I am making repairs to my 4*40. While making those repairs one of the back nuts (6 size) which holds the motor mount bolt in place came out. Rather than cut an access hole in the top of the fuselage or the underbody, I decided to try a different approach.

I cut a piece of wire from a coat hanger. I then threaded the wire through the hole in the firewall. I then place a back nut on the wire and bent the wire at 90 degrees behind the back nut to hold it in place.

My idea was to pull the wire back forward until the back nut fit in the hole in the firewall. Then I would continue to pull the wire forward, straightening out the bend. Back nut seated and no wire.

One problem, I am not strong enough to pull a coat hanger wire through the firewall with enough strength to straighten out the bend in the wire. (If I try and go backward the back nut and coat hanger wire develop enough surface cohesion that the back nut will come out of the hole. [:@])

What I need is wire which is stout enough to seat the back nut but which will straighten out when I pull it through from the front through the firewall. Any ideas?

Michael, all Americans like chewing gum, so chew the gum while getting things ready. You will need a length of dowel, and your coathanger wire. Ready ? Put a dob of chewing gum on the end of the dowel, now press the nut into the gum, that holds the nut ok . Now with the wire put it through the firewall hole and locate the nut on the dowel, pull the wire back at the same time as you push the dowel in, till the nut reaches the firewall. Hold pressure on the dowel to keep nut in plave , and carefully hit the other end of the dowel to seat the nut in place. Finish off by putting washers on the bolt , screw into the nut , and do up tight , to fully seat the nut in place, the refit the motor mount. No hassels and all is well. Good luck wit hthe rest of your repaird, and good flying my friend.
Bill

if your still messing with it tomorrow got to the local Hardware store and get a long enough bolt,and a fender washer(the big wide type) that fits the blind nut and will reach through the tank area.
run the bolt with washer, through the firewall and screw the nut to it.
before you pull it to the firewall put some glue on the points so it won't loosen up the next time you have to remove the mount pull bolt out to set the points in the back of the firewall and just screw the long bolt in until it tightens up the blind nut,if the one you have doesn't have the points then the hardware store should have ones to replace it with,or just let the glue set and loosen it when it drys, your looking at a 1.25$investment.
bolt-.50$
F-wash-.25$
blind nut-.50$

I use a piece of braided cable like the ones you might use for throttle control. I then cut the head off of a 6/32 or 8/32 what ever size your blind nut is. Then solder the bolt to the end of the cable (make sure the threads go all the way to the soldered end). Put the blind nut on the bolt and then from the back side of the firewall put the cable thru the firewall. When you have the cable in hand on the other side of the firewall then put a washer and nut on the bolt that is sticking out of the firewall and tighten it down to seat the blind nut. You can then remove the bolt by simply unscrewing it. You now have another tool that will be able to use many times. I have used my several times and it makes installing blind nut in an area that I can't get my hand or my wife's hand. The cable that I use is approximately 18" long. Hope this helps

Try some string and a toothpick. The toothpick will break easily. It'll still be strong enough to bring the blind nut to the hole.

Or, only bend the coathanger wire at just enough angle to keep the T-nut on the wire. When you bring the nut to the firewall and into it's hole, only a little effort will pull the coathanger on through.
Or simply push the wire carefully back into the fuselage. It'll fall out after you've managed to get the bolt threading into the blind nut.

Plan on the nut not wanting to stick into the hole. It fell out, after all.

My hands are small enough that I can get to the back of those nuts when they're loose and won't hold firmly. Just a finger pressed on the flange is usually enough to get the bolt started. Once it's started, pull the bolt head to seat the nut.

I usually place a dab of epoxy on these troublesome T-nuts. It's sticky enough to hold the sucker so the bolt can grab it. And you're going to need that glue to hold the thing next time something gets loose.

goirish has the right idea. I too have made a 6/32 and a 4/40 and they are well worth the small amount of time it takes to make. (maybe 15 mins each)

I have a 12 inch piece of 6/32 thread all and a flat washer and nut. Push the thread all through the hole, thread the blind nut onto the end of the thread all. Pull the thread all snug to the back of the fire wall. Thread on the flat washer and nut and snug them up to the firewall. Make sure the blind nut is positioned where it needs to be and then thighten up the 6/32 nut until the blind nut is seated into the firewall. Once tight in the firewall, loosen up the 6/32 nut and thread the thread all out of the blind nut. Good luck, Dave

Dave Agar has the best way if you have room inside the fuse. You can buy all-thread (thread all) at Home Depot or other hardware several feet long. Makes the job a snap.