Installing Landing Gear on Fuselage

smittysrv · Post by **smittysrv** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 3:23 pm

Hi Guys!

I'm ready to get back to work on the old RV. I have enough pemmies now to order the engine. How did you guys rig up the fuselage to install the main gear (the "A" types, that is...).

bruceh · Post by **bruceh** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:14 pm

I used the engine hoist and some tie down straps to lift the fuselage up high enough to slip in the gear legs.

Glad to see you are back to building!

pat · Post by **pat** » Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:35 pm

Just like Bruce. I also had a sling under the epp for stability.

Pat

smittysrv · Post by **smittysrv** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:42 am

Thanks Guys!

It feels good to be back in the garage again.

Would it be a good idea to pre-assemble the tires on the gear before inserting the gear legs into the fuselage? How did you support the tail end of the fuselage during the lift?

Sorry for all the questions. My kiddo said "Dad, I can lift it up by the motor mount while you put the legs in!", until he tried it....

BSwayze · Post by **BSwayze** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 2:22 pm

Smitty,

I made a simple sling out of some scrap lumber and seatbelt webbing to hold my tail during all the work done on the finish kit. I used it right up to the time I installed the mains and hung the engine. Here's a shot of it:

Here's a shot from the rear, showing the seatbelt webbing that cradles the tail of the plane:

As to the mains, I would definitely put them together and get them all ready to roll before installing them in your plane. There's quite a bit of work to be done to get them ready, and it's a whole lot easier to do it on the bench. I have quite a lot of documentation and pictures on my website describing the whole process, but it's kinda scattered out. It starts here:

http://www.europa.com/~swayze/RV-7A/Fin ... 20609.html

It was a while until I continued work on them, here's the page for that:

http://www.europa.com/~swayze/RV-7A/Fin ... 20930.html

And finally, if you click here and go to pages that follow this one, you'll get it all:

http://www.europa.com/~swayze/RV-7A/Fir ... 21116.html

smittysrv · Post by **smittysrv** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 2:39 pm

Thanks Bruce!

Just what I was looking for.

smittysrv · Post by **smittysrv** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 2:43 pm

That last webpage with the front wheel already on the engine mount is pure genius! THANK YOU! I put the engine mount on the firewall last night, but luckily I didn't put a wrench to it. It's coming off this afternoon!