| Piano Hinge on Engine Hatch [message #361953] |
Sat, 23 January 2021 16:56  |
Melbo
Messages: 144
Registered: August 2018
Location: Albuquerque NM
Karma: 0
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I am doing a lot of work on the interior of the coach and was wondering if there are any issues with cutting the engine hatch into two parts and connecting them with a piano hinge. I would cut the rear most part smaller than the front most part so it would fold up and then could be lifted as a shorter piece. I would also put a strip of weather stripping in between the two pieces so it would seal up nice and tight. It seems like a good idea but I have not heard of anyone doing this. Am I missing something or is this a practical idea.
TIA
Melbo
Albuquerque NM Bus Conversion 1978 MCI 1973 GMC
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| Re: Piano Hinge on Engine Hatch [message #361958 is a reply to message #361953] |
Sat, 23 January 2021 21:13  |
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Richard RV
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
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Senior Member |
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Yes, it's been done. There should be at least one example on the GMC photo site, and probably also on Mr. ERF's site. The pictures I saw had the piano hinge ~6"(?) back from the front of the hatch. That way most of the bay was opened up and the raised part of the hatch would lean back against the dash and not need any support.
Richard
'77 Birchaven TZE...777;
'76 Palm Beach under construction;
‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
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| Re: [GMCnet] Piano Hinge on Engine Hatch [message #361963 is a reply to message #361953] |
Sun, 24 January 2021 05:43 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Melbo,
Rather than cutting the hatch cover, you may want to consider hinging the
entire cover as I did many years ago, thus preserving full compartment
access and avoiding that extra leaky seam. IIRC, there's a strip of
aluminum across the forward top of the hatch cover; that must be removed.
I installed a pair of butts (household door hinges with removable pins),
one near each side at the forward edge, to secure the hatch cover to the
inclined firewall. Rather than use the original butt pins, I made
"L-shaped" ones from smaller diameter steel rod. An appropriately placed
screw acts as a stop for the base of the "L" to ensure each pin stays
installed -- probably not necessary. A strip of rubber across the front
edge of the hatch cover supplements the seal on the bottom of the cover,
leveraged tight by the weight of the cover.
I VERY rarely have removed the hatch cover; just hinging it up and propping
it open allows 'most anything except mounting the gantry for
engine/drivetrain R&R. I've never bothered to install automatic support
for the lid -- a 3' piece of conduit rides nicely on top of the engine for
use as a prop.
JWID and am happy with.
Ken H.
On Sat, Jan 23, 2021 at 5:57 PM melmull--- via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> I am doing a lot of work on the interior of the coach and was wondering if
> there are any issues with cutting the engine hatch into two parts and
> connecting them with a piano hinge. I would cut the rear most part
> smaller than the front most part so it would fold up and then could be
> lifted as a
> shorter piece. I would also put a strip of weather stripping in between
> the two pieces so it would seal up nice and tight. It seems like a good
> idea
> but I have not heard of anyone doing this. Am I missing something or is
> this a practical idea.
>
> TIA
>
> Melbo
> --
> Albuquerque NM Bus Conversion 1978 MCI 1973 GMC
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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