Brief Description: Fitting Landing Gear Brackets to Fuselage Sides
Fit my new brackets in position on the fuselage sides to prepare for drilling. I first cut my version of the 4130 tube that bolts between the two brackets to length (6.9") on the lathe. I then bolted the fwd and aft brackets together with the tube and long AN6 bolts. I set the AFT bracket in position using a framing square against the top longerons to make sure that the face of the AFT bracket was vertical in reference to the top longeron. I used a tape measure to get the 5.8" dimension from the aft edge of the fuselage side. Once these were positioned a used hot melt glue to hold the brackets in position for match drilling the fuselage sides for the bracket attach bolts. I used by standing drill press for this work. To make that work I used an adjustable roller stand placed a few feet away from the drill press to support the long fuselage sides. I placed a bolt in each hole as it was drilled to help lock the brackets in position. Once they were all drilled I removed the brackets and the blobs of hot melt glue. I used a 1/4 inch drill bit on the press as that is what I used for the holes in the brackets. This makes for very little clearance for the AN4 bolts. I like that on the brackets but I decided to make the holes in the fusleage side slightly larger to make the assembly go togeter a little easier. I used a 17/64" bit to enlarge the fuselage holes. I am very pleased with how this worked out.
LH Fuselage Side with Brackets Hot Glued in Position
