Door Locks / Hinges / Handles

Locks & Keys

See Door Locks for more information.

Seals

Cabin Door Seals

• 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

Luggage Door Seals

• Aircraft Door Seals
  
• See also this VAF Thread

Door Strut Upgrades

• Upgraded strut brackets (especially useful if you use McMaster door seals)
• 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.

Hinges

• Machined hinge capture plates make removing and re-installing the doors much easier
• Airward hinge reinforcement kit, see this [FB thread 1/2024

Other Enhanced Door Parts / Kits / Upgrades

• Aerosport Products
  • Low Profile Door Handle
  • Interior Door Handle Cover
  • Installation Videos
• Planearound, see also this FB thread

180 Degree Door Latch and Low Profile Handle Hints

• 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