Gear wiring cleanup, packed bearings, re-mounted brake reservoir | 11.7.2020

In building a kit, I've heard others use the phrase, "Don't let perfect be the enemy of done." Basically, if you hyper-focused on getting every single detail exactly perfect, nothing will ever be complete, because there's just too much stuff. The next thing is the perfect example of this, but I just couldn't let it be, because wiring is one of my "things".

The gear control box by Composite Designs is awesome, because it's *done*; you don't need to wire anything, you don't need to think about the wiring diagrams, you just plug it in, mount a few sensors, and your gear system is *done*. The only issue with this is that the wiring comes in a pre-determined length with connectors on the ends ready to go. Obviously for variance between install locations and whatnot, there's slack in the lines.

For the nose gear wiring in particular, there was about 3 feet of extra wiring. I could have just pulled it back and folded it over and zip tied it and been done with it, but then I'd have a whole bundle of excess wire, and that just bugs me for some reason. So instead, I wasted a solid two hours (that could have been spent making progress on other parts of the plane) "fixing" the wiring. Basically I cut everything to length and then heat shrunk new jacket on and crimped new connectors perfectly to length.

Somehow I don't have a before of the mess, but I do have the after. Wiring now zip-tied in place and perfect length.

The wiring running up the hydraulic line on the left was shortened. It goes into the keel as well.

I also moved the brake fluid reservoir from the original location to one accessible under the nose cover thanks to a conversation with Chad. This location will allow you to add/check fluid easily if needed.

This was adhesived in place and then also screwed in place.

I also picked up a bearing packer and packed both side wheel bearings, 4 in total.

- Jeff