We looked at the side cowls again yesterday after replacing and timing the mags. The right is definitely a thinner material than the left, so it's probably been replaced with something from flat stock and modified. I think I'm just going to order the right side cowl blank from Skyport and chance all the camlocks over to Phillips-head so they don't slip all the time. The left is not nearly as difficult to close and still fits OK.
Going for a test-flight this morning to see if my ignition problem was solved by rebuilding the right (Bendix) mag. Later, Dave --- In [email protected], "bigbrownpi...@..." <bigbrownpi...@...> wrote: > > Yes, I have camlocks. It's probably made worse by the fact that we've had > the uppers and sides off so much lately. Maybe the right side is the only > one to replace and the left is OK. I use your technique of putting the top > on and fastening the sides then installing the screws, which helps a little. > I'll talk to my A&P today and see if he thinks we can use the Skyport blanks > and new Phillips-head Camlocks. My concers with Univair pieces is what Mike > said-- they may be made too well to fit easily on an airplane where the > stringers are just a little out of alignment > . > > Thanks, > Dave > > > --- In [email protected], Hartmut Beil <hbeil@> wrote: > > > > > > Dave, all, > > > > > > > > "Hartmut's appear to fit much better and it didn't seem as if he struggled > > as much to re-fasten them." > > > > > > > > I had situations where the cowling simply would not fit, no matter what I > > tried. > > > > Since I discovered the art of how to attach nose, front and top cowling, I > > am having no problems with my side cowls. > > > > > > > > It starts with carefully attaching the (stringers) supports that are > > holding the nose bowl ring in place. > > > > On my Ercoupe, the cowling had been retrofitted a few times and there are a > > few holes to many in these strips. Locating the proper hole is key for the > > rest of the action. > > > > Then fitting the nose bowl is easy. It should fit without any strain or > > force. The holes do line up when all is ok. The bottom cowl was never a > > problem. > > > > > > > > Fitting the top cowl with the sides hanging down is the big last thing to > > do. > > > > I put the cowling on the top, make sure the rubber grommet fits nicely the > > tank filler and then after lining up the holes on both sides I close the > > cowling with the camlocks. > > > > If the cowling is properly aligned now, I can easily screw the top cowling > > in place, if something is wrong, the screws don't fit. If I can't get them > > to fit this way, I double check everything or have to start over. Using > > force to line up the holes will create tension somewhere else and as a > > result you have trouble closing the side cowlings. > > > > > > > > Dave, if your side cowls are just straight sheet metal, then it had been a > > lousy retrofit. Do you have the camlocks on them? > > > > My brother bought the blank side cowls from Skyport. They fit perfectly, > > looked good and he had no problems with them. They are also easy to polish > > for a nice appearance. > > > > > > > > > > > > Hartmut > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > To: [email protected] > > From: bigbrownpilot@ > > Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 03:21:41 +0000 > > Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Re: New Side Cowls-- Univair or Skyport? > > > > > > > > > > > > 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" <ed@> 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 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Show them the way! Add maps and directions to your party invites. > > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/products/events.aspx > > >
