Skybolt pirep

[Marc_B]

TLDR:  I'm having quality issues with the Skybolts with loose t-posts or posts that fall out.  Have never run into this issue with CamLoc brand.

Got the Mooney back from paint and needed to get my cowl sorted out...evidently some of the larger 4000 series Skybolts weren't retained...it appears that that retention ring wasn't able to get enough purchase under the lip on the inner side.  I also decided to "upgrade" to the 2800 series with the slightly wider flange, and apply split washers to the inside for retention.

Long story short...for some reason I've had 6 of the new stainless Skybolts where the T-post is either loose or fell out of the 2800 series I purchased.  And I had 5 of these in the 2700 series that were installed at paint that had the same happen.  Skybolts are priced much cheaper than CamLoc and look nice, but the quality doesn't seem to measure up.  Initially I had thought the ones at the paint shop may have been over torqued or somehow damaged.  I called Skybolt and they're sending a return label, but mentioned that I wasn't the first person to hear about this in the past month.

I also took the time to map out all the sizes of the camlocs.  I found that with paint it made some of the 4000 (larger size) grommets (SK-HS standard size Mooney grommet) not able to seat the snap ring properly and so the large camloc and grommet falls out with removal.  I'll try one of the other sized grommets (SK-O18S) to see if this might work...I'm not sure the clearance between the cowl and receptacle below and if it will tolerate a longer grommet projecting behind the cowl or not.  We'll see.

 

Couple other learning points:

nylon washers weren't needed to retain the split washer (2600SW).  Only need these if your hole is big enough to pull the split washer back through...

Camloc pliers are super helpful with the 4000 series as well as making it easier in general.

IPC shows -4 size for the sides...but most of mine are -5's and -6's for the top cowl.  I made a "map" for my cowl but I need to renew my MS membership so I can add a picture.

Back corners are 2 sizes larger than the rest.

2800 series are mostly 1 size larger than the 2700 series as they don't sit down in the hole as deep, however the 2700 series that sit "proud" used the same size, and the ones that sit "tight" needed one size up and still were a little snug.

Snap rings:  They have a R4TS and a R4GS.  But with the thickness of the Mooney cowl, you don't have enough clearance for the R4T...its wider but it's also thicker (and they are a PITA to get off without a tool.  The R4G is what you want and it's much easier to get off.

[PT20J]

I've had some pins come out of Skybolt  2700's too, but only if they were too short. Most of mine were too short after painting the belly panel and cowl (my painter painted the underside of the cowl and one-piece belly panel increasing the thickness. It should take very little torque to latch the stud if it is the proper length.

[Marc_B]

32 minutes ago, PT20J said:

It should take very little torque to latch the stud if it is the proper length.

100% correct. But the posts should fall out or get loose with just removal of the cowl. I had this happen on way too many to be coincidence. Especially when I’ve never had this happen to me before. 

[laytonl]

I had the same thing happen to me recently.  The pin slipped out of three of  2700’s.   I never had that happen before.  Lee

[EricJ]

I have had that happen with the Camlocs, too, and once in a while go through them and remove any that have loose pins.    I've had pins come partially out and prevent disconnecting before, which is very much a PITA.   So any loose ones go in the trash and get replaced.

 

[PT20J]

Every loose Skybolt pin I have had was also bent due to it being too short. YMMV.

[Marc_B]

[Rick Junkin]

On 8/18/2025 at 12:17 PM, Marc_B said:

TLDR:  I'm having quality issues with the Skybolts with loose t-posts or posts that fall out.  Have never run into this issue with CamLoc brand.

Well bummer. I removed all of the Camlocs on my belly panels and replaced them with Skybolt 2800's last year. Is this a recent quality problem? @laytonl, @PT20J, @Marc_B, when did you buy your Skybolts?

[PT20J]

16 hours ago, EricJ said:

I've had pins come partially out and prevent disconnecting before, which is very much a PITA. 

How were yo able to remove them? Did they have retaining washers? 

[EricJ]

3 hours ago, PT20J said:

How were yo able to remove them? Did they have retaining washers? 

The tricky part is getting the cowl off when the pin keeps it from disconnecting.   Once the cowl is off it's still pretty easy to get the camloc out of the cowl with the plier tool.

[M20F-1968]

I have used Sky-Bolt camlocks since my rebuild.  I have the large 4000 series on the rear edge of the cowl, and the 2000 series (but with the large flange which I think are renamed 2800). I have some small nylon washers which I place on the camlock which keeps the camlock from falling out of the cowling low edge (smaller ones are used between the top and lower cowling).  It hase been several years and do not know part numbers, but call Sky-Bolt and they will walk you through it.

John Breda

[PT20J]

One thing I have noticed about the Skybolt 2700s is that the beveled portion does not sit as flush as he Camlocs. This is true both on my fiberglass cowling and on the metal battery access door in the tail cone.

[Marc_B]

Just be aware if you order from Skybolt:  There is a minimum $25 order and they charge a 20% restocking fee as well as you shipping any unused items back to them.  They have an option "Best Method" when you order, but don't confuse that with cheapest.  Best Method = 2 day shipping.  None of their shipping options list costs...that's done after your purchase.

I told them about the issues I had and initially they said they were going to send a return label to me to send the faulty parts back; but didn't send one and didn't exchange them.  When I called back to ask about replacements, they said they'd send me out the parts I needed...and then charged my card on file for the order.

So order only what you need and be gentle with the Skybolts.  They look good and are cheaper, but are more delicate than the Camloc counterparts.

EDIT:  I reached out to Skybolt and they said they'd waive the restock fee for the 2700 series I didn't use, and also process return for the faulty 2800 series I had.  I purchased extra snap rings, split washers, and back up 4000 series and 2800 series skybolts, so having an extra $80 in 2700 series I wasn't going to use seemed silly. 

[MikeOH]

Thankfully, I haven't faced this issue....yet. 

After reading the problems with Skybolt, my normally CB self wonders just how much of a price premium I would pay for Camlocs?

Sounds like it might just be worth it!

[PT20J]

Camloc prices have gone through the roof.

A couple of things to note. First, stainless is softer than carbon steel and will deform more easily if the studs are too short. Second, if you look closely at the picture posted above, the pins appear bent slightly and the holes are elongated indicating that they were too tight. I had the same thing happen after painting and all of mine that had the pins come out were too tight.