Panel Installation (Part 5)

The work and pictures from this post are from July 1, 2022.

Here’s the Circuit Breaker Panel that Aerotronics built for our panel.  Although it will be a little while before it’s final installed, I wanted to temporarily mount it in the plane to check the fit and clearances.  I especially want to do this since we will be using the angled sub panel mount for the breaker panel.

Here’s the back with all the associated wiring.  Aerotronics (Jason) did an amazing job on this panel!  I couldn’t be more happy with his work!  Like I said before, if I ever build another plane, I will definitely use Aerotronics again for the panel…..100%!

Here is generally what it will look like in the plane.

Ummmm, something is not right here!  Good thing I decided to check the clearances!  The bottom row of circuit breakers are making contact with the F-01452 Aft Tunnel Cover.  The breakers are sticking down so far that it is preventing the entire assembly from sitting flush on the tunnel cover.  I suspect there would be a fireworks show if this thing had power right now!  

This picture shows just how far the breakers actually stick down below the assembly…..that is substantial.  Let’s investigate what is going on here.

To start, I ordered a new F-14188A Sub Panel Mount from Van’s.  It arrived and looked like this…..I immediately know what the problem was.

The old mount is on the left and the new mount is on the right!  I guess the original one shipped in my kit was punched incorrectly??  That will definitely make a difference and fix the clearance problems.

I prepared the new mount and discarded the old one.  I don’t have a picture of the clearance with the new mount, but there weren’t any issues this time around.  Problem solved…..moving on!

Panel Installation (Part 4) - JVL Aviation’s Control Cable Bracket

The work and pictures from this post are from July 2, 2022.

Since I had Aerotronics build the panel, the stock F-14107 Control Cable Bracket (previously installed) is not properly aligned with the control cables anymore.  In the first picture, I tried horribly to “make it work” and modify the existing bracket…..FAIL!

In this picture, you can see how misaligned the control cables are with the cutouts in the stock bracket….not really even close.  So, I drilled out the four rivets and removed the stock bracket.  Then, I made my own!

The upper bracket is obviously the stock bracket and you can see the horrible job I did trying to “make it work”.  After some figuring and measuring, I fabricated the bottom bracket out of 1” x 1” x .063 aluminum angle.  The new bracket is from “JVL Aviation”!

Here’s the other side of the bracket.  The only part I am not completely satisfied with is the six “holes” that will be used to secure the control cables to the bracket with TyRaps.  They function just fine, but cosmetically I could have don’t a better job.

I riveted the new JVL Aviation Control Cable Bracket to the instrument panel stand-offs (same location as the old one), installed the control cables and used TyRaps to secure them  to the new bracket.  Here are a couple pictures of the completed install.

JVL Aviation’s Control Cable Bracket

Panel Installation (Part 3)

These two pictures show the panel bracket (also made by Aerotronics) for the control cables mounted underneath the panel frame.  The holes in the bracket from left to right are: 

Go Around…..Throttle….Prop…..Mixture

This last picture shows the GTN750Xi mounted in the panel.  There was a fair amount of work to get the mounting tray installed the way I liked it….correct height and depth as compared to the autopilot controller and general visuals of the unit compared to the rest of the panel.  For the installation, I installed screws through the countersunk holes already in the mounting bracket, then through the instrument panel standoffs.  I had to drill a few holes in the standoffs, but the installation wasn’t very difficult…..just took some time to get right.

Wing Root Filters - Aircraft Specialty (Part 2)

The work, pictures and video from this post are from June 19, 2021.

Those two “assemblies” shown in the part 1 were installed in the aircraft wing roots as shown in these four (4) pictures.  This picture is looking down at the left wing root…..

…..and looking up at the left wing root.

This picture is looking down at the right wing root…..

…..and looking up at the right wing root.

The final remaining step is to safety wire the fuel valves to the “OPEN” position.  The website says the only time these valves should be in the “CLOSED” position is during the Condition Inspection for servicing the fuel filters.

Install Complete

Wing Root Filters - Aircraft Specialty (Part 1)

In June of 2021, we purchased and installed the Wing Root Filter Retrofit from Aircraft Specialty.  

The work, pictures and video from this post are from June 18, 2021.

Here are the installation instructions from their website.  (Starts on page #6)

These are the items we received from Aircraft Specialty for this kit.  It comes with very quality parts and pieces and was fairly easily to install.

To start, we removed the Andair fuel filter and fuel line to the fuel selector.

Here is the Andair fuel filter and fuel line completely removed.

One end of the new ASF 140RT-6 R(X) H3 fuel hose was connected to the fuel pump where the fuel filter used to be.  The other end of the hose was connected to the fuel selector.  (You can see that connection just above the word “RIGHT” on the fuel selector).

Here is another angle of that same connection.

With the exception of the four (4) adel clamps and associated hardware, the remaining parts in the kit were assembled to look like this.  One “assembly” will be installed in each of the wing roots.

Aerosun VX (Wingtip Landing/WigWag Lights) - AEROLED’s (Part 1)

For the wingtips, we will install the Aerosun VX (Wingtip Landing/WigWag Lights) from AEROLEDS.

(Van’s part # LL-205)

It is my intent to use these lights strictly as Wingtip Landing Lights and WigWag’s.  I will document the installation of these lights here when I reach that point in the build.

Here is the manual and installation guide from their website.

For the installation of the AeroSun VX lights, please see:

Section 24 - Wings, Wing Tip (Parts 13 - 11) - (also included below)

Sunspot 36 LX (Leading Edge Landing Lights) - AEROLED’s (Part 1)

For the leading edges of the wings (the leading edges were prepunched by Van’s), we will install the Sunspot 36 LX (Landing Lights) from AEROLEDS.  (Van’s part # LL-00008)

These lights are Landing Lights; however, it is my intent to use them as “Taxi Lights”.  Here is what I mean…..since we are building a taildragger, I plan to adjust these lights to shine more on the ground in front of the plane when the tail is on the ground.  Thus, acting more like a “Taxi Light”.  I will adjust appropriately and use the Aerosun VX Wingtip Landing/WigWag Lights as the “Landing Lights”.

I will document the installation of these lights here when I reach that point in the build.

Here is the manual and installation guide from their website.  Additionally, the link above and information below to AEROLED’s references the new “optimized” version of the “Sunspot LXi” not to the version I purchased and will be installing.  I have the original Sunspot LX version of the landing land.

Pulsar NS (Navigation/Strobe Lights) - AEROLED’s (Part 1)

For the Navigation/Strobe Lights, we will install the Experimental Pulsar NS (Navigation/Strobe Lights) from AEROLEDS.  (Van’s part # LN-201-1)

I will document the installation of these lights here when I reach that point in the build.

Here is the manual and installation guide from their website.

Suntail (Strobe/Position Light) - AEROLED’s

For the tail light, we have already installed the Experimental SUNTAIL (Strobe/Position Light) from AEROLEDS.

(Van’s part # LN-210-1)

Here is the manual and installation guide from their website.

For the installation of the SUNTAIL, please see:

Section 12 - Empennage Fairings (Parts 7 & 4) - (also included below)

Engine Installation (Part 3)

The work, pictures and videos from this post are from September 17, 2021.

During this work session:  Jeff, Roger and I finally hung the engine on the airplane.  It was a very satisfying feeling to finally get the engine out of the box and onto the airplane!  We attached it to the plane’s engine mount using the included EA DYNA BOLT Dynafocal Engine Mounting Bolt Kit.  Here are a several pictures and videos of the install…..

After the engine was attached to the motor mounts, we installed all of the fluid fittings as outlined on pages 43-05 and 43-06 of the build plans.  These fittings included:  the lower oil port fitting, upper oil port fitting, oil pressure port fitting, oil temperature sensor, fitting to the fuel pressure sensor, fitting to the fuel flow sensor, the fuel vent and overflow tube, fuel pump inlet fitting, fitting to manifold pressure sensor, and the IE RC-1 tach drive cap.

Engine Installation (Part 2)

The work and pictures in this post are from September 16, 2021.  This is what the engine mount looks like on the plane ready to accept the engine.

To start this section, the ES PC680 Odyssey Battery is installed into the FF-01403 Battery Box (previously installed on the firewall) and secured with the F-01403A Battery Box Angle.  Then, the WH-P25 2AWG Ground Strap is installed on the aircraft’s firewall ground, but is left disconnected from the battery negative.  Finally, the WH-P769 Starter Relay Power Cable is attached to the battery positive (along with the insulated boot).

This shows the ES 24115 Master Relay (top) and the ES 24021 Starter Solenoid (bottom) attached to the firewall.  Also seen here is the WH-K1066 Relay Interconnect Bar attached (with the installed heat shrink) between the two parts.

Page 43-04 of the build plans includes several electrical connections made to the Master Relay and Starter Solenoid.  They include:  WH-P912 Battery Power Wire, WH-P769 Starter Rely Power Cable, ES Diode Master, ES Diode Starter, WH-P16 Starter Relay to Starter Wire and the WH-P910 Starter Disengage Wire.  These two pictures show all of those connections completed per the plans.

RV-14 Tailwheel Assembly - JD Air

In June of 2021, I purchased and installed the RV-14 Tailwheel Assembly including Steering Link from JD Air. The work and pictures in this post are from June 14, 2021.

Here are the instructions I used for the installation that are published on their website.

These are the parts and hardware that comes with the kit.  I decided not to use the Light Weight Tire (available option) and used the stock U Tail Wheel 6” from Van’s.  I flew an RV-7 for a couple of years that had one of the Light Weight Tires and I wasn’t a big fan of it.  It gave the plane a noticeably rough ride while taxiing that wasn’t very comfortable…..in my opinion.  I know other RV owners that love them, so to each his own.

The first step is to install the Dual Bearing Yoke onto the U-00016 Tail Gear Spring with (2) AN3-12A bolts, (2) AN960-10 washers and (2) AN365-1032A nuts.  This is the same way the Van’s stock Yoke is installed, but they just use different hardware. 

Now, the Tail Wheel Fork is installed through the Yoke, the Adjustable Single Control Arm, the Custom 1/2” Belleville washer and a AN364-820A nut holds everything together.

Next, the stock Van’s U Tail Wheel 6” (my preference over the Light Weight Tire) is installed on the Fork using an AN6-31 Bolt, (2) AN960-616(L) washers, (1) AN960-616 washer, an AN310-6 castle nut and (1) MS24665-238 cotter pin.

Finally, the Tail Link is installed following these instructions on their website.  These two pictures show the entire assembly completely installed.

Rudder Pedal Extensions - JD Air

In March of 2020, I purchased and installed the Rudder Pedal Extensions from JD Air.  The installation of this hose kit was completed in:

Fuselage, Section 33 - Rudder and Brake System, Part 9 (also included below)

Here are the installation instructions published on their website.

Gear Leg Brake Hose Kit - Aircraft Specialty

In June 2021, I purchased and installed the Gear Leg Hose Kit from Aircraft Specialty. The installation of this hose kit was completed in:

Fuselage, Section 40B - TD Gear/Engine Mount, Part 6 (also included below)

Here are the installation instructions published on their website.

Cabin Brake Hose Kit - Aircraft Specialty

In March of 2020, we purchased and installed the Cabin Brake Hose Kit from Aircraft Specialty.  The installation of this hose kit was completed in:

Fuselage, Section 33 - Rudder & Brake System, Parts 10 - 13 (also included below)

Here are the installation instructions published on their website.

Cabin Fuel Lines - Aircraft Specialty

In March of 2020, I purchased and installed the Cabin Fuel Line Package (also known as the Complete Firewall Aft Hose Kit) from Aircraft Specialty.  The installation of this hose kit was completed in:

Fuselage, Section 31-Fuel System, Part 4 - 6 (also included below)

Here are the installation instructions published on their website.