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Boot Cowl Window

Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:55 pm
by Andy Young
I’m looking at installing the boot cowl window on my M-6. I have the drawing, but a few things on it are not clear to me. Wondering if someone who has this window might be able to send me some photos of their installation, both inside and outside, to help me understand.

Thanks!
Andy

Re: Boot Cowl Window

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 5:42 pm
by CaseyM
Andy Young wrote:I’m looking at installing the boot cowl window on my M-6. I have the drawing, but a few things on it are not clear to me. Wondering if someone who has this window might be able to send me some photos of their installation, both inside and outside, to help me understand.

Thanks!
Andy
Gbarrier has a great looking boot cowl window install. Maybe he can provide some insight.

Re: Boot Cowl Window

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2018 8:51 pm
by pilot
CaseyM wrote:
Gbarrier has a great looking boot cowl window install. Maybe he can provide some insight.
He is a great guy, I'm sure he can! I would not advise calling him right after a telemarketer calls him - at least if you do, turn off the speakerphone :shock: :shock: :lol:

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 5:00 am
by gbarrier
Ah, thanks guys.

Andy, mine was installed way back on a 337. Turns out it's the only 337 for the airplane that I can't lay my hands on. Looks like the factory one except the radius in the corners is larger. I'll look later today but as best I remember just a hole cut out like the observer doors and the plexiglass stuck up there with the backing strips around the sides. Mine has screws not rivets so easy to change the crazed plexiglass which I need to do soon.

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 5:01 am
by gbarrier
Ah, thanks guys.

Andy, mine was installed way back on a 337. Turns out it's the only 337 for the airplane that I can't lay my hands on. Looks like the factory one except the radius in the corners is larger. I'll look later today but as best I remember just a hole cut out like the observer doors and the plexiglass stuck up there with the backing strips around the sides. Mine has screws not rivets so easy to change the crazed plexiglass which I need to do soon.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:26 am
by maules.com
Generally, cut the bottom line to match the door bottom line and vertical lines vertical.
.125 plexiglass. Angle aluminium stiffeners all around on inside of plexiglass and stainless screws and nuts every 2 or 2.5".
Its very simple as I designed it originally for AK fish n wildlife contract.
The interior finish is the harder part and Maules new type side panels make it easier than the old style curved along floor style.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:38 am
by gbarrier
Jeremy, I probably have the one you did.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 3:04 pm
by Andy Young
Thanks guys,

So do the securing bolts go through (oversized) holes in the plexi, or does the plexi “floatâ€￾ inboard of and under aluminum stiffeners, sort of the like the factory-type lower door windows?

Are there reinforcement strips on the outside of the boot cowl skin, or just the inside?

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 3:12 pm
by maules.com
Only strips are on the inside. There is a light curve in bootcowl which can be accommodated by curving the vertical strips. You can buy 1/2â€￾ angle aluminium extrusion at hardware.
Bolts go through oversized holes in plexiglass

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 3:34 pm
by Andy Young
Thanks Jeremy,

Good idea on sourcing the angled stiffeners. Are we talking “Sâ€￾ shaped extrusions, so they lay flat on the skin, and overlap the plexi? Or just “Lâ€￾ extrusions, laid on top the plexi?

Just curious; why are stiffeners necessary? Is it a concern about cracking the plexi due to movement of the boot cowl skin otherwise?

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 4:17 pm
by gbarrier
Finally wandered up to the hangar and looked at my window. Just haven't flown in a couple of days.

Don't think the reinforcement on the inside matters much. Mine has none, just 16 #8 screws with an washers and elastic stop nuts on the inside right there against the plexi. Mine also has larger radius corners. Looks like about 1 to 1.25" radius (2 to 2.5" hole saw). Spacing between screws are 3 to 4". There is one on the outside of each corner and three equally spaced on each side between the corners.

There are angles screwed to the kick panel for a little finished look.

The plexi was a little crazed when we bought the airplane over four years ago. It's a little more crazed now and will need replacing eventually but no cracking.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 4:18 pm
by gbarrier
Finally wandered up to the hangar and looked at my window. Just haven't flown in a couple of days.

Don't think the reinforcement on the inside matters much. Mine has none, just 16 #8 screws with an washers and elastic stop nuts on the inside right there against the plexi. Mine also has larger radius corners. Looks like about 1 to 1.25" radius (2 to 2.5" hole saw). Spacing between screws are 3 to 4". There is one on the outside of each corner and three equally spaced on each side between the corners.

There are angles screwed to the kick panel for a little finished look.

The plexi was a little crazed when we bought the airplane over four years ago. It's a little more crazed now and will need replacing eventually but no cracking.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 10:21 pm
by Andy Young
Jeremy,

Seeing that drawing you posted up earlier really helped, as it had dimensions, which the version I have (from the parts CD) does not. I see you’ve removed it, so I assume you had good reason to. I’ll contact factory and ask if I can get the one with dimensions from them.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 9:48 am
by maules.com
Andy, the extrusion used is L shaped 1/2 x 1/2" angle and it acts as a stiffener and to form a mild curve contour and to attach the inner trim pieces of kick panel.

Must be other Jeremy who posted a picture as I have never figured that out.
Its odd but I find it hard to understand the picture posting instructions offered as many of the computerworld words are a foreign language to me.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 11:11 am
by wtxdragger