Correct seat pan installation?

[beeryboats]

After removing the fabric seat I attempted to remove the cargo "bag" behind the seat. I found it captured under the seat pan even though it seemed to be velco'd in as well. I found the seat pan is being held in by two dozen zip ties. I also noticed a bunch of small holes in the pan. So now I'm wondering if the pan was meant to be screwed in or held in with zip ties? And I'm wondering if the pan should come out anyway for inspection.

[Av8r_Sed]

The zip ties are a common way to attach the seat pan. That's how I installed mine. It should be removed for the condition inspection to provide free access to the controls, bungees, etc.

[beeryboats]

Thanks Paul. I'll start snipping zip ties tomorrow night. The builder of my KF sure did use zip ties in places I wouldn't, so that's why I wondered about the seat. Thanks.

[n85ae]

That's very normal, as it was the method detailed in the builders manual

Buy good quality zip ties, and use lots of them. I used to double them up when using 1/4" ties, now I use 3/8" ties.

Jeff

[beeryboats]

Thanks. Now when it comes time for your yearly inspection, what do you do about the seat belts? Please don't tell me you unlace those belts from the adjusters. I gave up and unbolted from the airframe and took them out with the seat pan. That was a huge pain in the butt.

[n85ae]

I unbolt mine, the only way to get it out.

[t j]

I pull the belts out of the adjusters. No problems.

[beeryboats]

I guess once I know the process and what needs to come out for my conditional inspection, it will be easier next time. I'm mad at myself for scraping the paint off the door frame getting the pan out. I'll touch it up and know better next time. I'm sure glad I did get the seat out as I see two things that must be fixed. One is both brake lines rubbing under the left aileron control rod and the end of the flap pushrod is rubbing the fabric at the aft end of the rod.

[airlina]

I always struggled with pulling the belts out of the adjusters , until a few years back when I took a razor knife and cut the thread from the end of the belt where it is folded over itself. No more tugging and pulling to get the belts out. When I put it all back together, I use a couple dabs of hot glue to put the belt ends back to their original rolled up configuration. Bruce N199CL

[akarmy]

I unlace them as well. Works fine. As they wear in they get more flexible and easier to pull out.

[kmach]

I too unlace them to remove the seats. They are a little stiff but no real problems. I angle the belt end , so you are getting a corner started , once started they seem to come thru easy.

[beeryboats]

I always struggled with pulling the belts out of the adjusters , until a few years back when I took a razor knife and cut the thread from the end of the belt where it is folded over itself. No more tugging and pulling to get the belts out. When I put it all back together, I use a couple dabs of hot glue to put the belt ends back to their original rolled up configuration. Bruce N199CL

I was almost to the point of cutting the ends off and burning the ends. I like your idea better. Although, now that I have the belts out I can clean them easier.

[n85ae]

All well and good until the first time you try a Lomcevak in your Kitfox, and your
buckles slip to the ends of the straps. Then the hot glue you bought for your
glue gun, which was just the general purpose and not the heavy duty variety ...
let's loose and you end up hanging through the the sunroof like Wiley Coyote
grasping for dear life the last remaining strap with one hand, and and your
headset cord with the other wishing that you hadn't cut the threads out of
those "intentionally oversize" rolled up ends.

I offered to re-sew Bruce's in a private email for free, but he declined and says
he has complete faith in hot glue gun glue.

Jeff

[airlina]

Not that I am relying on my glue , but my point is if the seatbelt straps have slipped to the point that they are all the way to the ends of the belt , they are doing you no good anyway. Bruce

[beeryboats]

I was thinking of a hole melted through the rolled up end with a 10-32 bolt through it myself. Or, enlarge the slot in the center of the seat pan so you can get one belt at a time through the slot. The larger slot seems like an easier solution to me.
Jay

[n85ae]

You're right, if they slip that far you have much bigger problems anyway. :)

I've really never had difficulty to get the bolts out, so it never really
occurred to me to try anything else. Having a ten year old son with small
fingers makes it a lot easier also.

Regards,
Jeff


Not that I am relying on my glue , but my point is if the seatbelt straps have slipped to the point that they are all the way to the ends of the belt , they are doing you no good anyway. Bruce

[HighWing]

I'm sure glad I did get the seat out as I see two things that must be fixed. One is both brake lines rubbing under the left aileron control rod and the end of the flap pushrod is rubbing the fabric at the aft end of the rod.

The flap pushrod hitting the fabric is common with the IVs. My fix was simply to glue a strip of Polycarbonate to the inside of the fabric where it touches. It still touches, but there won't be any wear on the fabric.

[beeryboats]

I was thinking of a thin section of Teflon or nylon glued to the skin. Or a piece of light ply from my model airplane scrap box. I'm still pondering my adhesive choice.