OK, so there's slop in your cowl flaps or they
are too tight! Which is it??
Well here's a simple fix right out of Colvin's
Clinic. If you don't have this definitive guide to insider maintenance tips, you should consider getting it. It's a great read
cover to cover but is getting rare to find at any reasonable price. There's lots of great info in it. Buy it at
Amazon or possibly the
ABS Store.
Basically, you replace your AN-3 Bolts with
AN3-7 and add a small spring that is about 1/4" long (hardware store variety)
between the hinge tab and the nut (use a washer of course).
The contributor says the above picture shows a
Nyloc nut but reports they will be replacing it with a standard castle nut and
cotter pin arrangement.
The wear associated with the bolt without
spring is reported to be reduced and continued adjustment due to wear is reduced
as well.