912UL oil hatch on a SMOOTH COWL Model IV-1200

[GWright6970]

I am getting close to being finished with my 912UL in a IV-1200. My question.... Has anyone with a SMOOTH COWL installed an oil check access hatch with the oil tank installed as described in the 912 install manual (cradled in the firewall)?

Did you offset the hatch or place it on the center line? What size opening did you make? Can you post a couple photos?

Thank you in advance. I prefer not to re-invent things!

[cubtractor]

I have the smooth cowl on a IV-1200 but with a Jabiru. I can post some pictures of my oil door and how I did it if you want.

[GWright6970]

Mike.... Please!!

The smooth cowl shows an impression offset to the aircraft's port side. It is also much smaller than the factory oil door kit' s directions. After staring at it all I am pondering if one can get their hand in there, remove the cap, and then pull the dip stick out to the side..

All photos of smooth cowls will help! This may help future builders!

Thank you!!

[cubtractor]

I can probably find the hinge and latch part numbers if you need them.

http://www.teamkitfox.com/Forums/picture.php?albumid=273&pictureid=6251
http://www.teamkitfox.com/Forums/picture.php?albumid=273&pictureid=6252
http://www.teamkitfox.com/Forums/picture.php?albumid=273&pictureid=6253
http://www.teamkitfox.com/Forums/picture.php?albumid=273&pictureid=6254
http://www.teamkitfox.com/Forums/picture.php?albumid=273&pictureid=6255

[GWright6970]

Mike.... THANK YOU!! EXCELLENT workmanship!

My problem is trying to make that happen up against the firewall, in the center of the cowling or very near it. It gets a bit more challenging with that decorative raised section smack in the middle!

Mike... thank you ever so much for the photos!

[cubtractor]

I know. My dipstick is centered in the middle of the door because I didn't want to deal with the hump.

[GWright6970]

First, and most importantly.... THANK YOU to all who have posted!! AWESOME!

I took everyone's ides, and here is where I went with them:

The door was laid out...5 1/4" wide by 6 3/4" long. The 6 3/4" length is required to make sure that the hinge and the latch are clear of the "hump" going down the center of the cowling.

The door is obviously perpendicular to the aircraft axis. The spring loaded release latch is on the port (pilot's) side, with a hidden hinge on the starboard side. I checked at least fifty times the clearance underneath that the hidden hinge would not hit any of the engine oil system hoses, fittings at the tank, and that the ignition modules were also clear....... before praying as I cut it methodically slow!

The door was cut out of the cowling using a "ground down" jigsaw blade that allows for really nice tight radius corners. (The blade next to it was all I could find to show the approximate size I started out with! It is for a different saw I have.)

Under neath I used 1/8" thick aluminum for the door backing, and a 1/8" thick steel piece for the catch plate for the latch. The aluminum backing makes a slight curve underneath the cowling, bridging over the hump, leaving a lot of length around the underside to make solid contact with.

The 39 rivets are counter-sunk, covered with glazing putty, sanded... dried, etc... and currently in sandable primer which has NOT been sanded yet in the photo.

I am happy with the results. The latch button looks weird in the photo as it is still wrapped in two layers of painters tape... AGAIN... THANK YOU ALL!!!!

[Esser]

Nice work Grover. Looks really good

[PaulSS]

Love how you've managed to match up the bump in the door. Very neat work :)

[DesertFox4]

Very well done.:)
I had a smooth cowl model 4 for 13 years and never cut into it for the oil door. Pretty sure it wouldn't have turned out as nice as yours. Congrats.

[efwd]

See, now you understand why, one time in my thread, I stated how I found the engine cowl fiberglass to be so fun. Yours came out very nice and Im sure you feel pretty good about your work. Gratifying.
Eddie

[cubtractor]

Very nice. Well done.

[HighWing]

Grover,
Looks great. Looks like you are getting close.