|
|
|
|
Matt Dralle's RV-8 Project
|
Date: 10-17-2009
|
Number of Hours: 2.00
|
Manual Reference:
|
Brief Description: Rubber Baffling Gasket Fabrication - Part 01
|
|
Once all of the metal pieces of the engine baffling were complete, it was time to work on fabricating the rubber gaskets that are riveted to the top of the metal baffles. The rubber forms a tight seal between the bottom of the fiberglass cowling and the engine baffling so that the cool air coming in from the left and right intake nostrils is properly directed down over the cylinders assuring adequate cooling of the engine.
Once again, the plans are pretty sketchy on how to make these rubber gaskets. In fact, to be exact, five sentences and virtually no diagrams. I've seen quite a few baffle gasket installations that left a lot to be desired cosmetically so I decided to take my time and try to get them to be both functionally and visually as nice as possible. All-in-all it took about 2.5 solid days of work, but the end result was worth it; I'm very pleased with form and function.
I started with some heavy paper and scotch tape and taped a 6" wide piece of paper near the top of the baffle. I marked the exact top of the baffle on the paper, took the paper off, and cut the paper right along the line. I measured up from that line exactly .75" all the way along the cut line. This, then became the top of the metal baffle, and the .75" hung down onto the baffle for riveting. Going up from the line at .75", I marked another matching contouring line exactly 1.5" up. This became the flap of the gasket. The beauty of this procedure is that you end up with a gasket that matches the contour of the metal baffling exactly both on the top and bottom and almost looks like a part of the baffle. Once the metal baffles are power coated semi-flat black, it will be very difficult to tell where the metal ends and the rubber starts.
Cont. Next Log...
|
|
Engine Baffle Gaskets - Paper Patterns
|
|
Engine Baffle Gaskets - Paper Patterns
|
|
Engine Baffle Gaskets - Paper Patterns
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2008-2024 Matt Dralle. All Rights Reserved.
|
