Geek's STi Build

[Eric Page]

Oh, NOOOO! At least you can stop-drill the end of the crack and still fly until the replacement shows up. What a bummer...

[Kitfox Pilot]

AANNNDDD a Hurts Donut (Say it and listen to yourself if you don't get it.)

Worked on getting one of my door latches to fit/close a little better. It was pretty tight and harder to close than the other one. Was making progress on it and then this........



Hello Heather? I need to place an order.......... Dang it!!

Oh that hurt me to look at because I know how much work went into that! If there is a good side it's that it will probably be better the second time around. I know my screw ups were. Haha

[rv9ralph]

Oh man does that hurt!! Like Harlan said... it is easier the second time. But who want's to do that work more than necessary.

[Geek]

Thanks all. Misery loves company and this just hurts to look at it. Will stop drill it today but trying to think of how to do it with my eyes closed so I don't have to look. The funny part is that when I budgeted for the build, I actually had a "Screw Up Fund". Ah well. As we used to say on the boat, "Everyone gets their day in the barrel". My turn.

Gary

[Redline]

Gary, I feel your pain! I cracked one door on Saturday, but it's really small (about an inch long) and I'm hoping it stays that way after drilling it. The sound of that crack made me sick to my stomach!

[Spornrad]

Hi Geek,
where can I get that tool to set these AL-Rivets? How is it called?
Thank you , Werner

[Geek]

Hi Geek,
where can I get that tool to set these AL-Rivets? How is it called?
Thank you , Werner

They are called a "Rivet Squeezer". Catchy name eh? You can find them at Aircraft Spruce. Here's a link to them in Europe
https://www.aircraftspruce.eu/tools/rivet-tools/rivet-squeezers/stainless-steel-hand-squeezer.html

A 'buy the way' is that I know many on this forum use these in place of the squeezer. Another Europe link; https://www.weidinger.eu/en/tools/v-knipex-86-01-series

056-8601180-00-1_1.jpg

Even though I have the squeezers, I have these as well and have successfully done solid rivets with them. Much cheaper.

Gary

[Geek]

So to add insult to injury.......... Went down in the shop to stop drill my door glass and take another look at why my latches were so tight. When I did the original fitting, I thought they were just perfect and that when I installed the doors and the rubber gasket, they would be a bit tight but functional. In the manual, Kitfox clearly says that you 'might' have to install a shim between the latch rods and the door frame. Should have taken that note a bit more to heart. My tight spot was where the rear rod pushed over the fuselage frame. Drilled out the rivets holding the bracket. Made a shim out of some .063 aluminum and cleco'd them in. The door latches both close smooth as silk. Not loose at all. Slightly compresses the rubber gasket. If you are putting in the optional latches, learn from my mistake. If I had just taken a bit more time in looking at this I would not be ordering a new door glass. Took me two hours to do the fix.

Gary

shim.JPG

[bbs428]

Welcome to the KCAC - "Kitfox Cracked Acrylic Club". I felt your pain halfway across the country.
At least you have a contingency fund!
I have one small crack on a door that ends at a screw hole. It saved me from scrapping the door and buying a new one. I have learned to live with it by not looking at it! Lol.

[Spornrad]

They are called a "Rivet Squeezer". Catchy name eh? You can find them at Aircraft Spruce. Here's a link to them in Europe
https://www.aircraftspruce.eu/tools/rivet-tools/rivet-squeezers/stainless-steel-hand-squeezer.html

A 'buy the way' is that I know many on this forum use these in place of the squeezer. Another Europe link; https://www.weidinger.eu/en/tools/v-knipex-86-01-series

Even though I have the squeezers, I have these as well and have successfully done solid rivets with them. Much cheaper.

Gary

Thank you Gary, this helped me a lot for my projekt! Was searching for this quite some time.

Werner