Brief Description: Installing the fuel tank attachment brackets
A couple days ago I fabricated angle reinforcements (F-796B- L/R) and two shims (F-796C & D) for each fuel tank attach bracket (F-796A L/R). Today I reprimed the brackets and angles and installed the brackets along with the nutplates on the fuel tank attachment brackets. When you bend the fabricated brackets (F-796A), what works best is to mount them to the fuselage with a couple bolts and clecos, then beat the brackets with a rubber mallet until they are flush with the fuel tank attachment brackets. I tried to bend the first bracket using my vice and and after three attempts to get it right out of frustration I started beating on it with a rubber hammer. It's nearly impossible to eyeball the compound bend on the vice...it's really easy to pound on it with a rubber mallet and get it right the first time. I also installed the nutplates for the ANH4-5A safety wired bolt and drilled a hole for the safety wire on the fuel tank attach bracket. I probably should have installed this nutplate after I removed the wings (like the plans tell you to do) because there is very little room to get a rivet squeezer in place. I'll probably drill out all four of the nutplate rivets when I pull the wings because I didn't do too steller of a job. The plans also call for AN426AD3-5 flush rivets. These are too small; you need -5.5. or -6 rivets. The last picture shows the reinforcement angle installed. I still have to rivet 3 flush rivets into the reinforcement angles from the outside-in when I remove the wings. The 30 degree angled longeron on the top of the bracket is why you have to bevel the top of the reinforcement angle. Otherwise the the top bolt hole is too close to the top edge of the angle.
