Tip: Lower Cowl Installation by Yourself

cfiidon said:

I came up with this method of putting the lower cowl in place on my RV-8. Others have also supplied tips, but I wanted something that was small and lightweight to carry in the airplane. I envisioned having to replace the lower cowl on a windy ramp at night on an isolated ramp somewhere.

The pictures show using the "handles" from large binder clips to slip in the cowl hinges on the sides. The parachute cord simply loops over the baffling. I can inch the cowl up into place one side at a time without scraping it on the ground.

I bought the the rope and tension pieces in the Home Depot Aviation department. You could probably get away without that part if you are good at bowlines and slip knots.




Don

Click to expand...

Dad's RV-10 said:

Images rotated.

View attachment 45300 View attachment 45301 View attachment 45302 View attachment 45303

Click to expand...

cfiidon said:

Here are some pics I took to support my original post. This tightener works in the shop but you would need longer cords for out on the ramp. Any tightener would do. I clip in at the balance point on the lower cowl (12-13 spaces from the front for me). I can walk the lower cowl in position one side at a time. Frankly, it's easier to do this way than with two people. Don

Click to expand...