Dual latch pin door handles.

[Frontier Fox]

Gentlemen

Back in the summer of 2017 I went to the factory flyin and had the privilege of checking out the beautiful green and black Speedster N157KS up close. That was the first time I saw the dual latch door latches.
When I ordered my kit I had to have that option. It was a new option at the time.
I’m approaching the point in my build of installing the doors and have been searching for instructions for the door latch installation. Can’t find anything. Too late in the day to call Kitfox.
Has anyone out there installed these?

[aviator79]

I haven't but I know the factory has the instructions, and will email them.

[Esser]

I moved my single door latch forward so it was about 1/3 from the front 2/3 from the back. It doesn't move during flight up to 140MPH

[Esser]

Update on this, I must have inadvertently hit my door latch with my knee and opened my door in flight at 125MPH. It twisted my door frame. I'm now going to order the double door latch as well.

Not sure if I should try to twist my door frame back the right way or if I risk cracking the acrylic

[Av8r3400]

Is the acrylic riveted or screwed to the frame?

[Esser]

Screwed but 3M automotive trim tape under the acrylic as per the instructions...It aint coming off...

For anyone who has ordered the dual pin latch, can you retrofit it into an existing frame and is it keyed?

[avidflyer]

[QUOTE=Esser;80877]Update on this, I must have inadvertently hit my door latch with my knee and opened my door in flight at 125MPH. It twisted my door frame.


What did it do to your seat upholstery? Wow, that must have woke you right up! Got the adrenaline flowing no doubt. I've put a second latch on all my plane doors. I'll try to find a picture. JImChuk

[Esser]

Well it definitely woke me up! The upholstery is ok! Everything stayed in my pants:D I think it actually would have been some what ok if I had opened the door and slowly opened it. This was the wind grabbing a corner and YANKING it open. Once it was open it oscillated up and down an inch but nothing crazy.

The door now doesn't sit flush like it used to. I can stick a pencil through the backside when the front is closed flush. I can pull it tight but it won't stay that way. So I'm thinking with a double latch I can pull it tight and latch it. Alternatively I'm thinking I MIGHT be able to twist it back but Im worried about the acrylic cracking..especially since it's fairly cold right now

[avidflyer]

I looked through some of my pictures, and didn't find a good one. This one is looking at it from the bottom of the door. It's from my Avid Flyer. They use a latch like an old time screen door that goes into the plate with the round hole. What I did for a second latch is cut an L shaped piece of aluminum that would act as a second latch. The top of the L has a small wooden handle to grab onto, the bottom of the forward part of the L pivots down and ends up being inside the fuselage door frame. A bolt goes through the bottom of the door and through the back lower part of the L so it pivots. The latch is positioned so it is just in front of the seat truss, which acts as a stop to keep the L from pivoting to far. Friction keeps it in position when you open the door. Because I widened my fuselage at the door area, I had to move the latch in a bit which is why you see it bolted to an angel piece of steel which is welded to the door frame. Hope that all makes sense... Remember, this is looking at the bottom of the door. JImChuk

[Esser]

Thanks for the picture and the explanation. I have a design in my head for a more positive lock. But I am going to see in the new year what Kitfox setup looks like. It's probably more well thought out than what's in my wind but it is expensive. I'm at the point now where I want to fly instead of design something though!

[jiott]

I would suggest taking the door off the fuse (quite easy to do), take it home and warm it up, take all the screws out, and then try tweaking it back into shape. Hopefully the warm 3M tape will let it move some without applying any concentrated stress. Just a thought.

[Esser]

That’s probably what I’ll do Jim. I made Pins for my hinges that you can pop out with your bare hands.

[Rik]

Take the door assembly off the plane.

Remove the screws of course. The double side tape is adhering to the frame and the acrylic? Use a plastic scraper between the tape and the metal frame to break the adhersion of the tape to the frame.

Then remove the acrylic and straighten the frame.

Clean the acrylic of the tape and Reinstall the acrylic. The acrylic is more resilient than you realize.

[jrevens]

My knees can't come anywhere close to the latches on my doors. That being said, I was doing about 110 mph when my passenger door flew open... no discernible distortion, and I was able to reach over and close it. I found that my latches would slowly creep forward because they were just adjusted too loosely. Tightened up a little now, they show no tendency to move in flight from normal vibration. Some type of positive lock is probably a good idea.

[ken nougaret]

I wonder how a piece of fishing line pulled through would work to get tape loose.

[Esser]

My knees can't come anywhere close to the latches on my doors. That being said, I was doing about 110 mph when my passenger door flew open... no discernible distortion, and I was able to reach over and close it.

You're probably right John now that I'm thinking about it..might have vibrated open as my knee can't hit it



As far as the fishing line, I actually loathe the thought of taking the 3M tape off. I did that on my fuel car fairings this summer and it was almost a 1 hour job cleaning up the 3M tape on that tiny surface.

[Rik]

Did you try using a product called "Goof Off"? You can use a isopropanol alcohol too.

[efwd]

Man, that doesn't sound pleasant. Down right startling I bet. My latch is pretty tight since my Stainless steal door trim is so wide. Considered loosening the latch up, until now.

[Esser]

I actually would have kept mine tighter but I couldn’t “unlock it” with out it unthreading. I might have to install a set screw in there or something.

Even with MEK removing the 3M tape is difficult.

[Rik]

3M makes a product that is "general adhesive remover" and honestly Goof Off works better.

It's not that hard to get tape and adhesives off acrylic with it. Some use acetone to clean plastic too.

There is a citrus cleaner that actually does work great I just cannot remember the name, we have some at work and I can check and see if I have more left for the name.

[Delta Whisky]

Josh - did you see my email with the pictures I sent yesterday? s/, Darrel

[Esser]

Yes thank you! I sent you a reply. ,us not have gone through...

[jrevens]

I actually would have kept mine tighter but I couldn’t “unlock it” with out it unthreading. I might have to install a set screw in there or something...

Clean threads and loctite worked well for me... no way it will unthread itself now.
Keep it off the plastic of course.

[Esser]

I used 242 and it broke free. Maybe I’ll go to high strength.

[JoeRuscito]

did you ever find the double door latches? I'm assuming you mean the ones that close in one position and in the other position vent the cabin by cracking the door? Id be interested in these too.

[Esser]

No I mean a door latch that puts a pin to hold it closed at the front and back of the door.

I did twist my door back slightly and got most of the gap closed again.

[JoeRuscito]

Understood. I’m looking for the matches that allow the door to lock in two positions. Fully closed and cracked for ventilation.

[jiott]

Joe, Call Kitfox. They put those kind of door latches on their STI.

[airlina]

Way back in the late 90's when I was contemplating my Kitfox buy , I took a trip to Idaho and visited Skystar to take a demo flight in the company Series 5 Outback. Took notes during the flight and one negative note was the door with a single bottom center door catch. I could push my elbow on the rear of the door and see daylight as it flexed and opened. Didn't like that a bit ,so here is my dual pin latch system-the door will not accidentally open and is very secure. Also can be locked as you can see in the photos, by using simple drawer latch hardware available at Home Depot (aircraft aisle). Finally figured out how to send pictures.Bruce N199CL

[Dave S]

Bruce - precisely what came with my early S7 kit; and, we came to an identical conclusion on the door lock - keys match on both sides too:)


Been very happy with that.


Unlike you, I gave up on posting any photos so never offered any feedback on this thread till seeing your photos.

[airlina]

Dave, I have to be honest -it took me from the time this thread started till today to figure out how to shrink the size of my pictures ,so they can be posted. Its kind of frustrating because we want to help fellow builders and pictures are truly worth a thousand words when it comes to homebuilding. As an old guy I am what you would call techy challenged. Bruce N199CL

[PapuaPilot]

I have the same dual door latch as Bruce and really like it. There is no way that will accidentally open

Someday I need to put in the key locks.

[David47]

Nice latches Bruce and Phil. I was planning on putting additional swivel latches on each door but I like that cam arrangement you have. The KISS principle works overtime .....;)

[Speedster 7]

I am a first time builder working on my S7 speedster with The bubble door option. I also have the dual pin door latch handles. I have the doors fitted and trimmed it appears that the latch will be outside of the flange area which may cause it to be recessed just wondering if anybody has use this latch with the bubble door option.

[Speedster 7]

Gentlemen

Back in the summer of 2017 I went to the factory flyin and had the privilege of checking out the beautiful green and black Speedster N157KS up close. That was the first time I saw the dual latch door latches.
When I ordered my kit I had to have that option. It was a new option at the time.
I’m approaching the point in my build of installing the doors and have been searching for instructions for the door latch installation. Can’t find anything. Too late in the day to call Kitfox.
Has anyone out there installed these?

You’ll need to have the factory e-mail them to you. I called John and had the installation instructions the same day. (Section K. Door installation). Paragraphs 28-45, pages 86-93.