Sunday, October 4, 2020

Initial fitting of the Gear Weldments - 4 hours

 I managed a more productive day. I need to fit the WD-721 landing gear weldments to start drilling the pilot holes on the side skins. The fit seems to be really good. I reamed the mounting holes with the appropriate reamer. Some of the powder coating in the holes prevented the bolts from going through.

It took some time to get the bolts installed as there is a bit of a trick and process to it.


 Straight away I noticed that they is some interference with the bottom/forward cleco in F-704 as it interferes with the aft portion of the gear weldment.  


I marked the hole and I see that I am going to have to use a file and cut a relief for the future rivet shop head.


Once I was satisfied with a nice tight fit. I began drilling the pilot holes in the weldment/side skin. For now, I only drilled the main portion of the weldment to #40, and the forward support tube/flange is drilled to #30. I have decided I will open these holes up to the appropriate 3/16" holes later in the build where the instructions have you install the gear weldments. (With bulkhead F-902 installed it becomes extremely difficult to drill the holes in that forward flange, so I want to locate them now)



Satisfied with how things went. I completed the other side. 




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