page 35 – RV-14 Build

Left wing bottom skin

Posted on June 11, 2022June 13, 2022 by Neal

Today I clecoed the old left wing bottom skin to the new one, marked out the pitot tube mast mount holes, and then drilled them all. I also made a start of cutting out the mast hole, but didn’t finish that step.

I previously decided to replace the left bottom skin. On my first pair of QB wings, I had riveted on most of the left skin before deciding to replace the wings due to faulty primer. Because I had painstakingly positioned the pitot tube mast mount holes on the old skin, I drilled out all of the rivets and removed the skin before sending the wings back to Vans. I couldn’t reuse the skin because too many of the holes were enlarged.

Drilled j-channel

Posted on May 28, 2022 by Neal

On the right wing, I match drilled the three holes into the j-channel stiffeners on the bottom skin. These three holes are where the two lengths of channel overlap, and they need match drilling.

Nothing much to report, I had to install and remove the skin to mark the hole positions, and didn’t encounter any issues.

Once the holes were drilled, I deburred and dimpled them.

Right wing wiring

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Neal

I spent time securing the right wing wiring today. Zip ties along the length, and some RTV in some places to help secure everything and keep it from rattling around in places where the wiring bundle was loose within the snap-bushings.

Autopilot roll servo

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Neal

Today I installed the autopilot roll servo. Having done this on the previous set of wings, this went quickly. I also installed the bell crank, the adel clamps, and torqued all the bolts.

Install finished except for wiring tidy up.

Right wing systems and spare wiring

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Neal

Today I spent time running the wiring harnesses through the right wing, and installing the spare wiring molex connector bracket. This is my own (Vans approved) modification to make it easier to add more electrical devices in the future.

Riveting on the spare wiring bracket. Look at that grey hair

New dog

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Neal

It’s been a month without work on the plane, partly due to work travel, but mainly because we brought home a puppy, Bruno, and he has been requiring my help in the evenings.

Now he is sleeping in his crate all night, so I can get some time back in the garage.

Right wing fuel tank test

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Neal

I pulled off the right wing fuel tank, installed the fuel sender and other fittings, and then leak tested the tank. I wasn’t able to find any leaks using the soap and water technique, so I reinstalled the tank back on the wing.

Pitot tubing

Posted on April 22, 2022May 28, 2022 by Neal

Today I match drilled the pitot tube brace to the rib, and then riveted it in place on the rib. Now it’s ready for the bottom skin install. Then I installed an adel clamp to hold the pitot lines near where they will connect to the pitot tube, and torqued the bolt.

Match drilling and riveting the pitot tube support angle. It’s behind behind the plate, where the left 3 clecos are placed. 4 rivets join the angle to the rib

Adel clamp holding AOA and Pitot lines where they will attach to the pitot tube. Here you can see the pitot support angle riveted to the rib

Wing systems

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Neal

Tonight I enlarged one of the wing systems holes to 5/8ths to allow two pneumatic tubes to fit through the first 4 ribs. Then I installed my additional spar wiring molex bracket, ran all of the wiring in the left wing, and installed adel clamps in the area where the wiring runs along the spar.

The additional molex connector bracket is supporting the two additional molex connectors, one for the pitot heater, and one for spare wiring. The red and clear tubes are protruding from the enlarged 5/8th holes

At all stations on the main spar, I have an adel clamp like this one installed. These have slightly longer AN bolts, and right now they are not torqued. The clamp keeps the wires from moving, and protects them from chafing on the spar waffle plate edge

Wing systems

Posted on April 13, 2022 by Neal

Today I started installing the wing systems. I ran some of the cables out to the wing stops, but then discovered I made one error on the routing and had to undo some work. Unfortunately I ended up snapping some molex crips, so I need to order some replacements from Vans to finish the wing tip lighting runs.

Author: Neal