USING TIE WRAPS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

”Better than some panel-mounted gear“ –Aviation Consumer

BY JOE NORRIS

EVEN ON THE SIMPLEST homebuilts the builder will be faced with routing and securing wires and lines for various systems. There are many ways to do this, but most builders these days opt to use tie wraps (aka zip ties or cable ties). These handy little items make quick work of organizing the systems on the aircraft. However, when used in the engine compartment, tie wraps have the potential to cause problems when they are used to secure wires or lines to the engine mount. The issue stems from the environment found in the engine compartment. The combination of heat, vibration, airborne liquid mist, and dust or dirt can cause the wire tie to become a great little sanding block if there is any slippage at all between it and the engine mount structure. This happens because many times it is not possible to get the tie wrap pulled tight enough to eliminate slippage on the tube around which it is wrapped. Vibration combined with some fluid for

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Uniwrap comes on a roll with a protective plastic layer to keep the tape from adhering to itself while sitting on the shelf. The plastic is discarded when using the tape.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE NORRIS

©2010 Sportsman’s Market, Inc.

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www.eaa.org 81

H   ANDS ON HINTS FOR HOMEBUILDERS

The best way to keep the wire tie from slipping on engine mount tubing is a product called Uniwrap.

Uniwrap in place under a wire tie.

lubrication and some dust or sand for abrasive will cause the wire tie to begin cutting into the structure it’s secured to. There have been cases where the wire tie has worn its way completely through a steel tube engine mount! There is a simple way to avoid this potential problem. The best way to keep the wire tie from slipping on engine mount tubing is a product called Uniwrap. Uniwrap is a self-adhesive silicone tape. A layer of Uniwrap around the tube before applying the wire tie will eliminate the possibility of damaging the structure. Uniwrap is available through aviation supply houses such as Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. A similar product called Rescue Tape can be found at hardware and auto supply stores, industrial supply outlets, and sporting goods stores. A few dollars for a roll of Uniwrap can save the builder hundreds of dollars in potential repairs. Joe Norris, EAA Lifetime 113615, is EAA’s homebuilders’ community manager. He is a technical counselor, flight advisor, certificated flight instructor, airframe and powerplant mechanic with an inspection authorization, and a designated airworthiness representative. To see these Hints for Homebuilders videos visit www.SportAviation.org.

82 Sport Aviation November 2010

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE NORRIS