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Dave's RV-7A Builder's Log
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Date:  8-17-2014
Number of Hours:  6.00
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Bolts...and more bolts

Had I known that when the day started I would spend six hours fastening 14 bolts, I'm not sure I would have gone out to the hangar. The eight close tolerance bolts (4 per side) that go through the lower part of the gear mount make for one very difficult scenario for installation. Add to that the idea that you are supposed to torque these bolts to the proper value and I'm not sure that anyone has ever really done it "correctly". I think we all get as close as we can, but I'm not sure there is a right method.

The adventure began yesterday when I inadvertently inserted one 7/16" and one 3/16" bolt in the left side before consulting the plans. Yep, I was supposed to put washers on the head side of these bolts. A little common sense and some research confirmed that this was to prevent damage to the spar web during tightening, but once these lower bolts go in, they aren't coming out. So...what to do? I tried a couple of options, one of which was to slot a washer and try to get it to seat (it wouldn't), and finally I just had to give in to my desire for perfection (or at least symmetry) and tighten these bolts carefully without washers.

Oddly enough, due to the variances in the spar/mount, the bolts without washers actually allowed me to tighten the nut a little more thoroughly as the bolt protruded through the assembly a little bit further. So, what's right? Who knows. But I torqued everything the best I could and called it done.

Then I spent the next hour and a half on the creeper installing six bolts on the inside brackets of the fuel tanks. No idea why I didn't do that a very long time ago...but it's done now. Finally, I removed the brake lines and cleaned up the interior in preparation for installing the new boost pump. Enough for one day.
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Look Ma, no washers...

Look Ma, no washers...

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Torque sealed...as if I'd actually forget that I torqued these...

Torque sealed...as if I'd actually forget that I torqued these...

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