What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine?  
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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/27/2002 5:26:46 AM   
gpmikemorse-RCU


 

Posts: 142
Joined: 1/2/2002
From: Garrett Park, MD USA
Status: offline 		I use an extra long 1/8" drill bit. With the muffler off, I can get to all the holes on a TT .46 Pro, and 3 out of 4 on the OS 46 FX (damn remote needle valve!). I don't drill all the way in, just enough to mark the spot, since I can't be sure the drill is straight, plus I might want smaller holes if I'm using machine screws rather than through bolts. I remove the engine, drill the holes. I usually drill them with a hand drill, since the mounts don't really have anything flat to easily sit on in the drill press. For the 4th hole on the O.S., I just measure very accurately, and use a center punch so the drill doesn't drift. Sometimes I drill one hole first, and put a screw in so the engine doesn't move when I drill the other three. I love buying new tools, but just haven't seen the problem that the GP centering gadget solves. Maybe it's more useful on different engines.

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/27/2002 5:09:46 PM   
Ed Smith


 

Posts: 2875
Joined: 12/29/2001
From: Brantford, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		SDcrashmaster please help me! I am realy worried that I might screw things up. I do not have any Pepsi. I am reluctant to buy a can and waste my money. Will diet Coke work as well?

Ed S

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/27/2002 5:33:55 PM   
ben flyn



Posts: 1463
Joined: 11/12/2003
From: Windsor, CO, USA
Status: offline 		Has anyone heard of transfer punches???? You guys go to a lot of work for just a 16 dollar investment at Harbor Frieght.

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/27/2002 6:53:31 PM   
RCadmin



Posts: 13218
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Belle Mead, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		Ben Fly'n - never heard of them in my life...do you have a link to more info or can you explain...thanks!

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/27/2002 7:07:55 PM   
ben flyn



Posts: 1463
Joined: 11/12/2003
From: Windsor, CO, USA
Status: offline 		Marc,
Try this site: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=3577
I was wrong they're only 8.99!!!!

BTW you can also get metric, number, and letter diameters from other sources as well.

To use.... you just match the diameter of the hole to the transfer punch tap the punch with a hammer and you have a perfect centered hole!!!!

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/27/2002 7:12:04 PM   
RCadmin



Posts: 13218
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Belle Mead, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		how hard do you have to tap??? if a mount is on the nose of the plane the only fear I would have is nailing it to hard and ripping off the firewall. Some of these mounts are pretty hard material. Also would need to clamp the motor on so it doesn't move with all the tapping I'm guessing.

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/27/2002 7:25:59 PM   
ben flyn



Posts: 1463
Joined: 11/12/2003
From: Windsor, CO, USA
Status: offline 		You will have to put a block under the motor mount to do this, or even a light tap will show a mark. Then I use a spring load center punch to make a mark deep enough to drill with.

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/27/2002 9:26:26 PM   
SDCrashmaster



Posts: 3380
Joined: 1/15/2002
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I am almost willing to bet that there is not a single person who, after trying the GP Dead Center hole thingy, would consider messing around with any other method. Its very long and thin. Has a knurled nob on the top for twisting. The center bit is inside a brass tube with a conical head like a bic pen. Simply place the conehead in the hole and twist a few turns, and wallah, a perfect pilot hole. Ten or twelve turns will go completely through a nylon mount. I, like everyone else, struggled with a solution for years. Then, upon placing a large order at Tower, was sent this as a free gift and my life has never been the same since. Kudos to the guy who came up with this simple tool.

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Another Vote For GP Dead Center - 6/27/2002 10:24:38 PM   
hilleyja


 

Posts: 2186
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Salem, WV, USA
Status: offline 		Best drill bit I've ever found.

DRILL PRESS after marking hole. Most holes that don't end up correct is not because the hole was not marked correctly, rather the drill bit wandered before it bit in. Use a drill press to get around that.

You can get a decent heavy-duty drill press from the internet discount hardware sites, like Harbor Freight, for a song -- mine cost me $29.00 and came with a 1/2 chuck.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/headsearch.taf?function=Search

The even have an adapter to convert your hand drill to a press


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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/27/2002 10:56:34 PM   
DSJBEAN


 

Posts: 276
Joined: 12/5/2001
From: PA
Status: offline 		Count me in as a vote for the dead center tool also. I use mine for more than just engine mounts. It's really handy for pilot holes for servo screws also and with the long bit it gets to the servo tray in the fuse easily/

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/29/2002 12:35:06 AM   
wel44753


 

Posts: 2
Joined: 3/28/2002
From: MI
Status: offline 		Hi:

I've used Chuck Auger's method and then gone one better. Once you turn the engine upside down use a transfer punch to locate the center of the mounting holes. These punches are sold in "sets" covering the hole sizes of 1/16th through 1/2 inch and cost about $9. They're available from Harbor Freight Co. Transfer Punches have an O.D. that is .002" smaller than their "quoted" size. This allows the right sized punch to easily slide into the mounting hole and locate the hole's center with it's built-in centering "dimple" producing point. Hope this helps you! Bye (:-) Walt

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/29/2002 1:41:33 AM   
MikeS


 

Posts: 219
Joined: 2/28/2002
From: Cincinnati, OH,
Status: offline 		Geez, much too complicated. I hold the engine in place and use a hex wrench that just fits into the engine mount holes. Touch the short tip in colored dope and insert in hole. repeat three times. Carefully pull off engine. Four perfect circles for drilling. The unthinned dope does not run, so the holes are clear.

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 6/29/2002 1:48:02 AM   
rc-sport



Posts: 2906
Joined: 4/15/2002
From: Highwood, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Most of the mounts I use a glass filled so i take a brass tube that fits the holes and heat it with a torch and slide it in and it melts a nice round hole.

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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 7/8/2002 10:44:26 PM   
Blackie



Posts: 1896
Joined: 2/10/2002
From: Austin, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Mike, Ladys lipstick would work as well. Just mark the end of your hex wrench then stick in the hole


Randy


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What is best way to mark/center holes for mounting engine? - 7/12/2002 11:27:23 PM   
Soar Head



Posts: 147
Joined: 2/2/2002
From: x, AK, AFGHANISTAN
Status: offline 		turn the engine over, clamp it in place.

Then use a sharp pencil to draw a small circle. Center punch & drill.

The end of a BIC pen is a neat centering idea, too.

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