Can any of you RV builders tell me how I can tighten this nut and
bolt?
  No wrenches or sockets I have fit. This is built according to the
  plans and with the AN nut and bolt called out in the plans.
I sure hope Van gave a little more thought to assembly when
  he designed the later airplanes.
Paul Lamar

Paul,

Try contacting Snapon distribution in Carson City, NV. Cheryl
Borchard.
(775)883-7455 Ext210  E-mail  CherylK.Borchard@snapon.com

Dale Davies

Paul,

What size is the bolt? Somehow I was getting the extra keyboard
features
symbols instead of /?. I think i have it now. Cheryl is at the
distibution
center and can get you in touch with a franchizee. You can then
phone them
to meet if you need to get special tool

It looks to me like an offset or angle wrench would work fine.
 Other  suppliers make them also. A crowsfoot socket would also work
 if  torqueing is  required.

Dale Davies

1/4 28.

Not enough clearance for a box end wrench. Even Snap ON.
Perhaps a Snap On socket but I have not tried it yet.
I kind of doubt even a snap on socket would fit.

The answer is an NS 12 point bolt and nut.

Paul

Paul Lamar

 Paul,

 You could take a deep socket that would otherwise fit the bolt, and
 then grind away a wide 'slot' near the opening, enough to allow the
 socket to fit onto the nut and also allow turning.  Then you could
 simply use a ratchet handle to turn it.  The socket might not spring
 open too much and allow you to tighten the nut.  You wouldn't need
 a thin walled socket either...you could use a very thick walled
 socket which would resist springing open since the opening would
 allow placing the socket in place.  Yes, you would have to remove
 the socket and replace it with each turn...perhaps just use this method
 for final tightening.

 Gene Kahn
Yes, the 12 point bolts and nuts are a good choice. Just more $.

 The wrench for the 1/4 nut is a Snapon VS14B angle open end.

 Dale Davies


Isn't that piece of hardware called out in the drawings?

Are you participating on any of the Vans forums?  I'm sure five people would have provided the correct answer within five minutes of posting..  You can use a nom de plume if you are afraid of registering.  Just like I do here..  ;)


Matt-  (or am I?)


Called out as AN. AN has conventional hex heads and lock nuts.

I am not on the Vans forums. I am afraid of saying something bad about piston
engines :) Vans makes money selling Lycomings. I don't think you will get
an objective opinion about rotary engines :) Van used to be pro rotary before
he started selling Lycomings.

What is missing in the plans is a step by step procedure for assembling
the tail. There is definitely a sequence of events that must be followed.
A least I could not find it in the plans.
It may be there somewhere. Also the hole in the side skin is too
small for anything other than a child's hand. RV6 builders say this
problems has been addressed with a larger hole.


In this case if I had attached the two elevators together before putting
on the vertical and attaching them to the horizontal after I installed the
the horizontal it may be easier to tighten the AN hardware with crow's foot wrenches I suspect but I am not sure.

12 point MS is the easy way to do it. That should have been called
out in the plans. There is no downside except slightly higher cost.
It is also better for future repairs.

I have had my share of designing something that nobody could
make or put together :) It is something else an engineer needs to
think about.


Paul Lamar