sscherin

My Feedback: (1)

I'm working on mounting the cowl on my Citabria and need to make a choice..

I've built a plate with CF alignment dowels that will be epoxied into the cowl.
Now the question is do I use Neodymium magnets or a simple pair of 4-40 screws to attach it to the firewall?

rcuman

I would think magnets would work ok. There is some ply glued to the inside of the cowl so that it does not push back towards the rear of the plane. The wind resistance as well as the engine would keep it from flying off. I do not see anything wrong using magnets.

RICMOD5634

If it was me I'd use screws! I've have two elec.s where the canope was suppose to be held on with magnets, and they both failed in flight/. I have since added screws and now they stay on. I don't know who came up with this magnet idea, but I think it stinks!!!!!!JMHO

rcuman

The canopy I could see coming off in flight because there is nothing supporting it in the rear from the force of the wind. A little wind can get under the canopy with enough force to lift it off. I have had this problem with a screwed in canopy on my TF P-47. The dang pilot tried to bail out on me. Needlsss to say he was well disciplined for his actions because I lost the canopy and had to order a new one.

da Rock

Good work and good idea with those pins.

all that done, just one screw or bolt ought to give you piece of mind that the sucker won't slide forward on a downline and foul the prop (or the prop FOUL the cowl).

And since you've done something that makes external screws unnecessary, put the screw inside the cowl. A bit of bother at times, but it's just a decision for someone who cares about the looks versus the bother.

nice idea

sscherin

My Feedback: (1)

I decided to go with the 4-40 screws and blind nuts in the firewall.
Mostly because the clearance between the prop and cowl is about 1/16" and I know the screws will keep it snug on the firewall.
The 2nd reason is I can't find the pack of magnets I bought. and the screws were right there ready to go..
Some days I just like to see some progress.

It's easy to remove.. The screws are a straight shot through the cowl air intakes.
I got the blind nuts in and epoxied the plate into the cowl last night.. It works great.

I'll find other uses for the magnets like holding the cockpit window open and closed or other small hatches.