Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Is it good practice to use lacing cord when tying wires/hoses on the engine side of the firewall? I have come to dislike the looks of zip ties.

You can selectively use adel clamps on the engine mount but you'll probably still end up using some zip ties to keep some areas bundled. Use zip ties that are the same color are your harness and zip them with the head on the backside and they're much less noticeable.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... GnEALw_wcB

Yes, I agree, I'll probably never be able to totally get away from zip ties. Adel clamps don't bother me. I am wondering if I took my cowl cheeks off, would I be flogged and beaten for not knowing such a basic tenant of proper aircraft build practices. Lacing cord just looks 100% better to me than zip ties.

I can't tell you the number of times I have had to add or subtract a wire from a bundle over the thirty-five plus years of operating my Thorp. Lacing cords are a pain in the ....

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

I can barely lace my shoes let alone a wire bundle . Black wires...black zip tie . Anything around the gray plenum...gray zip ties . White wires...you guess it white zip ties . A rainbow of colors !

RB

Nothing wrong with either one. If you use Zip ties, get a good side cutter to trim them close. If not, working in your engine compartment becomes a blood letting experience. Zips also have a life limit as they get hot and brittle. Lacking cord would not. But I have no patience for it.
If anyone ever gives you grief about it, ask them how many planes they are willing to build FOR YOU!
Cubes

I have one of those special zip tie guns (not expensive) that sets the tension and then cuts off the tie FLUSH so that little nub doesn't send you to the ER room for a pint of blood !

RB

Harbor Freight has a great pair of flush cutters for zip ties. They aren’t very durable so their usefulness for other things is limited.

https://www.harborfreight.com/micro-flu ... 90708.html

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Thorp T18
O-320-B3B (160 HP)
68x74 Sterba Propeller

"The joke in aviation is, 'If you want to make a million, you'd better start with £10m.' " -Bruce Dickinson

Do you reinforce your firewall for mounting various equipment (remote oil filter, battery, contactors, etc)? I was thinking I should install an aluminum plate on the cockpit side of the firewall to reinforce the firewall in locations where I will mount various items on the engine side of the firewall? Did others do this or mount straight to the firewall without reinforcing the firewall?

You might want to try Grip Lock Ties - they are reusable (pull a little tab and they un-ratchet) and rubber lined. Readily available. More expensive than a regular zip tie, but I think worth it. They relieve pain in the posterior.

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Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

Firewall accessory planning is one of the most "fun" part of the project. I normally use a 3/4" angle from the tank support to the outer edge where I'm going to attach something. A removable floor really comes in handy here.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Guys,

You should be aware that zip ties have calcium carbonate (ground up marble) in them as a flow enhancer. They will cause wear grooves in metal parts if they are allowed to move with vibration. If they need to go on an engine mount tube, use a piece of hose over the tube first and then the zip tie on that.

Regards,

Jim

I put a doubler plate on the cockpit side of the firewall when I mounted my battery box .

RB

Check the 'sticky' titled "Moving Battery to Firewall" in the Electrical category of this forum.
Post #10 has a pic of my installation, using enough existing sub-structure (for me). I didn't want to remove the panel, then the fuel tank, then some glued-on foam insulation just to add a doubler plate, then re-install all that perfectly good stuff.

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Scott Emery
EAA Chapter 326
T-18 N18TE

I should add I added the doubler during the build process .

RB