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Bob's RV-8 Build Site
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Date:  6-8-2018
Number of Hours:  1.80
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Landing Gear - Drilling

In considering my options for drilling the wear plate retention holes I considered the options. Vans simply states to measure and drill access holes through the skins since they are eventually covered by the gear fairings. I wanted to see if I could avoid that route.

I began to look for a "pancake drill" to do the job. The pancake drill is a flat drill that attaches to a drill and can be used to reach in fairly tight spots. It has gears that turn a little threaded spindle for threaded drill bits. I began to ask other home builders if perhaps they had one I could borrow since I really didn't want to buy one for drilling 4 holes.

I finallly scored when I contacted my buddy Gary Palinkas. When I asked him about having a pancake drill (he waffled somewhat...yuk yuk) and said he may have one. Long story short he came through with flying colors and sent me his. I already had a 1/4 inch stubby threaded drill. It was short order that I was able to feed the drill under the skin to reach the forward wear plate holes for the outboard wear plates. Thanks Gary!

Thats the good news. The bad news is that I could not get the pancake drill at the location for the rear wearplate retention holes. The problem was twofold. First there is a bracked that would not allow the drill to access the hole no matter which way I sought to wiggle the drill in position. Secondly, the rear of the outboard wearplates are bent at an angle. I foune that even if I got the drill in the space I could not get the pancake drill to fit perpendicular to the hole to drill it anyway.

I finally decided to drill access holes through the skins for the rear holes of the outboard wearplates. So I located the place in the skin where I could penetrate the skin in order to drill the wearplates.
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Pancake Drill

Pancake Drill

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Holes through skin for drilling rear holes

Holes through skin for drilling rear holes

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