RE: Pay It Forward Build Thread!! Sig LT-40 build
Continuing on with the fuel tank hatch. The tank hatch is held in place at the backside with a wood “lip” that fits up under the windscreen and at the front of the hatch with a screw that secures it to the firewall. Picture #1 shows the tank hatch and the wood to make the “lip” with. Glue the lip to the tank hatch so that the the wood is about half exposed behind the tank, picture #2. Test fit the tank hatch in place to make sure that it fits tightly in place and doesn't slid side to side. The tank hatch comes pre-drilled with a hole for the screw that secures it to the firewall. With the tank hatch in place (picture #3) use a 1/16” drill bit through the hole in the tank hatch to mark where the firewall needs to be drilled for the mounting screw. Remove the tank hatch and drill a pilot hole into the firewall, picture #4. After you have a pilot hole drilled use the provided screw to cut the threads in the hole. Simply screw it all the way down into the firewall, picture #5 and #6, as this will cut the threads in the hole. Remove the screw and use thin CA (picture #7)to harden the threads. Simply wick CA down into the hole. Make sure you allow time for the CA to completely set before you put the screw back in the hole, if you don't you'll wind up with the screw CA'ed in place which will be fun to try and get back out. When you do assemble the tank hatch you do want the threads to be very tight when you put the screw in. If it's not tight it will vibrate and back out in flight, which will cause you to lose the tank hatch. If the threads aren't tight, simply wick a bit more thin CA down into the hole. Picture # 8 the assembled tank hatch in position on the plane.
Pictures
1. Parts needed to assemble the tank hatch
2. Gluing the “lip” on to the tank hatch.
3. Marking where to drill a hole in the firewall.
4. Drill the hole for the tank hatch screw.
5. Use the provided screw to cut threads in the hole.
6. Run the screw all the way down into the hole
7. Use thin CA to harden the threads.
8. Tank hatch in place.
Until next time
Ken