"Check Oil" door in Moose Cowl ?

[Ted Waltman]

Folks,

To check my oil, I have to undo 19 camlocs and open up the side of my
cowl. Of course, I only do this about every three flight hours or so,
hence it isn't that big of a deal. I'm thinking of making a "small"
access door in the top of the cowl to allow me to just check the oil.

Pros: - Easily check oil as often as I like
- Reduces repeated wear on the camlocs, which, of course,
eventually start to come loose and wear through the fiberglass

Cons: Aren't opening up the cowl to give the engine & related components
a brief visual

Suggestions? What are other folks doing?

Ted




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[Bob Patterson]

Hi Ted !

If things are pretty stable under the cowl, go ahead and add
a push-to pop-open oil door - checking more often is good !
One consideration though - will it be in a suitable position,
and large enough, to allow you to ADD oil if needed ??!!!
If not, not much benefit !

I like the idea of looking things over before every flight -
just in case a birds nest has appeared, or something is loose,
but not yet broken .... This is where piano hinge fasteners
really shine - pull one wire, and open it up ! (You might need
a few camlocks at the top rear for the Moose, though !)

........bobp

-------------------------------orig.-------------------------
On Tuesday 15 February 2005 01:51 pm, Ted Waltman wrote:

Folks,

To check my oil, I have to undo 19 camlocs and open up the side of my
cowl. Of course, I only do this about every three flight hours or so,
hence it isn't that big of a deal. I'm thinking of making a "small"
access door in the top of the cowl to allow me to just check the oil.

Pros: - Easily check oil as often as I like
- Reduces repeated wear on the camlocs, which, of course,
eventually start to come loose and wear through the fiberglass

Cons: Aren't opening up the cowl to give the engine & related components
a brief visual

Suggestions? What are other folks doing?

Ted




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[Scott Aldrich]

Ted, I made a small oil access door on the top. I also added two small
inspection doors on the sides since I don't have the quick access camlocs
(yet, that will be a do over later once I am flying).

Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Ted
Waltman
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 11:51 AM
To: Murphy List
Subject: "Check Oil" door in Moose Cowl ?

Folks,

To check my oil, I have to undo 19 camlocs and open up the side of my
cowl. Of course, I only do this about every three flight hours or so,
hence it isn't that big of a deal. I'm thinking of making a "small"
access door in the top of the cowl to allow me to just check the oil.

Pros: - Easily check oil as often as I like
- Reduces repeated wear on the camlocs, which, of course,
eventually start to come loose and wear through the fiberglass

Cons: Aren't opening up the cowl to give the engine & related components
a brief visual

Suggestions? What are other folks doing?

Ted




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[Ted Waltman]

Good point, Bob, regarding being able to easily add oil through the same
door. Glad someone is awake and thinking today.

Not sure how to get my 2.5 gallon jugs close enough to the fill neck
<grin>...

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Bob Patterson
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 12:17 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: Re: "Check Oil" door in Moose Cowl ?



Hi Ted !

If things are pretty stable under the cowl, go ahead and add
a push-to pop-open oil door - checking more often is good !
One consideration though - will it be in a suitable position, and large
enough, to allow you to ADD oil if needed ??!!! If not, not much benefit
!

I like the idea of looking things over before every flight - just in
case a birds nest has appeared, or something is loose,
but not yet broken .... This is where piano hinge fasteners
really shine - pull one wire, and open it up ! (You might need a few
camlocks at the top rear for the Moose, though !)

........bobp

-------------------------------orig.-------------------------
On Tuesday 15 February 2005 01:51 pm, Ted Waltman wrote:

Folks,

To check my oil, I have to undo 19 camlocs and open up the side of my
cowl. Of course, I only do this about every three flight hours or so,

hence it isn't that big of a deal. I'm thinking of making a "small"
access door in the top of the cowl to allow me to just check the oil.

Pros: - Easily check oil as often as I like
- Reduces repeated wear on the camlocs, which, of course,
eventually start to come loose and wear through the fiberglass

Cons: Aren't opening up the cowl to give the engine & related
components a brief visual

Suggestions? What are other folks doing?

Ted




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