lml@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> Bob Smiley sent me these comments, which I highly appreciated, and gave me his permission to forward them on to the rest of y'all. <Rob Wolf> I wrote a thread not to long ago about the cowling. Don Geotz told me to use two bid of graphite on the underside of the cowling. I did so. I also reinforced two bid glass around the area between the prop spinner hole and the air intake holes. Please observe the high stress gelcoat cracks on high time lancairs. I also used graphite strands on the lower aft cowling around the nose wheel well opening and aft exit area as well as dropped an aluminum brace on each side of the nose wheel well cutout from the firewall and attached it to the lower cowling. Hanger rash on that top cowling piece needs attention. Any hairline cracks in the gelcoat must be repaired for painting. They will be seen. Sand down to the glass. repair with one bid glass with peel ply over it to reduce finish work. remove the peel ply and proceed with final sanding and body work to smooth it out. You can find the cracks by wiping down the the cowling with degreaser and observe it drying. The cracks will show up as spider web like fractures. They need to be repaired before painting. My cowling sagged 1/4 inch over one year in the middle. The two bid graphite reinforcement should cure that problem. I have about 30 hours on the plane since the graphite installation and I do not notice any sag to date. Interesting, the motor mounts sagged more than expected. I added 1/8 inch above the cowling for the initial spinner placement. It has since sagged to 1/8th in below. This is interesting because the motor has been on the mounts for two years. It is the heat and working that causes movement and compression. I will have to add spacers on the lower mounts to compensate. I wrapped the pipes, both intake and exhaust but the wrap vibrated apart, looked dirty and basically didn't work. I have since had the pipes cermichromed. The intakes are cermicrhromed silver and the exhaust pipes are porcelain gray. I encourage you to coat your pipes. IT does help keep temps down and besides; the motor looks prettier.No aluminum reflective tape is on the inside of the lower cowling. No apparent discoloration on the paint is noticed at this time. Bear in mind that these flying hours are in the Pacific Northwest where temperatures are usually in the 50-80's in the summer. I have since moved to Salt Lake City and the temps are significantly warmer here. I do not know if protection of the lower cowling is necessary. I am considering doing such to avoid the problem for my plane. Bob Smiley 801-257-0561 rjsmiley@tscnet.com- >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>