Is there any reason not to hysol the clamps in place?
Is there any reason not to hysol the clamps in place?
I'm not sure if anyone else has used Hysol but l don't think I would. The silicone self fusing tape under the clamp worked great for me and it's easily removed if needed.
Dan G.
Model IV 1200 - Tri-gear
Jabiru 2200
Flying
I'm getting ready to fair the struts. Seems like changing the clamps will be next to impossible after they are covered?
Phil,
I have to agree with you - I used the faired struts from the start, which pretty much prevents slippage of the clamp; however, I do not see any reasonable way to inspect and clean/maintain as needed unless a gap is maintained the width of the clamp.
You guys got me thinking and I might try to retrofit a gap for maintenance/access to the clamp.
Appreciate everyone's comments on this subject.
Dave S
Kitfox 7 Trigear (Flying since 2009)
912ULS Warp Drive
St Paul, MN
Got me thinking too. Those struts are pretty much all that holds our wings on, and we've covered them with fairings and no way to inspect.
SS7 O-200 Whirlwind
Fabricated shims from alu sheet
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Try using these clamps (Aircraft spruce) Clamp WEDGE WDG16 Prevents any slippage.
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Currently adding speed fairings, This fixed any slipping issue with the standard clamps
Methinks this slipping clamp thing is a tempest in a teapot. I'm not saying that it can't happen when there are no speed fairings, but it just hasn't been that much of a problem for the 10 years I have been monitoring this forum. Those rubber cushioned adel clamps may function fine, but will cause an ugly lump under the speed fairings. A simple wrap of silicone tape under the kit supplied clamps will not slip when trapped by a small close-fitting hole thru the speed fairings. Most of us do use the speed fairings. I'm afraid because one person without speed fairings experienced some slip, several others are now paranoid about a non-problem.
Jim Ott
Portland, OR
Kitfox SS7 flying
Rotax 912ULS
Regarding maintenance and corrosion, there is a very real issue to be aware of: If you don't carefully seal up the clamp opening thru the speed fairing with silicone caulk or similar, rain and washing water can get thru to the inside of the fairings and then run down and collect at the bottom. The bottom end of the fairings are usually sealed up with Hysol/Pollyfill so the water can't get out and will eventually cause corrosion in this critical area. Floog drilled a hole in this area and drained out quite a bit of water. The solution is seal up the clamp holes and/or drill a permanent drain hole near the bottom.
Jim Ott
Portland, OR
Kitfox SS7 flying
Rotax 912ULS
I agree 100% with both of your previous posts, Jim. I sealed the opening around the clamps with silicone sealant, and also made drain holes for the fairings. I also made new clamps out of stainless steel in lieu of the aluminum ones in the kit, but that's another story. I "cushioned" the clamps with a layer of urethane anti-abrasion tape. As you said, if using the fairings, cushioned Adel clamps would not seem to work well at all... way too thick in my opinion. One additional thought - while those fittings are not normally subjected to a lot of stress (IF the lift struts are perfectly straight when the jury struts are located and installed), I would be cautious of substituting something of unknown strength for the original fittings.
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John Evens
Arvada, CO
Kitfox SS7 N27JE
EAA Lifetime
Chap. 43 honorary Lifetime