Today I wired the battery, contactors and main buss. Now when the battery is hooked up, if you switch master switch the avionics turn on =). Progress! I also began installing engine sensors. I realized that Garmin doesn’t include a fuel pressure sensor in their sensor package. They it’s because it’s a different sensor whether your fuel injected or carbuerated. Other vendors I’ve used in the past sell different packages based on the type of fuel system your engine uses, so your not left realizing your missing a sensor when you go to install it =).
Installed battery Mounted master and starter contactors Wendy volunteered to climb under the panel so we could bolt in the amp meter shunt and ANL fuse holder. Shunt and ANL fuse mounted
Today I relocated the GPS antenna to the top of the aircraft, just aft of the rear window. I planned on installing it on the canopy glareshield, however right before i drilled the holes in the glareshield I tested out the GPS and it wasn’t working. Turns out there is a minimum antenna cable length of 6.5ft. The coax cable length was only 3ft to install it on the glareshield. I also didn’t like the idea of having a big white antenna obstructing the nice view out the windscreen.
Guide pins riveted into the canopy frame Modeling clay is used to locate the holes for the pins on the side rails Pilot hole drilled Using the template to drill the holes
Tonight I installed the matco axle that I order. I had to machine two spacers for it to fit correctly. You can order the spacers directly from matco, but there would have been a long lead time and I had the materials and equipment to do it =).
Nose gear installed Brake lines secured with friction tape
Brake caliper assembly mounted to wheel Cutting lengths of aluminum tubing for the brake lines Tubing run down the gear leg
Today the AN7-21 bolt I was waiting on got delivered. I went ahead and continued installing the nose gear. The gear leg and fork are now installed. When it was time to install the wheel/tire assembly it appears that the axle spacers are too long. Not sure if Van’s sent me the wrong ones or what. I’m going to have to call them tomorrow and see if I can get some answers.
I’m waiting on the correct AN7 bolt to get delivered from Aircraft Spruce so I can continue on the nose gear install. So tonight I decided to try and wrap one of the flaps to get some experience with the process and decide if I like the finish. All in all it came out pretty darn good. Way easier then painting. The gloss is not “show car” finish, but it does have nice gloss.
Today I began installing the nose…then I ran into yet another snag. Van’s sent me the wrong length bolt for one of the parts. In the hardware kit they mean to send me an AN7-21 bolt, but in it’s place they sent me and AN7-20. Unfortunately the bolt was just to short for the application. I placed an order with aircraft spruce. It should ship out tomorrow and I should have the correct bolt by Tuesday.
This evening I installed the engine mount. The holes on each corner lined up perfectly, but the two lower center holes, near the nose gear goes, did not line up. They were off by about 1/8". So I called Van’s….again. This time the solution was simpler then the landing gear. They told me to just drill out the holes, using the engine mount as a drill guide. It will cause the hole to become oval shaped.