Need Help with building a SH1

[CLS447]

I am helping a friend build his SH1 and have become frustrated with the lack of proper hardware & lousy directions.

It's a good thing that I am familiar with the way things are supposed to work.

On saturday we began to mount the engine(2.5) on his assembled airframe with motor mount. This should be almost 100% bolt together stuff.

First thing wrong was the absence of proper hardware. If they changed things it should be noted. The 4 bolts that hold the motor to the barry mounts (AN bolts listed) were not there. the closest thing were Grade 8 bolts, which of course have a much longer thead, were installed loosely & temporarily so we could continue.

Question #1 ....what bolts did you guys use for this application ?


In one short assembly period I raised at least 10 questions that needed answers. Let's see how this one gets answered & then I will move on one by one.

Thanks

[Greg Lockhart]

Chris,
I've been building a SHI for about 3 years (I don't get to work on it very often and I'm slow). The drawings and instructions that I received are pretty good, I think. The drawings are individual 11"x17" sheets and the instructions are about 150 pages in a binder. (The drawings/instructions that Stan Foster posted about recently looked a lot different than mine,, I think his were earlier versions). I also received a CD with all the drawings on it. If your friend doesn't have those digital drawings I could try to send you any you need by email. As for the engine mount bolts, my kit had the AN6-26A bolts that are shown in the drawing. I have found very few mistakes in parts and hardware with my kit. The few missing or incorrect items I've found were quickly corrected by AAI.
Greg Lockhart

[CLS447]

Thanks, He has the drawings & instructions but.....refering to a number & then cross referencing to a bolt size & then not having that bolt can become slow & time consuming.

Then trying to figure out if they have substituted something else....like a Grade 8 for AN. You gotta love those Mcmaster Car numbers !!!!

Have you installed your engine yet ? There are 4 bolts that come through the back side of the PSRU plate that hold the prop sprocket retainer plate on. There are 4 grade 8 bolts that run out of thread before the retaner plate even gets close to being tight.

So the process would be dissasemble, make phone calls, order proper hardware, wait for order, then reassemble. SLOW !!!!!

How about the alignment dowels on the back of the bellhousing ? There was only one present. I told him there should be 2. Dan's response was that the dowels are removed & the bellhousing is then threaded to match the others. I did not see anything that says that !

His kit started with a 2.2 & then upgraded to a 2.5. I was surprised at how many parts were changed. This is a very early kit & the upgrade must be short of the proper hardware.

I don't doubt that they will take care of the problems but it really slows down on the help that I can offer him. I like to complete each step as it comes.

I can't locate my PRA magazine that talks about the SH3 improvements....is it true that all the hardware is now blister packed for convenience ?

I would like to get a new complete set of hardware & return the unused stuff. I would think this would ease our pain.

His stuff has the powdercoat finish. I can't believe the struggle we had getting those Barry mounts into their holes..............had to resort to the Dremel tool !

This is not a custom job, this is a completely engineered kit . This part of the build should be straight forward !

Have you installed your kick plate & rudder pedals yet ?

[StanFoster]

Chris- The 4 bolts are AN6-26A Hope this helps. STAN

[Greg Lockhart]

You gotta love those Mcmaster Car numbers !!!!
Yea, those confuse me also.

There are 4 grade 8 bolts that run out of thread before the retaner plate even gets close to being tight.

Mine came with AN6-15A bolts.

How about the alignment dowels on the back of the bellhousing ?
There were no dowel pins on mine. They were removed and tapped for bolts.

is it true that all the hardware is now blister packed for convenience ?
I'm not sure. Seems like I did read that somewhere.

Have you installed your kick plate & rudder pedals yet ?
Yes I have.

Greg Lockhart

[CLS447]

Thanks again !

I see from their website that the engine & PSRU & prerotator or now completely assembled for your convenience !

Greg, did you pull the dowels & tap the holes or were they done for you ?

Do you have the 2.5 ?

Did you get the crank bearing support upgrade ? From a picture that I saw it looks like this new plate bolts on without having to do all the drilling of the original plate. Time saving & an upgrade !

One bolt that really is confusing to me right now is the inboard bolt that holds the prerotator "arms" to the PSRU plate. 2 of them slide right through the plate & arms whereas the inboard one must go through the plate & bellhousing & the protrude enough to get the front "arm". Then is finished off with a nut & washer.

What can you tell me about this bolt ? The way I see it it must be a long bolt with alot of thread & metric to get through the bellhousing. ????

We can't even find anything close to that.

I will be posting some pics of the kickplate ......any info/tips you can give us on placement would be helpful.

There are so many things that cannot be completed until the cabin is complete & painted. Once painted, all the interior pop riveting for the cabin mounts & such can be finalized.

Another reason why they now completely finish the cabin stuff for you.

BTW the price difference between the SH1 & the SH3 quickbuild is $15,500

I wish we could hire some of those Polish laborers that work on assembleing the Zenon to do this work!

[Greg Lockhart]

Greg, did you pull the dowels & tap the holes or were they done for you ?
Mine were done by AAI.
Do you have the 2.5 ?
Yes, 2.5
Did you get the crank bearing support upgrade ? From a picture that I saw it looks like this new plate bolts on without having to do all the drilling of the original plate.
Yes I did buy the upgrade as an option. I haven't installed it yet but it requires no fabrication.
One bolt that really is confusing to me right now is the inboard bolt that holds the prerotator "arms" to the PSRU plate.What can you tell me about this bolt ?
Sorry, but I haven't got to that part yet.
I will be posting some pics of the kickplate ......any info/tips you can give us on placement would be helpful.
I've seen the kickplate done several different ways with slight variances in size, shape and position. I think it's a matter of personal preference. I did mine different than any of the others I've seen.

I'm leaving for Mentone today. I always take lots of (detail) pictures of the SparrowHawks there. I'd be happy to send you any pictures that might be helpful.
Greg Lockhart

[CLS447]

Thanks & have a great time !

[CLS447]

OK , It's been a while since I started this post & I had forgotten the info.

Greg , Thanks & how is it going ?

Did you assemble the prerotator yet ?

[Greg Lockhart]

Chris, I haven't touched my SH kit for a few months... I've never looked at the prerotator assembly so I'm sorry but I can't help you with that. I'd be glad to look at my drawings and instructions for you if that would help.
Greg Lockhart

[skyking]

Thanks, Greg. I think it would be helpful if you look at the drawings and the instructions. My other friend who is working with me on this project believes the spaces I have may be too long? Does the drawing give the dimension of the spacers? With my upgrade to the 2.5 I also added the two pulleys to add tension to the prerotator belt; one is an idler pulley. We are trying to figure this out without getting too frustrated with AAI/GBA. My kit is #039 so it is one of the very early ones and I have had lots of parts/bolts issues. Thank you.

[Greg Lockhart]

Chris, I'll look at my drawings/instructions the first chance I get, however it will be next week as I'm away from home the rest of this week.. (I went to Bensen Days on Saturday and I'm visiting my parents in Florida this week). Maybe another builder can answer your questions quicker than I can... if not, I'll check my drawings as soon as I can.
Greg Lockhart