Re: Door strut question

[Tom & Cathy Friedland <tfriedland@attbi.com>]

Dave

This problem has been discussed many times in the past.  It appears to me that
the fuselage flexes as well as the door due to the force of the spring.  Tony
K's log shows how he has filled the fuselage surface to match the door.  I hope
that time doesn't cause further deformation like it did on Graham's.

I have stiffened both the fuselage and the door with carbon fiber with hopes of
eliminating or minimizing the problem.  I have also used heavier hinges
(stainless) on the advice of Kim Prout.

Ask me in 6 months if it worked!

Tom Friedland  A 079 XS Mono J3300 N96V

Graham Singleton wrote:

> >Jim,
> >
> >I guess I don't quite understand the problem you are referring to. The
> >door seems to function quite well. IS there a long term problem with the
> >factory installation?
> >
> >
> >Dave
>
> Dave,
> The problem is with time and hot weather the rear upper corner of the door
> tends to lift away from the fuselage. We spent hours filling and sanding to
> get a perfect fit. Within 6 months the back edge had lifted by 1/8th of an
> inch.
> IMHO I am wondering if it is the fuselage that flexes and takes a permanent
> set rather than the doors. Increasing the stiffness at the notional door
> frame bulkhead might help. Does anyone know if the doors still have carbon
> reinforcement?
>
> Graham
>