Section 40B: Landing Gear, Aircraft Specialty Brake Gear Lines

 RV14 Build January

Landing Gear and Engine Mount

After getting lost in the forums I wanted to go with MIL-PRF-83282 brake fluid for its higher temperature rating. So I ordered some Royco 782.

But this still left me with a weak point in the system. The O ring in the Grove calipers, so I upgraded these to M83248/1-222 O rings, surprising hard to find size.

Then I got after installing the aircraft specialty gear leg brake lines. First was to change out the AN fitting on the firewall for an AN3. I really wish I would have done this before the engine mount was one, because it was a tight spot to turn a wrench.

I didn't realize the fittings from the Vans kit were a larger size.

Next I started to route the brake lines. I was a little worried about chafing, even though the braided line is inside a clear tube, I still wrapped some rescue tape around the are near the bottom of the engine mount.

I also still followed the Vans plans and cut some tubing and installed it over the brake line and secured these areas to the gear legs with friction tape.

Friction tape on and the line wrapped around the axle. 

I am a little worried about the vibration and having the hoce chafe on the wheel fairings, I'll have to look into a grommet or sorts of this area. The line does get a little close to the mount bolts for the axle  so I think I'll add a piece of the plastic hose in that area and secure it with friction tape as well.

I figured changing the brake fluid might not happen that often but I might have to bleed them for various reason so I splurged and bought the ATS brake bleeder. It took a little getting use to getting the coupling on and off, but I think it's probably the best way to do the job.

Eventually I got smart and added a line from the reservoir to a catch cup so I wouldn't make a mess.

I did have small air bubble just magically appear over the next few days, so I kept bleeding the system to get them out.

Finally I think I have all the air out of the lines.

The fluid isn't suppose to be stored in the ATS tool so i poured it through a paint filter and into this cup. When I get air bubbles i pour it through a paint filter again back into the ATS bleeder and repeat.

Section 40B Landing Gear 5.0 Hours

Section 31 Fuel System, Aircraft Specialty fuel line and Filters

RV14 Build January

Fuel System

I decided to go with the wing root fuel filter kit from Aircraft Specialty to make future filter cleaning easier and so each tank will have a seperate fuel filter, just in case 1 gets clogged then hopefully the other tank is still good.

Since my wings aren't on yet this is a picture from the website showing the setup.

Since the filter will be in the wing root, no point in keeping the filter in the center channel since it would be too tempting not to service. I luckily still had the AN fitting that came with the fuel pump and installed that first after removing the rigid line I put in.

Installing the metal braided line was a little tricky do to the tight spaces, but I was able to get it on and torqued with a crows foot.

Section 31 Fuel System .5 Hours