L04-01 Tri-Gear Main Landing Gear Mount.
Today I worked on locating the holes for the main landing gear legs in the fuselage lower skin. I used tracing paper to copy the full size pattern in the plans. I then calculated reference lines for the inside of the fuselage. The reference line is 1 7/8" aft from the spar tunnel aft rivet line. The reference from the center line is 4 5/32" outboard from the 8th rivet hole in the spar tunnel aft rivet line. I marked the location of the holes. I placed the gear mounts in their locations to try to check the hole locations.

L04-01 Tri-Gear Main Landing Gear Mount.
Today I made the actual holes for the gear legs. I used the method I saw on Bob Meyer's website. I drilled holes arround the inside of the hole outline I marked yesterday. I then updrilled the holes untill the center could be removed. I used the half round file to smooth and enlarge the hole. I used the file until I could insert the leg through the hole and into the gear mount. I will make final adjustments to the hole when I actually install the gear legs.
During this process I found that one of the gear legs would not go into the upper part of either gear mount. The other gear leg will go into either mount. I sent Kerry an email. I will see what he says. I won't need it for a while.

L04-01 Tri-Gear Main Landing Gear Mount.
Kerry responded regarding the gear leg that did not seem to fit. He suggested sanding the gear leg and or the inside of the gear mount. So I wrapped some emery cloth around a dowel and removed the powder coating on the inside of the gear mount. Now the gear leg fits in the gear mount.

I also continued to try to find the correct location for the mounts. I want to be sure I get the correct location before I start drilling.

L04-01 Tri-Gear Main Landing Gear Mount.
Today I decided that I had the left mount in the proper position so I started drilling holes.
I first drilled the 3 holes that go through the lower skin and the longeron to the #40 size.
I then drilled the 8 holes that go through the lower skin and spar tunnel to the #40 size.
Next I used the 90 degree drill to drill all but one of the holes that go through the angle on the side panel to the size #40. The lowest hole I could get the angle drill in position. I will remove the angle and the mount and drill this hole outside the fuselage. I will also updrill these holes to the #30 size outside the fuselage.
Then I drilled the holes that go into the aft side of the spar tunnel.
I then went back and up drilled all the holes to their final sizes except for the side panel angle holes.
When I started up drilling the holes going into the spar tunnel the drill did not want to go through the steel mount. After trying a few different things I realized the speed of the air drill was probablly heating the steel so the drill bit would not cut. So I got out the cordless drill which goes a lot slower and it work just fine. Lesson learned fast is not always better.

L04-01 Tri-Gear Main Landing Gear Mount.
I removed the left mount and angle from the side panel. I updrilled the holes through the mount and side panel angle to #30 size. I deburred all the holes. I then clecoed the side angle back in place on the side panel. I also clecoed the left mount back in place.

I then started on the right hand mount.
I worked on getting it in the correct position. I enlarged the hole in the lower skin for the gear leg a little bit.
When I had the mount in the correct position I started drilling holes.
I first drilled the 3 holes that go through the lower skin and the longeron to the #40 size.
I then drilled the 8 holes that go through the lower skin and spar tunnel to the #40 size.
Then I drilled the holes that go into the aft side of the spar tunnel to the #30 size.
Next I used the 90 degree drill to drill all but one of the holes that go through the angle on the side panel to the size #40. The lowest hole I could not get the angle drill in position. I will remove the angle and the mount and drill this hole outside the fuselage. I will also updrill these holes to the #30 size outside the fuselage. Like I did for the left mount.

L04-01 Tri-Gear Main Landing Gear Mount.
Right Hand Gear Mount. I up drilled all the holes to their final size. I removed the mount and side panel angle to up drill the holes in that location. Clecoed the gear mount back in location to be sure every thing fit. It did. I then removed both gear mounts and the angles and gussets from the side panels.
I then removed the aft spar tunnel as an assembly.
I also test fit the flap drive tube and assembly block. Before I start on the glare sheild and pannel I want to fit as much below them as possible.

L04-01 Tri-Gear Main Landing Gear Mount.
Today I counter sunk and dimpled the aft spar tunnel where the gear mounts will be attached by machine screws.
I first practiced on some scrap material.
I used the micro stop to get the proper depth for the counter sink. I do not have a dimple die for the 3/16th size so I used the a smaller size to get the dimple started. I then used the machine screws torqued to 25 in/lbs to get the finished dimple. That worked very well.
Bob Meyers said in his web site that he went ahead and riveted together most of the aft spar tunnel at this time.
I checked and I will be able to get it in and out OK. So I went ahead and riveted the vertical angles and the support angle to the aft tunnel angle. I did not rivet the ends where the shear plates will be attached. I did this while the gear mount were still bolted to the assembly.
Tomorrow I will remove the gear mounts and cleco this assembly back in the fuselage.

L04-01 Tri-Gear Main Landing Gear Mount.
I removed the machine screws from the Mounts and aft spar tunnel. I removed the clecos from the mount also. I then clecoed the aft spar tunnel into the fuselage. I also clecoed the main gear mounts to the fuselage and the aft spar tunnel.
I located and drilled the 1/4in hole through the lower fuselage for the aft arm of each gear mount. I inserted a AN4-16A bolt in each hole to hold it in place. I place a nut on each bolt and only tightened it only finger tight just to keep the bolt from falling out.