I completed most of the work required on the forward baggage door today. I started by re-installing the forward top skin and placed the door in position. Instead of duct tape as the manual suggests, I used a couple of light duty adjustable straps to hold it tight to the fuselage. I wiggled myself inside the front end of the airplane (no small feat) and set all but one of the blind rivets 'freezing' the door in the proper shape. I removed the straps and finished pulling the remaining rivets. For the locking mechanism I decided not to use the .032 safety wire as indicated by the plans but instead installed cotter pins (MS24665-132) in each retaining pin (MS20392-1C11). I managed this by first inserting the retaining pins through the F-873L-1 lock arm and F873K latch pins then rolling the whole locking assembly 180° in place giving me good access to the underside of the locking assembly. Once I inserted the cotter pins I bent them back on themselves and trimmed off the ends. Then I finished up by rolling the whole assembly (there is just enough room to do this) right side up and inserted the lock washer and screw. I used some thread locker for this and applied torque seal as well. Now instead of seeing the end of the retainer pin with the hole in it and safety wire you see the clean manufactured end of the pins.
