Bonding window latch plates to top of door

[Andy]

What adhesive is used to stick the FX-3 window latch plates to the top of the door?

Does the the EX-3 also use adhesive to attach these latch plates?

Thanks,
Andy

[Pete D]

If you are talking about the top edge of the lower door and the top edge of the throttle quadrant on the left side it is clear 3M double sided tape, with well cleaned surfaces and 3M adhesive promoter applied prior to the tape.

[Andy]

Pete,

I'm asking about the small plates that act as the registers for the rotating window latches. These plates appear to made from stainless steel.

The one at the front end of the door fell off my new FX-3. The adhesive had bonded well to the latch plate but not to the painted door surface.

Thanks,
Andy

[Bruce Graham]

I had the same issue, and used Gorilla Glue. Worked flawlessly.

Pete,

I'm asking about the small plates that act as the registers for the rotating window latches. These plates appear to made from stainless steel.

The one at the front end of the door fell off my new FX-3. The adhesive had bonded well to the latch plate but not to the painted door surface.

Thanks,
Andy

[JimmyV]

I used West System G-flex epoxy. Its great stuff, holding well.

[ve6yeq]

The one at the front end of the door fell off my new FX-3. The adhesive had bonded well to the latch plate but not to the painted door surface.

I am having the same issue - the front right-hand metal latch plate started coming loose from the door just after delivery and now completely falls off even in cool 10 C weather. The clear tape has just “torn” with some still stuck to the door and most to the plate. I was thinking of trying tape again, but as I can not think of why I would need to remove it in the future, I think I will try for a flexible glue after adding some texture to both surfaces with coarse sand paper like others in this thread have suggested.

Is it only the front latch plate that has this issue? Or should I just glue all 4 while I am at it?

[JimmyV]

I am having the same issue - the front right-hand metal latch plate started coming loose from the door just after delivery and now completely falls off even in cool 10 C weather. The clear tape has just “torn” with some still stuck to the door and most to the plate. I was thinking of trying tape again, but as I can not think of why I would need to remove it in the future, I think I will try for a flexible glue after adding some texture to both surfaces with coarse sand paper like others in this thread have suggested.

Is it only the front latch plate that has this issue? Or should I just glue all 4 while I am at it?

Pretty sure they are all put on the same way, the right front probably has most use/tension and is the one Ive had the most problem with. Just be careful when you glue it you get it positioned exactly correct - fore and aft and side to side. The west system g flex is not coming off without bringing a part of the door with it.

[hawgdrvr]

I am having the same issue - the front right-hand metal latch plate started coming loose from the door just after delivery and now completely falls off even in cool 10 C weather. The clear tape has just “torn” with some still stuck to the door and most to the plate. I was thinking of trying tape again, but as I can not think of why I would need to remove it in the future, I think I will try for a flexible glue after adding some texture to both surfaces with coarse sand paper like others in this thread have suggested.

Is it only the front latch plate that has this issue? Or should I just glue all 4 while I am at it?

What I learned is that it depends on if you're using it to lock the window closed when you leave the aircraft. For example, if you put the window latch 45 degrees down and then close the door and catch the latch so it holds the window closed, that's the issue. When you open the door the latch is "picking" it's mount off the adhesive. You have to be careful how much of the window latch you're grabbing onto. As I'm hangared, I don't use that method any longer and do not latch the window closed when closing the door from the outside. I had mine fall off on my last FX-3 almost immediately and that's the reason.

[Andy]

If the hole is cut properly the tang of the latch plate is in contact with the door and there is no shear loading on the adhesive.

On my FX-3 the door cutout was far bigger than it should be and it provided no location of the latch plate. The adhesive took all the shear load and the plate fell off on the way home from Yakima.

See this thread for a more detailed discussion of this issue - https://tinyurl.com/53exmaj3

It seems CubCrafters did not learn from that discussion and has not changed the way these plates are fitted in FX-3 production.