Spring Gear SG14 and SG8 plates

[Wayne G. O'Shea]

Just thought I would give a heads up for anyone going the spring gear route
with the Rebel. The manual that I am working from for a customer is dated
27/10/99 and shows to cut a rectangular slot in the SG-8 and SG-14 plates
(that go inside the cabin) at a dimension of 1 5/8" wide. THIS SHOULD BE 1
3/8" TO MATCH THE OVERALL WIDTH OF THE DOOR POST AND GUSSET PLATES!
Otherwise you will have the correct 2 inch matching width on the front FUS-5
and the rearward section will be offset from the rear Fus-5 by a 1/4". (and
no I measured FIRST, before I cut them!)

Also make sure you DO follow the manual, and make sure that the plates DO
cover where the bolts comes through from the gear saddles. I just
disassembled and trailered a Rebel on Tuesday that had the gear legs ripped
right out of the fus-5's. The top plates had been cut back short of the
saddle bolts to allow installing them on top of the corner wraps, and with
only a penny washer on top everything pulled right through when the aircraft
was landed in VERY DEEP snow (on wheels). Mind you, I imagine it most likely
would have ripped out anyhow as it pulled through all the layers below and
broke 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" hunks out of the fus-5 tubes. I just figure the more
material you have there the better, especially the front/top bolt area as it
is the one in tension with "braking" loads. I believe this is the area where
other builders have installed solid blocks inside the Fus5's instead of the
SG-10 crush tubes for the saddle bolts. Looks like a good idea as the blocks
would at least transfer the load out over a larger area, as well as keep the
Fus-5's from crushing in. If you are flying and have also cut back your
SG-8's and 14's I would suggest at least putting an 1/8" to 3/16" steel
plate under your washer, that is 2" long so it sits over top of each side
wall of the fus-5, to transfer the load somewhat.

Regards,
Wayne G. O'Shea
www.irishfield.on.ca





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