Spar Tunnel Craziness

[BobDz]

I'm considering making the wing attach angles and the aft tunnel web assembly a "sub assembly" to make it easier to install the flush rivets on the inside of the tunnel. Then installing the sub-assembly to the L/H and R/H skins which is riveted from the outside of the Skin.

Same for the Forward Tunnel Zee, but the sub-assembly will remain clecoed to the skins for wing rigging.

Seems to me to be the easiest way to get the flush rivets nicely installed. I would not want a rivet head interfering with the wing spars.

Any reason(s) not to do this?

TIA

[Bryan Cotton]

There is usually more than one way to skin the proverbial cat. Do a dry run with clecoes or a couple of aluminum pops and see if there are issues. I did not have any problems with those flush rivets.

[BobDz]

There is usually more than one way to skin the proverbial cat. Do a dry run with clecoes or a couple of aluminum pops and see if there are issues. I did not have any problems with those flush rivets.

Did you have to install the flush rivets with a hand riveter inside the Spar tunnel?

[Bryan Cotton]

I have a vauge memory of using bent mandrels and wedges to pull them. I don't remember if I used a hand or pneumatic riveter.

[N265DF]

Don't know if its still available but I used an Arrow hand riveter that I think I got at Harbour Freight. I found out about it on the old Sonex Talk site. It broke in the middle of riveting so I went back to Harbour Freight and found one with the same demensions. I'll be damned if I didn't wear it out too, but after finishing the spar tunnel. No way could I get the air riveter in there.
Darrell Frey