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Thread: reenforcing lower cowl

  1. #11
    Senior Member Dave S's Avatar
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    Default Re: reenforcing lower cowl

    Dorsal,


    I see you got a start on your reinforcement. I didn't get to the 'port yesterday - grunty weather. Today I measured what I put in - it was a 1/8" by 1" aluminum bar 22.5" long with the center of the bar 4" forward of the firewall.



    I like you idea of using the angles.
    Dave S
    Kitfox 7 Trigear (Flying since 2009)
    912ULS Warp Drive

    St Paul, MN

  2. #12
    Senior Member Esser's Avatar
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    Default Re: reenforcing lower cowl

    Yours will be fine Eddie. It’s an older thing
    ------------------
    Josh Esser
    Flying SS7
    Rotax 914iS
    AirMaster Prop

    Edmonton, AB, CWL3

  3. #13
    Senior Member Dorsal's Avatar
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    Default Re: reenforcing lower cowl

    efwd, On my craft it was pretty flexible and I expected it was flapping in the breeze (confirmed with a go-pro mounted on the landing gear). If your ship is the same vintage as Esser then I agree this should not be a problem.

    Dave S, Thanks for checking, mine is a 4' X 1/2" angle stock cut in half and riveted together. It is mounted 3.5" from the back edge of the cowl to the center of the brace, so just about the same. Significantly more rigid and simple to install. I will have to watch if I spill any oil that it does not pool up behind the brace.
    Dorsal ~~^~~
    Series 7 - Tri-Gear
    912 ULS Warp Drive

  4. #14
    Senior Member efwd's Avatar
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    Default Re: reenforcing lower cowl

    But Josh has reinforced his.
    Eddie Forward
    Flying
    SS7, 912iS, Garmin G3X

  5. #15
    Senior Member Esser's Avatar
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    Default Re: reenforcing lower cowl

    Nope Eddie, mine came like that. Sorry if I made it seem otherwise
    ------------------
    Josh Esser
    Flying SS7
    Rotax 914iS
    AirMaster Prop

    Edmonton, AB, CWL3

  6. #16
    Senior Member Wheels's Avatar
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    Default Re: reenforcing lower cowl

    I used some styrofoam reinforcement and covered it with fiberglass. It still flexed enough to craze the paint on the sides of the cowl. It's just a really thin piece of fiberglass and kinda needs to be for weight and aerodynamic properties. however, I too would like less paint cracking from removing and replacing during inspections.

  7. #17
    Senior Member efwd's Avatar
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    Default Re: reenforcing lower cowl

    no Josh, I went back and noticed that you had stated it came that way. Mine is far newer than yours and mine is not reinforced. I'll have to look. I feel like mine is in contact with the bottom of radiator but I could be wrong.
    Eddie
    Eddie Forward
    Flying
    SS7, 912iS, Garmin G3X

  8. #18
    Senior Member
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    Default Re: reenforcing lower cowl

    This is a photo of my lower cowl support . This is on an IO-240 cowl and is a necessary mod . On a few occasions over the years that bottom screw has fallen out during flight and I can tell immediately because of the flopping that occurs at the bottom of the cowl. I have learned a drop threadlocker solves that problem. Bruce N199CL
    Attached Images Attached Images

  9. #19
    Senior Member Dorsal's Avatar
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    Default Re: reenforcing lower cowl

    Nice Bruce, that was my other plan though a little more complicated with a nose gear. I agree, you can definitely feel the difference. I like all your access holes under there (and the nice clean edges).
    Dorsal ~~^~~
    Series 7 - Tri-Gear
    912 ULS Warp Drive

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