Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - model 5 gear pictures

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

model 5 gear pictures

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

kirkhull(at)kc.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:13 am Post subject: model 5 gear pictures

Is there anybody out there with a model 5 that is not covered that could take some pics of the area where the gear connects and the front seat supports(where the bungees would connect.  I am going to strengthen my classic 4 in these areas after I got some bent tubes and would like to see what changes were made to the model 5.   

  

       [quote][b]

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:19 am Post subject: model 5 gear pictures

Kirk,



I realize this is not a specific response to your question, but I know of 

several guys that eliminated the limit cables after Dr. Downhill bent his 

bungee bulkhead in a hard landing.  I guess the limit cables are to protect 

the prop from a ground strike, but there have been more reports of bulkhead 

failures than prop strikes.



Maybe lengthing the cables a bit might be prudent if they are left on.



Lowell Fitt

Cameron Park, CA

Model IV-1200 R-912 UL

Covering



---

akflyerbob

Joined: 06 Jan 2008
Posts: 30
Location: Soldotna, Alaska

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:31 am Post subject: Re: model 5 gear pictures

Thats bad advice

The cables are to keep the prop and "WING" from hitting

the ground. Even with broken bungees and bent gear

you can still fly home on the safety cable.

What should be eliminated is the HARD LANDINGS if possible.

Bob

_________________
Bob Wolfe..Soldotna, Alaska
KF Mod I and III

larry huntley

Joined: 19 Jul 2008
Posts: 149

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:13 am Post subject: model 5 gear pictures

Bulkhead damage OR a wing and a prop(and maybe engine crank)?? I think I 

might leave them on and practice landings.  OMO    Larry



---

_________________
Larry Huntley,Dundee,NY
Kitfox 4-1200 N234EE
EA81,AMAX Redrive Warp 3 blade

kirkhull(at)kc.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:23 pm Post subject: model 5 gear pictures

Right now the plan is to change to the grove gear. We have been kicking the

idea around for a while now anyway as my Step father and co-owner of the

plane is just now learning how to fly so there are bound to be some more

hard landings.  I have seen some pics of model 5's with out cover and

noticed a gusset on the side where the gear connects to the plane.  I would

like to add this to the plane and some good pictures showing location would

be great.  I got 1 from Kitfox but it is to close to really tell what tubes

it is covering.  Also if anybody has any pictures for a model4 with the

grove gear showing where it mounts those would also be helpful.

If anybody can help it would be greatly appreciated



Thanks 

Kirk hull

Kitfox Classic VI

N205AK Kansas City MO.



 



--

IMG_8157.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

70.85 KB

Viewed:

10318 Time(s)

f.miles.tcp.833(at)clearw
Guest

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject: model 5 gear pictures

I have a Mdl. III with the Grove gear, wheels and brakes. Much more stable

than the old gear and very forgiving. I have put about 70 hours on it and

would not go back. If I remember right, it is about six inches wider.



See attached picture. I think that the four is very similar.



Frank Miles

 

Lewiston, Idaho

 

--

Kitfox_Ja._2008.jpg

Description:

Filesize:

109.92 KB

Viewed:

10318 Time(s)

91JE_at_Wilson_Ranch_2008_(2).jpg

Description:

Filesize:

112.97 KB

Viewed:

10318 Time(s)

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:12 pm Post subject: model 5 gear pictures

Kirk-

Here are pictures of my IV with Grove gear. As you can see, the Grove  

gear uses the front two float brackets on each side, to mount the  

gear. I kept the picture size small to avoid a lengthy download.

This shot was taken during the temporary assembly stage, and does not  

show that actual hardware that I used.



Lynn Matteson

Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger

Jabiru 2200, #2062, 672.2 hrs

Sensenich 62x46 Wood prop

Electroair direct-fire ignition system

Status: flying





On Jun 11, 2009, at 9:23 PM, kirk hull wrote:



[quote] Right now the plan is to change to the grove gear. We have been  

 kicking the

 idea around for a while now anyway as my Step father and co-owner  

 of the

 plane is just now learning how to fly so there are bound to be some  

 more

 hard landings.  I have seen some pics of model 5's with out cover and

 noticed a gusset on the side where the gear connects to the plane.   

 I would

 like to add this to the plane and some good pictures showing  

 location would

 be great.  I got 1 from Kitfox but it is to close to really tell  

 what tubes

 it is covering.  Also if anybody has any pictures for a model4 with  

 the

 grove gear showing where it mounts those would also be helpful.

 If anybody can help it would be greatly appreciated



 Thanks

 Kirk hull

 Kitfox Classic VI

 N205AK Kansas City MO.



 --

000_0155.jpg

Description:

Filesize:

153.79 KB

Viewed:

10318 Time(s)

000_0157.jpg

Description:

Filesize:

98.56 KB

Viewed:

10318 Time(s)

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Joel

Joined: 06 Oct 2006
Posts: 57
Location: Bremerton, WA USA

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject: Re: model 5 gear pictures

A few more model 5 landing gear pix

DSCF0005.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

318.16 KB

Viewed:

10276 Time(s)

DSCF0004.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

315.83 KB

Viewed:

10276 Time(s)

DSCF0003.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

319.42 KB

Viewed:

10276 Time(s)

DSCF0002.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

316.39 KB

Viewed:

10276 Time(s)

DSCF0001.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

312.31 KB

Viewed:

10276 Time(s)

_________________
Joel Mapes Kitfox 5 912 ULS Aerocomp amphibs

akflyer

Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 574
Location: Soldotna AK

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:44 pm Post subject: Re: model 5 gear pictures

One suggestion based on personal experience.  Dont put the safety cable on the end of the gear leg like yours is now.  Put it inside the cluster where the rear kicker comes in.  My Avid, and my Brothers kitfox BOTH had a gear failure from cracking that started at the toe of the weld where the rear tube comes in.  With the bungies on you cant see the cracks starting.  On my Avid the result was the leg broke off and the cable had nothing to hold up so over he went (but I did get a damn good deal on a bent airplane because that was the second time it had happened and he was not able to repair it the second time).  On my brother KF II the exact same thing happened but we were both in it.  bounced a little but not bad, when he came back down the gear folded and over we went.  Kinda ruined the day for us both and cost a few bucks for him to fix.  It could have been prevented in both cases if the safety cable was located in an area that was not prone to breaking.  If you have to change the gear, you would have to cut the cables, but that is a very small price to pay to keep the bird in one piece in the event of a gear failure.

_________________
DO NOT ARCHIVE
Leonard Perry aka SNAKE
Soldotna AK
Avid "C" / Mk IV
582 (147 hrs and counting on the rebuild)
IVO IFA
Full Lotus 1450
#1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009

I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die....

Fox5flyer
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:45 am Post subject: model 5 gear pictures

Good topic.  Actually, I think I would have to lean toward Lowell on this. 

Bob, I'm sure up in the far north where you are, having to walk out is not 

an option and I understand your priority with the limit cables.  However, I 

saw photos of what those cables did to a guy's airplane and it was, IMO, 

much worse than a dinged prop or wing tip and I removed mine after that. 

That bulkhead is a pretty complex piece to replace and I sure wouldn't want 

to be faced with that after just making a hard landing.

Additionally, I don't think that was the purpose of the cables anyway. As I 

recall they were recommended to limit the travel of the gear if the 

bungie(s) were to let go.   A hard landing would have to be "extremely" hard 

to spread the gear out enough to cause any sort of prop damage.  A landing 

that hard would almost certainly cause other serious problems too.

As Lowell said, if keeping them is important, then lengthen them enough so a 

hard landing won't ever reach the limit point and give yourself peace of 

mind that they will save you if a bungie breaks.

I won't go on about practicing landings because pretty much everyone makes a 

crappy one occasionally no matter how good they are.  One thing that one 

does have control over is the quality of the bungies, how tight they are, 

and how often they are replaced.

Also taking Leni's advice and moving the cables to a more robust part of the 

bulkhead would give a longer travel and a lesser chance of causing damage.

Deke Morisse

Mikado Michigan

S5/Subaru/CAP 417+ TT

"The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress."

- Joseph Joubert



---

akflyer

Joined: 07 May 2007
Posts: 574
Location: Soldotna AK

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:35 am Post subject: Re: model 5 gear pictures

This will give you a visual.



The bottom pic is a shot of the gear leg where the bungee wraps around on my brothers KF II.  As you can see from the rust it was cracked for awhile before it turned loose on a hard landing.  This is right at the toe of the weld where one would expect a crack to start, and the pic represents exactly what also happened to my Avid TWICE before I got it.



Take it with a grain of salt, after all, I do sell snake oil lol

gear leg copy.jpg

Description:

Filesize:

148.56 KB

Viewed:

10198 Time(s)

DSC06034.JPG

Description:

Filesize:

606.83 KB

Viewed:

10198 Time(s)

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum