FLEX INNOVATIONS RV-8 70CC FLS Float Set Instruction Manual
- June 13, 2024
- Flex Innovations
Table of Contents
FLEX RV-8 70CC FLS Float Set
Product Information: FLEX INNOVATIONS RV8 70cc FLS FLOAT
The FLEX INNOVATIONS RV8 70cc FLS FLOAT is a float kit designed for use with the RV8 70cc aircraft. It allows the aircraft to land and take off from water surfaces. The kit includes main float struts, front cross and joiner struts, rear struts, landing gear mounts, bolts, washers, lock nuts, and a scoop.
Product Usage Instructions
- Before installing the float kit, ensure that you are using the recommended Aura 8 Pro and that the rudder servo is moving in the correct direction.
- To allow the servo extension to pass through, make a slot as shown in the picture below and close the servo with the supplied cover using clear tape or clear silicone for added security.
- Start with the main float struts installation. Place the two floats on a flat table and separate them. Each float has two ears where the struts are attached. Push the strut through the float slot, ensuring that the notch on the main strut aligns with the inside float structure. Install the front and rear main struts.
- For the front cross and joiner struts installation, locate the two front cross struts. One is slightly longer than the other. Insert a 4mm x 20mm hex head bolt and flat washer into one end of a joiner strut. Insert the bolt through the bent end of the longer cross strut and drive it through the ear hole with the screw to the landing gear main strut. Repeat this procedure with the shorter struts on the right float.
- Once the front cross and joiner struts are installed, they should resemble the pictures provided.
- For the rear struts installation, take the other joiner strut and insert a 4mm x 20mm hex head bolt and flat washer into one end. Insert the bolt through the bent end of one of the rear cross struts and drive it through the float ear hole with the bolt, screwing it to the main rear strut. Repeat this procedure with the other strut on the other float.
- Secure the float to the fuselage by inserting a 4mm x 25mm hex head bolt, flat washer, and lock nut through the right rear hole of the landing gear mount. For the rear mount, use two 4mm x 25mm hex head bolts and flat washers. Ensure that the cross struts’ notches prevent interference. Use blue thread lock to secure the bolts.
- After securing the float to the fuselage, apply blue thread lock to the float ear bolts. It is recommended to remove each bolt, apply blue thread lock, and then re-install and tighten the bolts. Repeat this process for all four ear bolts.
- If you have already opened the bottom air exit, you can use the provided scoop to prevent water from entering the fuselage.
FLEX INNOVATIONS RV8 70cc FLS FLOAT INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Water Rudder Installation
- The RV8 70cc FLS Float kit it is supplied with two water-rudders. We recommend using only one as it is not necessary to have two.
- You can install the water rudder on the right float or left float, it is your choice.
- Take one of the water rudders and install using (2) 3mm x 15mm hex head bolts.
- The float has blind nuts installed. Using a 2.5mm driver install the 3mm screw. Apply blue thread lock. Once installed, drill a 6.25mm (1/4”) hole as shown the picture.
- Once the hole is drilled, install the rubber cover. Adding a little bit of white grease will help seal the pushrod from water and reduce friction.
- Insert the pushrod through the hole of the rubber cover. The threaded side of the pushrod stays outside of the float.
- Once in place install the 2.5mm ball link on the pushrod. Then install the ball link to the water rudder using the 2mm x 12mm hex head bolt washer and nut. It is recommended to apply blue thread lock to the bolt
Water-Rudder Servo Installation
- Use a good quality servo and mount the servo as shown in the picture below.
- Use a stock plastic servo arm and install the provided swivel.
- Note: If you are using a “Y” harness to rudder servo install the swivel in the most inner hole of the servo arm.
- You will need one 36in servo extension to reach the RX.
- Connect the servo to the receiver to center the servo and proceed to adjust the pushrod length.
- With water rudder servo arm at 90 degrees the water rudder should be in neutral position.
- Adjust the end travel points if you are not using “Y” harness.
Note: If you are using the recommended Aura 8 Pro, use a Y harness to the rudder servo. Verify if servo is moving in correct direction.
Make a slot as show in the picture below to allow the servo extension to pass
through.
Complete this section by closing the servo by with the cover supplied. Use a
good quality clear tape. If you are super confident on your servo and
installation you can apply clear silicone.
Main Float Struts installation
There are two main struts. These two main struts look like a narrow landing
gear. The front it has an angle forward just like the landing gear. The rear
it is straight down.
Place the two floats on a flat table and separate each other as they were on
the airplane. Each float has two “ears” where the struts are attached. Push
the strut thru the float slot. The main strut has a notch that must align with
the inside float structure. Install the front and rear main struts. 
Front Cross and Joiner Struts Installation
Locate the two front cross struts. The front cross struts are 18mm wide and
does not have any slot. One is slightly longer than the other. See below
picture:
There is a total of two joiners. These are 12mm wide and the same length, so they work for the front or rear. See below picture.
You must install the longer cross strut into the front “ear” of left float.
Take one of the joiner struts and in one of its ends, insert a 4mm x 20mm hex
head bolt and flat washer and place in the joiner hole. Then insert the bolt
through bent end that has a shallower angle of the longer strut. Drive the
bolt through the “ear” hole with the screw to the landing gear main strut. Do
not fully tight the bolt yet.
Repeat this same procedure with the shorter struts on the right float.
Once the front joiner and cross struts are installed on the fuselage, they
will look like the pictures below: 
Front Cross and Joiner Struts Installation
Locate the two rear struts. These are 18mm wide and has a notch that allow the
struts to cross. Both struts have the same dimension so they can be used on
either side.
Take the other joiner struts and in one of the ends insert a 4mm x 20mm hex
head bolt and flat washer and place in the joiner hole. Then take any of the
two rear cross struts and insert the bolt through the bent end that has a
shallower angle of the strut. Drive through the float “ear” hole with bolt,
and screw to the main rear strut. Do not fully tight the bolt.
Repeat this same procedure with the other strut on the other float. 
Float installation to the fuselage
- The front main struts are to be mounted to the landing gear mount. The rear main struts are to be mounted to the float mount. Note, that for the float mount you will have to open the covering.
- Place the fuselage flat and upside down with no landing gear.
- Take the complete float set and place the main struts of the floats onto the float mounts located on fuselage.
- The front main struts must be placed with the two-front holes of the landing gear mount.
- Using two of the existing landing gear 4mm x 25mm hex head bolts, 4mm flat washer and 4mm lock nuts, mount the main front strut float to the fuselage. The shorter cross strut would go on top of the main strut and front left hole of the landing gear mount.
- The longer cross strut would be bolted to the right rear hole of the landing gear mount. For that use 4mm x 25mm hex head bolt, 4mm flat washer and 4mm lock nut.
- For the rear mount use two 4mm x 25mm hex head bolts and 4mm flat washer. The cross struts has notches to prevent interference. See picture below. Use blue thread lock.
Final Adjustments
Once the float has been secured and tighten to the fuselage, it is time to go
back to the float “ear” bolts and apply blue thread lock. It is recommended to
remove the bolt, apply blue thread lock and re-install, and tighten the bolts.
Do this with all four “ear” bolts.
The float kit also provides a scoop. If you have already opened the bottom air
exit, you can use the scoop to prevent water getting into the fuselage.
Regarding the water-rudder servo wire, we recommend making a hole in the fuselage in your area of choice. Use some silicone to seal and protect the wire hole from water.
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