Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - sealing forward skins to firewall

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

sealing forward skins to firewall

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Zenith-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

bradfnp(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject: sealing forward skins to firewall

I have started drilling and cleco-ing the forward side skins to the firewall 

and I have noticed the smallest of gaps, probably not even a milimeter in 

size between the foreward side skins, the cabin floor and the firewall 

flange.

I was wondering if any builders who are past thid point did anything to seal 

this area with high-temp RTV or other sealant to keep noise/heat/fumes 

out?....any thoughts?



-brad cohen

XL/TD slow build

leo(at)zuehlfield.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject: sealing forward skins to firewall

I used High Temp RTV



-- 

Leo Gates

N601Z - CH601HDS TDO

Rotax 912UL



Brad Cohen wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I have started drilling and cleco-ing the forward side skins to the 

 firewall and I have noticed the smallest of gaps, probably not even a 

 milimeter in size between the foreward side skins, the cabin floor and 

 the firewall flange.

 I was wondering if any builders who are past thid point did anything 

 to seal this area with high-temp RTV or other sealant to keep 

 noise/heat/fumes out?....any thoughts?



 -brad cohen

 XL/TD slow build

DaveG601XL

Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Posts: 351
Location: Cincinnati, Oh

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:02 am Post subject: Re: sealing forward skins to firewall

Me too. I think I used GE RTV107 or something like that. The red high temp stuff.

_________________
David Gallagher
Cincinnati, OH area

sky_ranger161

Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 91

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:14 am Post subject: sealing forward skins to firewall

Hey guys,



I'm at this point too and was not planning on putting any type of sealer on mine. Here's my reasoning...



#1. I'm scratchbuilding, so I made my cabin floor to fit the firewall pretty precisely.



#2. No sealer is spec'd in the plans. Maybe I'm missing something though. This is my first airplane.



#3. I remember reading something somewhere about an ingredient in RTV sealer being corrosive to aluminum. Can't find it now of course. Somebody smarter than me chime in.



This is timely for me, so I'm interested to see what bounces back.



Debo Cox

Nags Head, NC

Scratchbuilt XL/Corvair

www.mykitlog.com/debo



do not archive

Gig Giacona

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:12 am Post subject: Re: sealing forward skins to firewall

I'm putting Ultra Grey Silicone where the firewall meets the side and top skins. This is mainly to reduce CO that might try to find it's way through there. 



As for your issues Debo...



1. It's not the floor I'm so much concerned with but the sides and the top. the top is curved and there are several crimps so there is some open area.



2. I think you are about to find there are several things that are a pretty good idea that aren't spec'd in the plans. Especially firewall forward.



3. All RTV sealers aren't created equal. The Grey is spec'd for use on aluminum parts by several auto manufactures including Honda and Toyota.

_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:29 am Post subject: sealing forward skins to firewall

My Factory Quick Build Kit has no sealer, period!

sw

---

leo(at)zuehlfield.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:56 am Post subject: sealing forward skins to firewall

Steve,  I think this is a safety issue.  I do not want CO getting

into the cockpit.  In case of an engine fire, I do not want toxic

smoke to get into the cockpit.



Leo Gates



steve wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 My Factory Quick Build Kit has no sealer, period!

 sw

sky_ranger161

Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 91

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:02 am Post subject: sealing forward skins to firewall

Ah. Good info gig. Thanks.



Debo



do not archive

--- On Tue, 8/12/08, Gig Giacona <wrgiacona(at)gmail.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   From: Gig Giacona <wrgiacona(at)gmail.com>

 Subject: Re: sealing forward skins to firewall

 To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com

 Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 10:12 AM

 

 Giacona" <wrgiacona(at)gmail.com>

 

 I'm putting Ultra Grey Silicone where the firewall

 meets the side and top skins. This is mainly to reduce CO

 that might try to find it's way through there. 

 

 As for your issues Debo...

 

 1. It's not the floor I'm so much concerned with

 but the sides and the top. the top is curved and there are

 several crimps so there is some open area.

 

 2. I think you are about to find there are several things

 that are a pretty good idea that aren't spec'd in

 the plans. Especially firewall forward.

 

 3. All RTV sealers aren't created equal. The Grey is

 spec'd for use on aluminum parts by several auto

 manufactures including Honda and Toyota.

 

 --------

 W.R. &quot;Gig&quot; Giacona

 601XL Under Construction

 See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=198126#198126

Rickey B.

Joined: 22 Mar 2008
Posts: 70

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:36 am Post subject: sealing forward skins to firewall

1. It's not the floor I'm so much concerned with but the sides and the

top. the top is curved and there are several crimps so there is some

open area.



	Gentlemen, if I may be allowed to jump in here, I might be able

to shed a little light on the crimp areas and how to reduce them without

a lot of work. I am not sure what you have there, but on the forward

part of the middle skin and down low, there is some "puckering". This is

in the area of the combination curves. If this is what you are calling

crimping, then this will help. 

	My Tech Counselor was by a few weeks ago and told me how to rid

myself of these. I used a Ronson mini torch that puts out a small

pointed flame about an inch and a half long. I heated the hump in the

metal and gently tapped it down. The heating and cooling shrinks the

metal and the tapping tells it where you want it to go. It worked well

on those areas, especially on the top where the skin rolls over the

front bow.

	Sorry I don't have any pictures of this, but I was pleased with

the results. You may wish to use a piece of scrap and experiment a

little first.

			Good luck and 

				God Bless!

					Rick



	Do not archive.

RayStL

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 36

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:01 am Post subject: Re: sealing forward skins to firewall

I used GE Firestop Intumescent Sealant. I learned what intumescent was when looking to seal wiring going through the firewall. This stuff is designed for through cable penetrations. It expands when heated. In a fire, as the wiring insulation melts and leaves gaps, this stuff expands and keeps the seal. I sealed the edges of the firewall and the cable penetrations with this stuff.



-- ray

_________________
Ray St-Laurent
701/Pegastol wings/Suzuki engine

notsew_evets(at)frontiern
Guest

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:02 am Post subject: sealing forward skins to firewall

Right on..



I think Zenith used the zinc paste in that seam on mine...



SW

---

amyvega2005(at)earthlink.
Guest

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 1:11 pm Post subject: sealing forward skins to firewall

Leo,

If you are looking for a seal,  Buy the 3M Fireproofing Calk at Aircraft Spruce,  Pricey, but does what you want.  It expands when exposed to high heat (flame).  I am used to that these days from this email list:)



Juan



--

bryanmmartin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject: sealing forward skins to firewall

I used a high temp red RTV designed for use with aluminum. It can be  

found at most auto parts stores.

Don't use RTV designed for use as tub and shower caulk, this usually  

contains acetic acid, which is corrosive to metals. You can usually  

tell the difference by the smell, acetic acid has an acrid smell like  

strong vinegar.



The plans don't specifically call for any sealant but, the whole  

purpose of the firewall is to isolate the heat and fumes of the engine  

compartment from the cabin, so any gaps and penetrations through the  

firewall should be sealed so as to maintain the fire resistant  

character of the firewall.



On Aug 11, 2008, at 11:08 PM, Brad Cohen wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I have started drilling and cleco-ing the forward side skins to the  

 firewall and I have noticed the smallest of gaps, probably not even  

 a milimeter in size between the foreward side skins, the cabin floor  

 and the firewall flange.

 I was wondering if any builders who are past thid point did anything  

 to seal this area with high-temp RTV or other sealant to keep noise/ 

 heat/fumes out?....any thoughts?



 -brad cohen

 XL/TD slow build


	


-- 

Bryan Martin

N61BM, CH 601 XL,

RAM Subaru, Stratus redrive.

do not archive.

_________________
--
Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
do not archive.

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Zenith-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum