Removal of entry door

[ken66770]

Can anyone help with the procedure to remove the entry door from a 1965 M20C. What looks to be straight forward isn't. I have removed the screws (outside), washers and nuts (inside) from the forward side of the hinge and the hold open arm from the door but the hinge still won't budge. Obviously I am missing something; any ideas please?

[Guest]

I've never had one off, but if memory is correct the skin is dimpled for counter sunk screws, therefore the hinge is also dimpled so it just may take a bit of a pull to loosen it. Just be sure you have removed every screw!

Clarence

[Awful_Charlie]

On mine the hinge was also bonded to the airframe with something like PR1422 - quite a lot of brute force required to get it off

[N201MKTurbo]

Just slide a knife or screwdriver (ATS makes a tool for this) between the door hinge and the skin. Start at the top or bottom and carefully pry the two apart to break the sealant bond.

 

http://www.aircraft-tool.com/shop/detail.aspx?PRODUCT_ID=SWG7

[rbridges]

be careful.  I'm sure it isn't cheap to repair if you damage it.  keep us posted.

[ken66770]

Thanks to all for the suggestions! I finally decided to try to remove the seal and adhesive with the door on. The seal was no problem, of course, but I have worked for two days (only three hour days, the wife won't work longer than that) on the adhesive and almost have it all off. What a job. It would have been much easier with the door off,

[m20cDoug]

I took the door off my 65c also, the nuts and washers you removed from inside hold countersunk screws that hold the hinge to the reinforcement plate. You can pry some space in between the skin and plate to remove the screws but getting them back in will be a different story.

[Piloto]

About 30 years ago for FAA spin tests if I recall well I just removed the hinge door pin and replaced it with a flexible cable that could be pulled while in an unrecoverable spin condition. This allowed me and the FAA test pilot (Lucy Young, Navy combat pilot) to exit (with parachute). Fortunately never had to pull on the cable after 49 spins configurations.

 

José