I had to replace a side cowl a year or so ago when one split in flight - elongation of a crack developing at a fastener.
Skyport didn't have any blanks cut at the time so I bought the ready assembled from Univair. Beautifully made and easy to install once painted. Unfortunately we then found out that the existing set of cowlings had been remade at some point and the new "correct" one didn't fit. Took about half a day of carefully creasing the supports to get the fasteners to line up. After 12 months it is still a bitch to fasten. My technique of front Camlock first and working back still requires a heavy lean on the cowling in the right place to get the back one fastened. But I must say, if you have any cracking plus an air gap at the front be very careful. My crack had gone about 1/2 inch upwards from the front fastener before the fateful flight. On climb-out the cowling tore upwards like a sheet of paper. http://www.asmn85.dsl.pipex.com/EEN/cowling.jpg to see the result! Mike [email protected] www.ercoupe.co.uk Alon A2 Aircoupe A-188 G-HARY -- On 2/10/09 04:21, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: > Ed, > > We think the side cowls were made from stock because they lack the rolled > lip on the forward edge that my A&P says should be there. The left one is > sort of OK, but the right one has a stop-drilled stress crack and is very > difficult to close. Both are using an extra sheet metal screw that the > previous owner used to hold them flush at the front lower corner. I agree > about using Phillips-head Camlocks, we were looking at that tonight when we > were done installing the mags. Mine would fail the "snug at the front and > bottom", at least from the aspect of having a uniform fit. I would say they > are "bowed out" throughout the cross-section, which may be the problem if they > were > made from flat stock. They actually do fit better at the back and I usually > start fastening the camlocks there and struggle in the middle two, then the > front one comes easy after the middle two are in. > > Hartmut's appear to fit much better and it didn't seem as if he struggled as > much to re-fasten them. > > Thanks, > Dave > > > --- In [email protected], "Ed Burkhead" <e...@...> wrote: >> >> >> Dave, >> >> Can you further define how your side cowls are "poor-fitting"? >> >> The fit of Coupe side panels is special. It is snug at the front and bottom >> but bellies out in a specific shape at the rear. This is part of the design >> to provide low pressure in the lower chamber to improve cooling. >> >> I always had to start connecting my side panels at the front camloc (we >> replaced the dzus very happily), then worked back. Other planes need a >> different pattern to most easily connect them. >> >> If you have dzus fasteners, consider changing to camloc and fitting them >> better than what you have now. I don't know if your current fasteners can >> be repositioned easily enough for that to be a good solution. And, if you >> change fasteners, try to get the Phillips head type to save your side panels >> from slipped screwdriver damage. >> >> If this doesn't apply, then please tell the forum more about your fit >> problem so the experts can give the best possible help. (I'm not any kind >> of mechanic and am a klutz with screwdrivers. >> >> Ed >>
