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RV-7 Construction Log
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Date:  1-15-2014
Number of Hours:  2.75
Manual Reference:  Crotch Strap Dwg.
Brief Description:  Center Fuselage - Left Crotch Strap Brackets

Looking at other builders' build logs, I noticed that some spaced the crotch strap brackets farther apart than the 0.125 that the kit drawing depicts, ostensibly to allow room for Crow or Hooker harness belt fittings. Earlier this week I posted a question on VAF (http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=108608) asking if this was necessary, and determined that it wasn't, at least for the Crow harnesses I plan to use.

Per the plans sheet that comes with the crotch strap bracket kit, I marked a line straight down the ribs from the middle screw hole on the seat bottom part of the rib, then marked the position of the aft bracket 3/32" behind that. After repeating the process for the other rib, I clamped both brackets to both ribs using a miss-drilled aileron bracket as a spacer for the forward bracket, then clecoed the seat bottom to the ribs and marked the screw hole positions on bracket top flanges through the floor to make sure I had the fore/aft position of the assembly correct for adequate edge distance for the screw holes. All looked good.

I used a thick angle clamped across the top for accurate vertical positioning, then started drilling with the aft bracket lined up on the aft mark on one rib. I drilled the rib through the holes in both side flanges of the bracket. I then clamped the forward bracket in place using the spacer and drilled it to the same rib. Lather, rinse, repeat on the other rib.

With both brackets clecoed to both ribs, and the ribs clecoed to the spar bulkhead, I clecoed the floor to the ribs and match drilled the top flange screw holes. I finished up by drilling the nutplates to the top flanges of the brackets.

I still have yet to drill the bolt hole, which will be ½-inch lower for the Crow harness than for Van’s harness.
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The aft bracket aligned and clamped for drilling.

The aft bracket aligned and clamped for drilling.

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The forward bracket aligned and clamped for drilling.

The forward bracket aligned and clamped for drilling.

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Set up for drilling the top flanges of the brackets.

Set up for drilling the top flanges of the brackets.

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