Door Locks / Hinges / Handles: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:00, 5 July 2025

See Door Locks for more information.

Many builders decide to put the door seals on the fuselage side instead of onto the inside of the door.
Two McMaster order numbers are being used: 1120A311 (lip on inside, 3/16 edge thickness, 3/8 high):

1120A311
and 1120A313 (lip on outside, 3/16 edge thickness, 3/8 high). Since you are building up the inside edge, the lip is better to be on the inside as the groove for it will automatically form when using a throwaway seal as mold.
Some builders prefer the 1120A411 variant which is for 1/4 edge thick edges.
Builders usually sacrifice one set of seals as mold to form out the edges, then replace it with a clean second set. This procedure will need 100 ft total.
Some builders experience a gap where the ends meet after some time, see this FB thread.
See also:
- FB thread
- Mark's builder log
- VAF thread
- VAF thread
- Glen's builder log
- Justin Twilbeck's log
- BuildFlyGo's video
- Ivan Kristensen's video with door trim measurements
- Ivan Kristensen's door seal photos (now on smugmug, no longer on ivankristensen.phanfare.com). The sparse text for photos is available on the web archive.
- Les Kearney's door seal compilation pdf (originally posted to the Matronics mailing list)
- FB thread
Some builders use the standard Vans way of putting the seals on the doors but use better seals sold by McMaster.
- See VAF thread

Heavy Duty Door Strut from Vans (600 instead of 500N)
Bansbach easylift door strut A1A1F50-100-287 part#10017Y1 (600N instead of 500N, call to order)
Ordering 650N at Bansbach: Select the 650N version of B0N0F50-100-247/XXXN, add 2 of those, then add 4 of the end fittings A1 M8 Aluminum Hinge Eye Endfitting. These end fittings yield a total length of the 287mm similar to the other fully assembled struts. First timers can try coupon code 15PERCENTOFF.
Tim Olson's build page on struts
Door strut hardware (FB 3/22/2022)
See also this FB thread.

PlaneAround 180 degree latch together with Aerosport interior door handle beauty cover causing binding (FB 10/11/2022)
PlaneAround FB thread
Low profile handle + 180 degree FB thread 6/2023, FB thread 9/2023 FB thread 11/2023
Documentation set at Planearound, includes link to document written by David Peterson which is a revised Vans chapter 45 document with the various modifications compiled in
Damazio's write-up of the 180 degree door latch install
Videos
- Ed's low profile door handle install
- Austin's door latch and handle install

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==== Locks & Keys ====
-See [[Door Locks|Door locks]] for more information.
+See [[Door Locks]] for more information.
 ==== Cabin Door Seals ====