Van's Aircraft RV-9A experimental aircraft kitplane

Mike Hoover's Van's RV-9A
Aircraft Construction Log

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KCUB 292253Z AUTO 24003KT 10SM FEW055 35/22 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP113 T03500222

Official building time: 1818.34 hours.


Category

Total Records

Total Hours

Empennage

79

193.7

Wing

274

607.5

Fuselage

366

912.4

Firewall Forward

17

39.0

Finish

28

42.0

Supplies

0

0.0

Tools

4

0.0

Journal

37

18.8

Reference Materials

0

0.0

Flight Instruments

4

0.0

Miscellaneous

0

0.0

Workshop

0

0.0

Electrical

1

5.0

Hangar

0

0.0

TOTALS:

810

1818.3

Van's Aircraft RV-9A experimental aircraft kitplane

7 most recent log entries:

2010-07-26 Hours: 2 Category: Firewall Forward Manual Ref: ID#: 1077
Assembled battery and ground cables
Assembled the positive terminal battery cable. Crimped the lugs on each end. Test fitted to the firewall. Not sure where I will anchor my negative cable yet, so I only put one lug on it so far.
Photos:
The positive terminal battery cable test-fitted onto the firewall.
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2010-07-21 Hours: 2.5 Category: Firewall Forward Manual Ref: ID#: 1076
More firewall forward tinkering
I think I have the Red Cube fuel flow transducer install, so now on to something else. I did a lot of head scratching and tinkering about, reading the manual and looking at the engine. A lot yet to do! I went ahead and torqued the exhaust pipe flange bolts. I do not think I will be removing the exhaust system again. I had to loosen the EGT sensor probe pipe clamps in order to get the socket on the nuts. I used a universal joint type extension to get to them and torqued them to 12.5 foot pounds. Next I safety wired the oil dip stick tube to the engine block. I pulled the throttle and mixture cables off the shelf and noticed some rubber boots on were cracking and splitting. Yikes! Shelf wear? I fellow builder told me not to worry about it, his fell off along time ago - not an issue. Still not cool though.
Photos:
Cracking rubber boots on brand new throttle and mixture cables.
The oil dip stick tube safety wired to the engine block.
The fuel hoses installed from the engine pump to the carb. I think it's done!
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2010-07-20 Hours: 2.5 Category: Firewall Forward Manual Ref: ID#: 1075
Finished a fuel hose and installed the tach sending unit
Installed the UMA tach sending unit into the left mag with the help of Ron Shelton - glad he dropped by! The thing is rather difficult to install and Ron helped unwind the wiring as I turned the wrench. Thanks Ron! Then I moved on to finish making the fuel hose that goes from the fuel pump to the Red Cube fuel flow transducer. I had to cut the fire sleeve a bit and re-dip that end, clamped it on with some Aeroquip clamps (ACS PN: 900591B-1C). Removed the exhaust pipes enough to place the carb heat muff onto the exhaust pipe. Other misc. tinkering as well.
Photos:
The newly assembled fuel hose from the pump to the Red Cube fuel flow transducer
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2010-07-17 Hours: 3.5 Category: Firewall Forward Manual Ref: ID#: 1074
Made a fuel hose
I had to make my own fuel hose that goes from the fuel pump to the Red Cube fuel flow transducer. The length of SS braid (816) fuel hose was 8.875". Van's pre-made hoses are too long. As with anything else to do with the project, I was completely unknowledgable about doing this. So I delved in, bought the parts from Vans. I installed a fitting on one end of a length of SS braided fuel hose and installed this on the fuel pump fitting. I worked the fuel hose over to the Red Cube and marked a cut line. I wrapped masking tape around the fuel hose several layers nice and tight and centered on my cut line. I put this in the table vice, clamping only enough to hold the fuel hose snuggly and cut the fuel hose with the cutoff tool - the same one I cut the canopy with. The masking tape keeps all the SS braiding from getting out of control. I removed the tape and installed the other fitting. I cut a length of fire sleeve about 3/4" longer that the length I measure off the new fuel hose assembly. This will help accommodate the radius bend from the fuel pump to the Red Cube fuel flow transducer. To seal the ends of the fire sleeve so they will not soak up oil, fuel, and debris, I made a batch of dip: I filled a baby food jar half way with MEK (used air mask) and then squeezed in about a foot long drop of red high heat Permatex RTV. This was really experimental. I had to mix this for about 15 minutes to get all the RTV to dissolve into solution. The consistency was like tomato soup or perhaps slightly thicker. Once mixed I dipped the ends into the jar, swirling around gently and holding it in there for about 10 seconds or so to make sure the fiber lining in the fire sleeve soaked up ample dip solution. Once removed I let the excess drain out onto some card board with gentle shakes. I repeated the dipping process for the other end and let cure for about 45 minutes and then repeated the dipping process. This seems to have worked really well. The fire sleeve ends are sealed very well and there is enough flex to installed the fuel hose. I practiced clamping the ends with Aeroquip strap clamps but goofed them up, so I will order a couple more and get it done right.
Photos:
My newly assembled Aeroquip fuel hose and fire sleeve dipped with RTV/MEK.
The fire sleeve ends are well sealed the the RTV/MEK dipping solution.
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2010-07-13 Hours: 1.5 Category: Firewall Forward Manual Ref: ID#: 1073
More firewall forward work
Received the proper AN363 lock nuts from ACS along with a bunch of other supplies that I will need to get the FWF done: lots of adel clamps, AN3-3A, 4A, and 5A bolts, nuts, and washers, and the battery. I installed the battery into the battery box. Also installed the Red Cube bolts with the lock nuts and safety wired it. Seems like I am moving along slowly, but I sure am spending a lot of time researching and learning where FWF wiring and other things will go. I think it is time to start working on getting the cowling fitted.
Photos:
The battery installed in the battery box.
The fuel and oil pressure sensors installed.
The final install of the Red Cube fuel transducer with safety wire.
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2010-07-11 Hours: 2 Category: Firewall Forward Manual Ref: ID#: 1072
Installed the Dynon EGT sensor probes
After pouring through as much info as a could find on how others have installed their EGT probes, I elected to install them two inches from the exhaust flanges. The right side two probes for cylinders 1 and 3, I angled the sensors about 30 degrees forward. With cylinder 1, the probe is on a curved portion of the exhaust pipe, but this cannot be avoid in any configuration on at least one of the cylinders. With the left side 2 and 4 cylinders, I angled the probes about 30 degrees aftward. To locate each hole, I used a spare hose clamp with a #40 hole drill in it on the center line of the band to use as a drill guide. I tapped each exhaust pipe through this guide at #40 and went back and enlarged them to 1/8" per Dynon's install guide, deburred, and put the probes in the holes and tightened the band clamps. On the curve pipe of the #1 cylinder, I located the hole a little lower so that the tip of the probe would end up 2" below the exhaust flange. It angles up, so if I had just marked a 2" location on the pipe and installed there, the probe tip, pointing at an upward angle, would end up 1/4" or more above the 2" mark.
Photos:
Right side of engine showing the location of the EGT probes angled forward.
The left side of the engine showing the EGT probes angled aftward.
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2010-07-10 Hours: 4.5 Category: Firewall Forward Manual Ref: ID#: 1070
Installed sensors and a bunch of head scrathing and thinking
Installed the CHT sensors, carb temp sensor and began working on getting the EGT sensors installed. This is a bit tricky as Dynon says to installed the EGT sensors between 2 and 8 inches from the exhaust flanges and all the same distance and on straight portions of the exhaust pipes. This situation does not exist on the Vetterman exhaust that satifies all four sensor positions. More research on this to come.
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5 Long, Long Years Ago Today:

2005-07-29 Hours: 2 Category: Fuselage Manual Ref: 8-5 ID#: 696
More center fuselage work
Snuck in a couple of hours this morning before work. Made the F-623A fore and aft attach strips for the corner ribs. Haven't drilled them yet. That comes a bit later. Installed the fore 904 wing bulkhead assembly with temporary wings spacers and bolts.
Photos:
The F-623A fore and aft attached strips ready to install.
Center fuse assembly with the fore 904 wing spar bulkhead bolted on.
Close up of the left wing spacer at the 904 wing spar bulkhead.
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