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Thread: IV door latches

  1. #11
    Senior Member Dave S's Avatar
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    Default Re: IV door latches

    Phil,


    What made the locks particularly easy was the fact that the locksmith had these in matching cylinders so both doors use the same key; and, the lock kit came with several arms of different offsets so it was super easy to match the arm with the latch. If I recall, the local locksmith called these "Cabinet drawer locks" and the cost was less than $20 for the pair - of course that was a few years ago.
    Dave S
    Kitfox 7 Trigear (Flying since 2009)
    912ULS Warp Drive

    St Paul, MN

  2. #12
    Administrator DesertFox4's Avatar
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    Default Re: IV door latches

    If your door latch looks something like this, you’ve probably over engineered it.
    608DA592-E05C-4568-A75E-458E14152332.jpg


    DesertFox4
    Admin.
    7 Super Sport
    912 ULS Tri-gear


  3. #13
    Senior Member efwd's Avatar
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    Default Re: IV door latches

    That's Funny!
    Eddie Forward
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    SS7, 912iS, Garmin G3X

  4. #14
    Senior Member Delta Whisky's Avatar
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    Default Re: IV door latches

    Thanks for the inputs - especially DesertFox4 - yours keeps the challenge at the forefront.


    Dave - I like yours because it adds easy access from the outside and a lock. I'm not sure if the lock component can easily be included in a bubble window door. I'll have to make a phone call and see if any are still available.


    If anyone has an approach to a front and aft lock design - pictures would be appreciated.


    Thanks again.

  5. #15
    Super Moderator Av8r3400's Avatar
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    Default Re: IV door latches

    Mine are a little more crude, but I wanted to latch in two places...



    Av8r3400
    Kitfox Model IV
    The Mangy Fox
    912UL 105hp Zipper
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  6. #16
    Senior Member
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    Default Re: IV door latches

    Those who fly when there is snow on the ground want the doors to seal up, don't they Larry. JImChuk

  7. #17

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    Default Re: IV door latches

    Has anyone considered rare earth magnets in the corners with a normal center latch?


    Clark

  8. #18
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    Default Re: IV door latches

    I think rare earth magnets would magnetise the airframe over time and could cause trouble with the compass and possibly any magnetometer that may have been installed. Of course, you could degauss the aircraft but that sounds, to me, like it's more trouble than it's worth.

  9. #19
    Senior Member HighWing's Avatar
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    Default Re: IV door latches

    The single latch on the IV has been standard from the beginning with the exception of the "Double Pin Door Latch" that was offered for a while as an option. Unlike the ones pictured in the thread, this one was mid door and was not well received. I think there are significant differences between the IV and the 7 that eliminate the need for the two pin. Primarily due to the following: The flexibility of the tubular aluminum door frame with a fiberglass or Lexan panel on the lower half - If gapping is an issue bowing the lower tube will bring both ends firmly against the exterior. There is no aluminum door seating structure requiring a precision fit and the fiberglass or Lexan covering of the lower door panel overlapping the fabric provides the seal. What Guy Buchannan did is essentially what you will find in almost every Model IV. I had the same type on my first IV - 900 hours over 9 years and on my new IV - not so many hours. Although the basic design is the same, there can be variations in the details. The following pictures are what are in my current airplane. One note: I decided that an external handle for the passenger side was not necessary because that door was seldom opened first. The passenger door only has an internal latch for opening especially for the purpose of emergency egress if necessary. Rather than having a structure that raised the pivot above the door frame, I drilled through it for the pivot - 3/16" and used half steel tubing hysoled in place to beef up the frame there a bit. My lock idea was very similar to Guy's as well.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Lowell Fitt
    Goodyear, AZ


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