Bent door framework, Fix?

[SWeidemann]

My right door sticks out at the back thus leaving a generous air gap (for air to escape). Logic says I should be able to bend the metal frame back into a good fit however I thought I should ask others if this can be done easily or even if it is a good idea? Another solution would be to leave the metal frame alone and mount an extra clasp or door keeper device in the back. Also, what kind of metal is the door frame made of? I am reluctant to manhandle the door too much since it has a huge piece of Lexan riveted to it, which I am afraid of breaking. There are already star-like cracks emanating from a few of the bottom rivets. My goal for the doors is to seal them up to keep the heat inside in cold weather.

Thanks, skot

[t j]

My classic 4 door frames are aluminum. Check with a magnet. I bent them quite a bit before the lexan top and bottom were installed by putting the desired spot to bend on my knee and pulling with both hands. Then I bent them a little more to make a tight fit after the lexan was installed.

[n85ae]

Just for what it's worth, 90% (my estimation) of draft in the cabin migrates
forward from the tail, and permeates in through the baggage sack. Door
sealing will obviously help as well. If I built another I would fabric the
area where the elevator push-pull tube bushing is thus forming a bulkhead
of sorts. The slots for the horizontal stab trim are the culprit, acting like
air scoops.

Regards,
Jeff


My right door sticks out at the back thus leaving a generous air gap (for air to escape).

[SkyPirate]

One way to determine if the air is coming in from the tail, tape some yarn to the inside of the turtle deck hanging down, either set up a mirror or take someone agile enough to turn and look in the baggage compartment for a flight,
I had allot of air coming in when i first got my plane, i took a shop light and stuck it into the cowl then looked for light on the firewall from inside the cabin, i found 2 places where light was clming from the engine compartment on the edges of the firewall, i sealed it up, problem solved :)

[Dorsal]

I have the same issue where most of the cold air also comes from the tail, I can feel it blowing in around the seat, stick boot, flap handle etc. The firewall is sealed and I fixed the issue with the seat but I am currently thinking that if I can stop the air from being sucked out through door seals and aft of the but-rib that this should help. I do use a cloth heat wall behind my head that closes off the back of the plane, this helps a lot.
I also wish I had put a fabric bulkhead in when I had the chance.

[SkyPirate]

I had to install my com antenna not long ago in the tail, i didnt pay too much atention to the tail area, but wonder if its possible to use velcro and a material for a tail bulkhead,

Since i fixed the areas around the firewall, i dont get hardly any air coming in unless i open a window vent

[SkyPirate]

if I put a tail bulkhead in down the road,..I might concider putting a compression vent in it so when I swing a door closed I'm not pressurizing the cabin ..something like in the drawing which would let air pressure escape but not let air come in from the tail

[SkyPirate]

keep in mind if you make it too air tight in the cabin,..the instruments that require outside pressures would need to be addressed if you don't have a static port

[n85ae]

The breeze on the back of my neck tells me where it's coming from :) No need
for yarn. :)


One way to determine if the air is coming in from the tail, tape some yarn to the inside of the turtle deck hanging down, either set up a mirror or take someone agile enough to turn and look in the baggage compartment for a flight,
I had allot of air coming in when i first got my plane, i took a shop light and stuck it into the cowl then looked for light on the firewall from inside the cabin, i found 2 places where light was clming from the engine compartment on the edges of the firewall, i sealed it up, problem solved :)

[SkyPirate]

for air to come in from the tail,..there has to be a place in the cabin that is allowing it to come forward,.. think of a bottle,..the tail being the opening,..with air going past the tail.."bottle opening" it would normally create a vacuum creating low pressure inside the bottle,..unless there is a place greater then the tail opening ( in volume) that creates suction pulling air from the tail forward,..a poorly sealed floor pan that meets the firewall could do this,.the area would be larger then the openings on the tail,..which would create a larger vacuum then the tails opened areas,..which would create air flow forward inside even if the inlet was the size of a dime on the tail,,

I've used this example before,,you can make a vacuum cleaner out of a garden hose and an air compressor, its the same principle,.if air is being sucked out from the front of the cabin,..it will suck air in from the tail

[n85ae]

Uh-huh, well I can't disagree with any of that, but the cold air (currently
in the -10 to +10 range) is obviously coming through the baggage sack,
and just like every year for the ten years I've been flying it I swear this
is the year I'm going to put a decent (windproof) cover over the baggage
sack.

Best Regards,
Jeff Hays



for air to come in from the tail,..there has to be a place in the cabin that is allowing it to come forward,..

[airlina]

The cold polar vortex air here in Buffalo is definitely coming from the tail forward in my Series 5 (same as Jeff's) . A big help was to make a duck cloth (same as bag sack material) blocker that I velcro in every winter. It velcroes from the top of the seat back to skylight , with slots cut for my shoulder straps. Works great and blocks about 75 % of that neck freezing air! Bruce N199CL

[SkyPirate]

Mine is a model 5 also , since i fixed the air coming in around the firewall i have no air coming in unless i open the vent

[kmach]

I only notice the draft from the tail when its cold out , - 5 F , when its warm out you will not notice it.

In the summer it is not a problem. Window vents are open, making air flow move to rear.

- temps and 110 mph , air leaks become real apparent!

Using foam pieces, tape ,weatherstripping in strategic places ,my last winter flight I never noticed any draft from behind .:)

[SkyPirate]

Skot,..if you take a block of wood and put it at the front of the door where it meets the door frame at the bottom,,then push in on the back of the door,.it will twist the frame pretty uniformly ,..you might have to add to the thickness or reduce the thickness of the block of wood to get a good even seal of the door to jam,,it shouldn't take too much tweeking force to get it to twist

[Dorsal]

Using foam pieces, tape ,weatherstripping in strategic places ,my last winter flight I never noticed any draft from behind .:)

Encouraging to know it can be done :)

[SkyPirate]

Finn, i have the door window vents in my 5 , if i set them to open, i get ram air, if i turn them 1/4 open so the bent part of the vent disc is horizontal i get suction, and i can feel air coming from the tail, and i also get more fuel smell from my header, but if i close the vents completely, i get no air coming from the tail

[Dorsal]

You must have a better sealed cabin than mine, like others have stated I don't notice it except below freezing. My wing roots are not well closed off so that will be the next point to address.