Bleed Brakes / ELT / Fuel Tank

Another day and tackling several different aspects of the build, hoping to get it ready to move to the hangar soon.

I started out with the help of N to get the brakes bleed. After doing a little research online and EAA videos I chose to bleed the brakes using an oil can and hand pumping the fluid from the bottom up. This worked out fairly well. It took a little work getting air bubbles to completely resolve through the cylinders, but it was accomplished. Overall it worked out better than I imagined. And no visible leaks found so far.

I then installed the batteries on the ELT remote and audio alert. The remote was then installed in the panel.

The canopy light was installed. The fuel tank was installed along the the neck. The plans called for fuel sealant to be placed between the neck and the turtle skin, so fuel sealant was mixed and placed prior to setting the screw of the fuel neck.

Time: 4 hrs

Bleeding of brakes

Brakes bleed

ELT remote installed

Canopy light installed

Fuel tank installed

Fuel sealant around fuel inlet

Wheel balance / wiring

Started the today's build session by balancing the nose wheel. I had purchased a balancer, but it will only work for the nose wheel and not the main wheels since the main wheels have a larger axle. There is probably way to make it work, but the nose wheel I think is more critical to have balanced. I know many people do not even do this step.  I did have to add 1.25 oz of weight near the stem to get the wheel balanced. Once balanced I installed it back on the nose gear.

I then went back to the wiring. I ran the wires and tubes from the tailcone section per planes. I put together the fuselage wiring harnesses in the panel and also in the tailcone section.

Time: 2.75 hrs.

Wheel balancing

Weights added

Wiring harness

Wiring harness

Fuselage wiring harness in tail

Fuselage wiring in tail (Shrink wrap  will be trimmed)

Run of wires in tailcone

Wires in tailcone

Main wheels / brakes

THE PLANE IS ON WHEELS.  We were able to get the plane on wheels today.  I spent some time hand packing the bearings with Mobil 28.  The main wheels were installed.  I loosely placed the front wheel as I need to still balance the front wheel.  Then with the help of N and T we got the plane on wheels.

I then started on the the brake lines. Flare attachments were added to the metal tubing and the lines were attached to the fluid fittings on the gear leg brackets. The tubing was then ran behind the legs and attached to the brakes. I installed the brake cylinder and placed the brake lines under the panel in the clamp. I will wait until later in the build to bleed the brake lines.

I had a few minutes so I started on the flight controls. I separated and installed the bearings on the flaperon mixer. I then installed the rod on the flap handle.

Time: 5.5 hrs

Greasing the bearing

Main Wheel Installed

Brake and Fairing bracket installed

Nose wheel installed

Plane on wheels

Plane on wheels

Brake lines

Brake lines behind right leg

Ziptie of brake lines

Brake Reservoir

Brake lines fastened through clamp

Flaperon mixer

Flap Handle 

Main wheels / axles

More landing gear work today.  B helped me for part of the time. I started by tightening the fork nut on the nose gear. I used a spring scale to get it in the 18-20 lbs range as per plans.  I then disassembled the main wheels.  I placed the tubes and tires on the wheels.  The brake discs were then attached.  I have some questions about whether the wheels should be balanced. Some people say not to worry about others say to do it.  I think I will be on the safe side and balance the wheels.  I have ordered a motorcycle wheel balancer that should work. I will wait to place the wheel on the legs until I have them balanced.

The main axles were then bolted on the legs. I then used a string to check the alignment of the axles. They seem to be right on and there is no need for shims.

I installed the fluid fittings on the brakes.  It then came to my mind as to the fairings and if there is something I should be doing now before I place the wheels on the legs. Sure enough there are some fairing brackets that get placed on the main wheels. So I had to unbolt the axles I just had placed so the bracket could be installed.  Better to do it now than later.  The other brackets for the fairings should be able to be placed at a later time without involving the wheel.



Time: 2.75 hrs.

Nose gear nut

Wheel disassembly

Wheel

Tires on wheels

Axle alignment

Right axle

Fluid fittings places on brakes

Fairing bracket placed on main legs

Engine mount / front wheel

With the help of N I was able to get the engine mount placed. We also worked on putting together the front tire.  It is a little questionable what to do with the washers that the instructions say to remove when putting the tire together. In reading some say to just leave them off.  I will research that a little more.

We installed the nose gear leg. and fork.  I need to finalize torque of the fork, so that will have to wait until next time as we were running out of time today.  Also there is a question on when the bolts at the top of the nose leg are installed.  I couldn't see with a quick run through of the plans.  I will need to research that also. Maybe they get installed with the engine.  I will see what I find out.   I also need to see if I need to balance the wheels or not.  Lot of things to research.

Time: 2.25 hrs.

Engine Mount

Front tire place on wheel (The stem didn't exactly line up with the red dot, so I deflated it and lined it up after this photo)

Nose gear

Nose gear

Nose fork.

Main gear legs

Worked on installing the main gear legs. Started with placing a thin layer of grease on the plates and brackets as per plans. Then installation of the main gear legs began. It was a little tricky getting the bolts in place. S helped me some to get the bolts in places and torqued.

Time: 2.25 hrs

Plates and brackets greased

Right gear leg

Left gear leg

View of leg bolts in cabin

FW day 5/ Wing attach

Worked on several sections today.  I started by running the canopy latch and light wires. I then started section 35 - Landing gear.  The doublers and wear plates were primed as per plans. I installed the brake fluid fittings to the landing hear blocks.I then regressed back to section 30 and prepared the spar pins as per plans. I tapped the pins without breaking them this time.  Then with the help of S, N, and T we were able to try in the wings. It took a little adjustment but we were able to get the left wing to fit and the pins placed.  The right wing took some more work.  We had it very close to going in all the way, but it was getting cold so we will wait until another time to adjust it more.  I will installed the landing gear and then we can try to place the wings again.  It is getting to look more like and airplane with the wings installed.

Time: 3.75

Plastic tube over canopy latch and light switch

Canopy latch and light wires ran

Brake fitting attached to gear blocks

Spar pins ready

Trying in wings.