Brief Description: Drilled bag door hinge Lock and Latch
I had a 25% off coupon to Harbor Freight good for Easter Sunday only; so yesterday I bought a metal Shrinker/Stretcher set. I need the Shrinker to make my baggage door lay down better, or at least I hope it does. This is something a guy told me that has built several RV-8s. If this does not work then I will be spending $75 for new door parts, he told me these are hit and miss some fit nice (the door skin is pre-bent at the factory) and then other times he has issues like I am having.
I tested the Shrinker on a scrap of metal, it sure does the trick. It leaves striations in the metal from the jaws but these marks will sand out. I messed more with the door fit then taped it all down to drill the hinge to the plane (hinge support). With the hinge clecoed in I tried a bit of the Shrinker on the curve and it does help. I am reluctant to do more until I get the cowl fitted. The right side of the firewall is unsupported without the cowl, so I will leave the door taped in place and the firewall taped up to the door for the cowl fitting.
I did install the door lock and latches the block that the latches slide into will also have to wait until the cowl is done, so I guess I will start the cowl next.
