Oratex is like Yoga Pants

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Meatball
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by Meatball »

What is this latch stop?
~Rob
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BucF16
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BucF16 »

BDA wrote:Door sill w latch stop

Hi Shawn. I haven't attached my doors yet. It will be the last thing I do before flight. How did you make that latch stop?

Cheers My Friend!
Bruce
Bruce Johnson Highlander # 393
"Because I fly, I envy no man on Earth"
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

Picture from Buddy at factory one page back.

I havent done it yet, looks like you form the door sill material over a phillips screw driver to make 2 bumps that the latch wont slide over un intentionaly.

More importantly - dont put the latch where your leg will rub on it.
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
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CanadianSheepHunter
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by CanadianSheepHunter »

Does the factory sell the latch stop ?
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

No
You have to make it
Chris says to use fluting pliers

I am going to cover the whole bottom tube of the door with aluminum sill plate so I dont tear up the fabric with gear in and out.
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
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Tralika
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by Tralika »

I made strike plates from some sheet stainless steel I bought from McMaster. A 6x6 inch sheet was 3 or 4 bucks. I think it was .020 or there about. I rolled it by hand by clamping it under a piece of 1/2" round stock on my workbench. It took a little effort but not too difficult. Fits snugly around the tube and protects both sides from the metal latch. I secured it with some epoxy. I had a problem with my doors coming unlatching in flight. The metal latch bar against the metal strike plate would vibrate loose. I fixed it by putting some black rubber fuel hose over the latch bar. Haven't had a problem since. The attached photos were taken before I installed the hose on the latch bar.
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John Nealon
Wasilla, Alaska
Highlander Extreme #191
mykitlog.com/jnealon
Meatball
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by Meatball »

BDA wrote:No
You have to make it
Chris says to use fluting pliers

I am going to cover the whole bottom tube of the door with aluminum sill plate so I dont tear up the fabric with gear in and out.
When you get that latch system installed, would you mind posting an explanation on what you did and what you think of it?
~Rob
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

Latch Problem solved

I rolled a piece of soft aluminum sheet to cover the whole bottom edge of door sill, then used fluting pliers to make a bump on either side of the latch lever.

Put 3 hours on it with lots of landings and it never moved.

I will be adding a longer lever to the top of the latch to make it easier to operate though.
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SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

I didnt get a good pic of the “bumps” I made with the flute pliers, so I will post this one again, very similar, mine go a little higher toward the bend.
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SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
Meatball
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by Meatball »

BDA wrote:Latch Problem solved

I rolled a piece of soft aluminum sheet to cover the whole bottom edge of door sill, then used fluting pliers to make a bump on either side of the latch lever.

Put 3 hours on it with lots of landings and it never moved.

I will be adding a longer lever to the top of the latch to make it easier to operate though.
Pretty cool Shawn! Nicely done. I haven't gotten to that point on the highlander just yet so I'm wondering how the mechanism works. How much lateral play is there in the latch itself? Will that aluminum flatten out again at some point because the latch is dragging over it so much? Any chance for a short video of it?
~Rob
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

Hey Rob,
The aluminum bumps will prob flaten out because it is soft.
There is zero play anywhere, because I used weatherstrip on the door.

I will try to post a video but havent had luck getting video on here
SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
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alan
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by alan »

20210223_111627_resized.jpg
20210223_111627_resized.jpg
I did this about 14 years ago. I works perfectly. []
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If I had known I would live this long I would have taken better care of myself.
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BDA
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BDA »

After my foam gap seal blew out again, I found that I run out of rudder authority at high AOA with no gap seal.

So, I decided to make the gap seal with Oratex tape.

I used a lower heat so they stick, but not enough heat to make them permanent. So they can be removed w heat w out destroying fabric underneath.

By pushing the rudder to full deflection and using the felt blade to push the tape into the gap a little, there is no tension on the rudder.

I put several hours and landings on it, seems to be working very well.
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SuperStol XL Alaskan With Titan 340
N331AK. Shawn Taplin
Wing extensions,Symetrical Airfoil tail ribs (NACA 21)
Mods in progress: Heavier struts, Double slotted flaps
Goal: 15mph no wind
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BlainS
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by BlainS »

My first attempt at Oratex is going to be the baggage area. I’m using silver but had a sample of red so made a practice shot at how to hang it. Wondering what to do at the welded tabs. I’ve read that no cuts should be left unsupported. Should each tab have a backing plate to glue to? And in this case the fairlead got cut oversized. Probably not going to be the last either. Need to learn how to fix them now.
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Clark in AZ
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Re: Oratex is like Yoga Pants

Post by Clark in AZ »

Well to each his own, but if I were to do it over again, I would look at every junction and consider putting backing plates to support any cuts in the fabric. There are MANY places to do this but I think the overall job would come out much cleaner and look so much more finished. Doilies can only cover so much up and if the area is unsupported, it will still be unsupported even with a doily. This is a lot of work but I do think it would be worth it. The backing plates can be minimal in size though.

I've actually thought that if I were to get another kit I would have the factory weld in a lot of plates for me at the major junctions, such as around the landing gear brackets and wing strut brackets just for this purpose.

Just my .02

Clark
Building SuperSTOL Kit 512
Cave Creek, AZ
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