We just assembled the bulkheads yesterday-------the first 3, the ones that come in two pieces and are spliced together, were pretty twisted and far from flat.
It appears that the inner flange area is the big problem, distorted the main web area of the bulkhead pretty badly. I can force the outer flange area to lay flat on the bench, but that only makes the inner flange area twist more.
Not sure if I need to straighten/flatten these prior to installation or if they will pull into position and the fuse skin will hold things in alignment just fine.
I have tried fluting what areas that need shrinking to bring things straight/flat, but most of the issue seems to be that I need to stretch the inner flange------and I do not have a stretcher.
Do you do anything about the bulkheads, or just install and force things into position as you go?
If you did straighten/flatten them, any hints for me?
Thanks,
Mike
Had the same problem.
If you look at the forward top skin the holes for the bulkhead seem to have a slight bend. Never could get everything to really line up. ( I’m a cleco in every hole kind of dude).My stretcher would not fit the in flange. Ended up with a 3/16 rivet on the bottom hole of the top half of bulkhead S4. An old time aircraft sheet metal buddy of mine suggested a hammer and dolly after I had riveted everything together.
Give me a hollar at firebird_mwl@msn.com .😎
Previous post did not come out right. Use hammer and dolly On bulkhead to straighten then rivet together.
We make sure the bulkhead doublers are in good contact with the bulkhead flanges, the bulkheads don't come out flat, but they line up fairly easily once you assemble them to the fuselage skins