Fiberglass strut cuff install

[Gary Wallace]

Does anyone have any pics of there strut cuffs installed.curious how they're notched at strut ends, and secured. Thanks. I am assuming the top cuff is installed by removing top strut bolt and sliding cuff on? Any other options?

[Bcone1381]

I'll try to post a few photos. Three of four of these are take from Bob's Patrol at OSH about 5 years ago.
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[Bcone1381]

This was a design I saw at OSH that was on a Piper taildragger of some sort. Maybe a Vagabon or something like that. I thought it was a good design, maybe the nest simple low drag sheet metal cuff I've seen. It prevents air from getting squeezed between the strut and wing bottom.
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[Bcone1381]

Dennis and Donna's Patrol. Real nice job!!
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[Bcone1381]

Sheet metal cuffs found on an LSA at OSH. Its a well done innovation that I had not seen before.
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[alaskabearhawk]

This is what Mark Scott did on his. The top cuff is simple. The bottom cuff is the fiberglass cuff that is held in place with a spring. You can see the tail of the spring coming through the wing side of the cuff. The fuselage side just has a loop for the other end of the spring on the landing gear fairing. It makes it really easy to check the bottom of the strut and the aileron cable pulley. Slide it up, look and then release. The spring holds it tight against the fuselage and landing gear fairing. I thought it was very ingenious and intend to copy the idea.

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[stinger]

Looks like wing strut bolt is installed up side down,if so that is a NO NO . Stinger

[alaskabearhawk]

Yeah, one of the few places on a BH that it can't go in from the top because of clearance issues, depending on how it's finished. Mine can drop in from the top.

[Gary Wallace]

Thanks for the pictures everyone. The fiberglass set I bought from Bob barrows I believe is what I have. The bottom fiberglass cuff should work for me as it is split. The top cuff is not split and I do have the tie down rings so I doubt it will work. Thinkin possible make an upper cuff with the lower part being a custom aluminum split cuff which can be secured together at real of strut, and utilize the very top part of fiberglass cuff at the wing sliding over the bottom aluminum part. If yas catch my drift. Will see

[jaredyates]

I just cut a split in the top fairing and made a slot for the tiedown ring. It worked great.

[Nev]

I did the same as Jared, and hold them in place with long hose clamps. Works well, easy to remove for inspection.

[Gary Wallace]

Thanks I thought of thatbbut wasntnsure if they would give enough to get in place...so they can be installed and removed with strutnin place then yes?

[Nev]

Yes both can be removed with the strut in place.

[stinger]

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[Bcone1381]

Those look nice and smooth, Stinger!! I can you share the techniques of how you fabricated them?

(BTW group, I was fortunate to hang around camp several days last year at OSH w/Stinger. He is a standout builder in more things than just the LSA. For example, He builds quality from plans in less than 1/2 the time its taking me with a factory quick build kit. Amazing. He's a treasure of knowledge and his LSA is a fast one, could be the fastest.)

[Gary Wallace]

Ned and Jared..can you please advise. Did you slit the top with a hacksaw for instance? Also, is the slice top center, top rear or top front.. please and thank you. I expect front or rear for easier install?

[Nev]

I used a cutoff wheel. The cut is on the top side, aft near the back of the cuff. There's quite a lot of flexibility in the cuff when cut and the large hose clamps hold them in place well.

[Nev]

Apologies for the low quality photo but it's the only one I can put my hands on at present. You can see the hose clamp and the cut is on the same side, under the rear of the hose clamp. It's probably not too important where the cut is, and placing along the aft edge may be a reasonable location. I say this because my 17 year old son alerted me to "a large crack developing in your plane" while at 7500ft one day I acted quite concerned for a few minutes before putting him out of his misery.

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[Gary Wallace]

Lol...funny....that's where I considered cutting .thanks for your time . Exactly what I needed