Section 30 - step installation

[RV6-KPTW]

Working on the step installation, I am wondering how to get access to the bolt if it needs to be removed. I don’t like the method in the plans which is to drill holes in the skin and the baggage floor.

Fast forward to section 33 - baggage area, the F-1080 baggage cover flange is right over top of the bolt head and the web is pretty close. An access plate can be used but the proximity of F-1080 might not allow the bolt to be removed. I think F-1080 could be modified or made removable to get to the bolt head.

What have you done to enable the removal of the step bolt other than drill holes in the skin?

Thanks

 

[jacoby]

I made an access panel for the floor and enlarged the 1/8” holes in the floor the instructions say to drill to accommodate a socket. I left the lower holes 1/8” for drainage.

Unfortunately you’ll have to drill out those cover panels if you ever need to replace the step since the bolt has to pass through the floor to come out. The alternative would be to drill the lower holes large enough for the bolt to come out the bottom and put the nut on top.

Making the cover panels removable could be done with some nut plates as well.

 

[Kyle Boatright]

Working on the step installation, I am wondering how to get access to the bolt if it needs to be removed. I don’t like the method in the plans which is to drill holes in the skin and the baggage floor.

Fast forward to section 33 - baggage area, the F-1080 baggage cover flange is right over top of the bolt head and the web is pretty close. An access plate can be used but the proximity of F-1080 might not allow the bolt to be removed. I think F-1080 could be modified or made removable to get to the bolt head.

What have you done to enable the removal of the step bolt other than drill holes in the skin?

Thanks

I drilled adequate holes, then filled the holes with snap-in plugs. You'll never notice, but you'll have easy access later if you need.

 

[Richard Connell]

I drilled holes in the floor and belly skin after the fact so I could remove the steps for paint. It was pretty straightforward.
They ended up being maybe 5/8 or so in diameter. Just big enough to get 3/8 sockets onto the nut/bolt.
They now have plastic snap-in plugs.
Fortuitously the external ones are right on the paint stripe

 

[RV6-KPTW]

Ok. I think I am convinced that the hole drilling approach is reasonable and won’t look horrible. I assume that you “hole drillers” have seen that the baggage cover (F-1080) allows for access to the bolt head with the appropriate hole.

I am scratching my head over the S30, Page 2, Step 4 which states to install the baggage floor, pull it back, then drill the support block bolt holes? Why do we do this?

Seems like it just gets in the way of drilling the support blocks bolt holes. Once the blocks are bolted, a pilot hole can be drilled thru the step support guide hole down into the belly skin to locate the lower access hole, then the baggage floor and the baggage cover can go on temporarily and using the same pilot hole, drill up from the belly skin into the baggage floor to locate the upper access hole.

Thanks

 

[togaflyer]

Definitely make access panels. After 7 years I had a step fail. There is only a small weld radius that attaches the step to the insert tube. That's the failure point. Fortunately I made access panels for this situation.

 

[3stepdrop]

to revive this thread,
I'm attaching my steps now and have a degree of slop in the steps that i don't like. I'm using the bolt size that the plans call for but I'm wondering if I'm missing something. There's too much play in the step for my liking. Is mine the only one or have others experienced this and taken corrective action?
thanks in advance!

 

[lonkelm]

I suggest this bushing so the step can be properly secured.

RV-10 Products - TCW Technologies

TCW Technologies’ custom RV-10 products include Step Bushings and Fuel Fittings. TCW’s Step Bushings are solid bushings that fit inside the step tube and give the bolt that holds the step to the step mount something substantial to grab onto, solving the loosening of the entry steps over time...

www.tcwtech.com

 

[lonkelm]

I also suggest this access panel for the step bolt ( or make your own).

AirWard Van's RV-10 - Baggage Compartment Access Cover Kit - Machine Screws

AirWard has developed a Kit to access the area under the Baggage Compartment Floor for Inspection, Installation/removal, of the two Entry/Exit Steps without having to remove the complete Baggage Compartment Floor. Due to the common problem of the Entry/Exit Steps, or Support Structures, cracking...

www.airward.com

 

[rocketman1988]

I also suggest this access panel for the step bolt ( or make your own).

AirWard Van's RV-10 - Baggage Compartment Access Cover Kit - Machine Screws

AirWard has developed a Kit to access the area under the Baggage Compartment Floor for Inspection, Installation/removal, of the two Entry/Exit Steps without having to remove the complete Baggage Compartment Floor. Due to the common problem of the Entry/Exit Steps, or Support Structures, cracking...

www.airward.com

Note that the sidewall panels will be about on top of the step bolt so the access panel is a silver bullet.

Use the step bushings. When you are installing the step, use a long drill bit and drill down through the belly skin. Once you have located the pilot hole, enlarge the hole in the skin to accept a socket of the correct size. When installing the step, put the bolt in from the bottom. Doing this makes it easy to remove and replace should you need to. If you put the bolt in from the top, the baggage floor skin and sidewall panels will make it almost impossible to remove or replace the bolt.

You can then put a plug in the skin hole to close it up.