Finish Kit

Brake Lines ( 3 hrs )

Received from Van's the AN365-524 nuts to replace MS21083  N5 shear nuts on the Gear Braces per Sect 29-03 -- torqued per Sect 40A-04 (Fig 4).  See entry dated Dec 21, 2017.  Completed LH & RH Brake Line installation per Sect 40A-10 Steps 1-8, which was last page of Sect 40A "Tricycle Gear & Engine Mount".  Conforming 1/4" OD alum tube to align with Leg, then wrap around at bottom was "easier" than imagined.

straightened tubes, added various
pieces, then flared each end

 

 

will be covered by aerodynamic Leg fairing

route stays inside profile of  Wheel Fairing 

 

Finish Kit

Axle Shims, Wheels & Brakes installed ( 4 hrs )

Ground two 8" x 3/8" Bolts creating drift pins for Wing to Spar assembly (Sect 41-03, Step 1).  Rec'd Shims from Vans, so installed immediately to correct excessive toe-in.   Now measures 0 deg for RH, and 0.15 deg for LH -- both within max 0.25 deg specified.  Installed Wheels per 40-09 Step 1, following both Vans and Grove instructions.   Installed Brake Caliper Assl'y per Step 2 at 40-09.  Safety wired two Back Plate Bolts on each Caliper - my first time doing bolts.  You-Tube has many example videos that really helped.   Need Permatex #59214 high temp sealant for pipe elbow fittings (for brake lines)...so not added yet in photos.

Waiting for Shims....so created Drift Pins for later

Shims arrived...Yay 

 

RH Shim installed,  0 deg measured

LH Shim installed, 0.15 deg measured

Wheel Nut & cotter pin installed

Grove Brake Calipers

Installed;  prior safety wiring Back Plate nuts

Tah Dah !   Now on all 3 Wheels

Safety Wire for Back Plate Nuts

Finish Kit

Fuel Lines ( 3 hrs )

Built Left and Right Fuel Vent Lines (1/4") using new tools just rec'd from Aircraft Spruce:   Rolo-Flair Flaring Tool (37 deg) and Imperial 470FH Triple Head 180 Tubing Bender.  Practiced on some pieces, then followed Sect 41-10 Steps 1-6.  Also built Left and Right Fuel Lines for Tank to Fuselaage.  These are 3/8" dia with "S" bends  -- tough to get only 5/8" between bends, but managed.  These will be completed once I have Wings installed for final length & flare at inboard ends.

Finish Kit

Toe In of Main Axles  ( 3 hrs )

Per instructions Sect 40A-08,  Steps 1-3 measured Toe-In of Main Gear Axles.  Spec'd to be maximum 0.25 degrees (either toe in or toe out acceptable if less than 0.25 degrees).   I measured Left axle at 0.9 degrees, and Right at 0.56 degrees.  I used feeler gages to measure "Y", then converted to angle per provided chart.   Since both above 0.25 degrees I ordered Axle Shims U00013A (0.75 deg) and U00013B (0.50 deg) to change to only 0.15 deg on Left, and ~0 on Right.  These are pricey at $25 each...I was hoping I wouldn't need any.  Vans shipped Priority Mail - for extra $5 - so may arrive Saturday.   Meanwhile, worked on misc items - installed 2 Defog fans in Glare Shield per Sect 38-32 Steps 2.

challenging to determine gap, but feeler gages work well.

documented before and shims needed.

needed very short philips between Glare Shield and Canopy. 
Even socket wrench too "big", so used locking pliers taped
to avoid scratching paint or canopy

2 fans to keep Avionics cool and Defog canopy

Finish Kit

Nose Wheel Installed ( 5 hrs )

Installed Nose Fork and Nose Wheel/Tire assembly per Sect 40A-07 Steps 1-7.  Used engine hoist to lift fuselage higher to get supports underneath so clearance for mounting fork.   Tightened large 1 3/4" nut on Spindle , compressing belleville washers  - until met side pull of 26 lb specified.  Glad I purchased socket recently at $13, so didn't mess up nut with channel locks, etc).   Didn't need a breaker bar or long handle, since actual torque was moderate.   I did need to drill new #30 size holes at 90 deg to original for cotter pin to get the right position.  As the belleville washers are compressed by the nut, rotating the nut just a few degrees made a large difference in side pull.    Next, installed Matco wheel and axle - and torqued through bolt (this set up avoids Van's version with compromise between tight and too tight for tapered roller bearing).  Then attached Main Gear Leg Axles per Step 1 at Sect 40A-08.  The Brake Torque Plate was confusing to correctly identify correct 4 of 8 holes, but got it done too.  Next:  check toe-in or toe-out...maybe ready to mount Main tires.

full turn against stops

tah dah !

 

adapters: 3/8 to 1/2  &  1/2 to 3/4

Main Gear Axle with Brake Torque Plate

Old tennis ball protects ankles and legs until wheels installed

Finish Kit

Nose Gear Link Assembly ( 2 hrs )

Completed Nose Gear Link Assembly per Steps 1-6 at Sect 40A-05.  Most of time required to clean up extra powder coat at certain bearing faces, etc.  Fun putting together 4 Lord rubber mounts (originally for Mooney apparently ) along with variety bushings and misc hardware.  Add Nose Fork next - getting closer to having Fuselage on wheels.

Nose fork beside Gear Leg

Finish Kit

Nose Gear Install  ( 2 hrs )

Attached Nose Gear Leg to Engine Mount per Sect 40A-05 Steps 1-4.    Prepped variety pieces  so ready to complete assembly next.

Boxes in background are rubber isolators,
and blue axles are for Main Gear.