Category: Engine Oil

Engine Prep

Posted: July 22, 2021

July 22, 2021 – I did some things on the engine to get it ready for the first engine run.

Since I was ready to service the engine with oil, I replaced the stock drain plug with a quick drain.

I installed all of the Skybolt fasteners in the cowling. They provide temporary rubber retainers, so I’m using those until the cowl gets painted. If they don’t last long, I may use the permanent metal rings and buy new ones when it comes time.

I’ve also been trying to figure out how I was going to deal with the sniffle valve in the bottom of the cold-air sump. The valve comes down right between the two crossover exhaust pipes. I slightly bent the tube out of the valve, then used an aluminum tube and a piece of fuel line. We’ll see how long it lasts.

Time: 2:50

Category: RV-7, Cowl, Engine, Engine Oil, Exhaust

Installed Engine Sensors

by Pete

Posted: June 25, 2020

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June 25, 2020 – I also installed the fuel and oil pressure sensors.

Dynon released a service bulletin for their Kavlico sensors. I called them since my sensors were still brand-new and in the packages. Since I’ve had them for more than a year, they really couldn’t help me. They also said, however, that the Service Bulletin was released with an abundance of caution, and that I could install mine and just keep an eye on them. That seemed reasonable to me.

Time: :20

Category: RV-7, Avionics, Engine Accessories, Engine Electrical, Engine Fuel, Engine Oil, Firewall Forward

Clamped and installed items firewall forward

by Pete

Posted: January 16, 2020

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January 16, 2020 – REALLY no pictures for this post.

I’ve been working on installing and securing many items on and around the engine. Blast tubes for the alternator and P-Mags, oil breather tube, and clamping cables, fuel and oil tubes and the like.

Time: 9:05

Category: RV-7, Engine, Engine Accessories, Engine Controls, Engine Electrical, Engine Fuel, Engine Oil, Firewall Forward

Finished Oil Door

by Pete

Posted: January 16, 2020

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January 16, 2020 – With the metal oil door in place, the top (hinge end) is not faired with the cowl.

I decided to build up the cowl surface so it will fair with the door. Not a lot of explanation to go with this.

I attached the door and hinge to the cowl. It’ll need a little bit of filling later on, but I’m calling this done.

Time: 1:30

Category: RV-7, Cowl, Engine Oil, Firewall Forward

Continued Oil Door

by Pete

Posted: December 21, 2019

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December 21, 2019 – I haven’t been happy with the oil door, especially with the fiberglass one that’s provided.

So I got a hold of some aluminum that is the same thickness as the existing landing area. It turned out to be .063″. I rolled it a bit at work, then brought it home to tweak it to fit the cowl. This will be better because it will flex less than the fiberglass. I transferred the location of the latch from the fiberglass door, cut it out and drilled the door to the hinge.

I like this a lot better.

Time: 8:00

Category: RV-7, Cowl, Engine Oil, Firewall Forward

Oil Door

by Pete

Posted: December 4, 2019

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December 4, 2019 – I started on the oil door: partly because it took me away from other frustrating things I was working on, and partly because I needed the access to see inside the cowl behind the baffle seals.

The cowl has the oil door location molded into it.

I cut the access hole to fit the door that Van’s supplies.

I laid up a couple of layers of cloth tape to serve as the landing for the door, then cut it back to about 3/8″.

I’m using the invisible hinge that originally came from Avery but is now sold by Spruce. I located it as best as I could.

I bought the Hartwell latch for the oil door. I just like the look and the utility of it.

As it turns out, I misjudged the locations of the hinge and the latch. Thank goodness you can repair fiberglass…

The latch is very hard to snap closed. I have a “landing” reinforcement of thin titanium that will help to save the latching surface. A friend suggested slightly bending the latch to fit the curve of the door. That helps. I’m also going to shim the latching end to lower it just a bit to make it easier to latch.

This has taken way longer than I thought it would…

Time: 5:00

Category: RV-7, Cowl, Engine Oil, Firewall Forward

Mounted Oil Cooler

by Pete

Posted: December 4, 2019

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December 4, 2019 – I reinforced the baffle and mounted the oil cooler.

I originally had a piece of aluminum angle that I was going to use to reinforce the baffle where the oil cooler mounts. I never really liked it and didn’t think it would last very long. I happened on a nice piece of thin titanium. Easy to bend and work with. Drilling is the hard part, but if you take your time and use Boelube, it’s easy.

Here’s the angle installed:

I reinstalled the baffle and started working on the cooler itself.

I had previously clocked the fittings for the oil lines in and out. I marked them and installed them permanently.

I then installed the cooler.

I secured the oil lines at both ends. I’ll have to clamp everything later on, but for now they are in.

Time: 5:30

Category: RV-7, Baffles, Engine, Engine Oil, Firewall Forward

Continued Baffles and various Firewall Forward items

by Pete

Posted: October 10, 2019

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October 10, 2019 – Because the baffles can block access to some items, and there’s a lot of items that are dependent on other items being installed, I’m installing several items along with the baffles.

The prop oil line passes through the right front ramp, so I needed to install that. What a pain. The grommet fits, but the ramp stack-up is pretty thick, and the grommet is really hard to get into place.

Here’s the view from above and below.

I also installed the oil dipstick tube.

I wanted to check the routing of the tubes for the oil cooler, so I temp installed the cooler and loosely routed the oil lines in and out. Nothing here is permanently installed yet.

After painting the inlet on the left side, I temp installed it. The way I’ve done this, the snorkel and the baffle are a single assembly. It’s kind of a pain, but it can be installed and removed as a unit. The one issue is that the forward left baffle that goes up behind the spinner needs to be installed separately. So I’m using screws and nuts here.

I just started on the baffle seals, but no picture yet. That’ll be next time.

Time: 15:00

Category: RV-7, Baffles, Engine, Engine Accessories, Engine Oil, Firewall Forward