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FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

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WhiskeyVictor36(at)aol.co
Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 6:56 pm Post subject: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

Hi Guys,

  

 My Original FireStar has suffered some damage.  In January a  severe wind storm caused an 80' tall pine tree to snap off at the  40' high point, which then fell onto my hangar.  The hangar is one of those  instant car garages, consisting of round metal roof rafters and a canvas  cover.  It is 12' wide X 24' long and I fold the wings on the Kolb to park  it inside.  The tree fell onto the hangar longitudely, that is,  it did not fall directly on top of the Kolb (well a few branches did) because it  hit slightly off the center line on the left side.  But, the  hangar rafters were bent down and they contacted the left folded wing,  destroying the aileron, leading and trailing wing spars, bent some ribs and the  bow tip was crumpled.  The main spar was ok.  Since the wing was  pushed downward really hard, it tore out the wing support cross tube that goes  thru the boom tube. Both of the outer ends of the elevators were  damaged.  Rudder was OK.  The tail wheel, which was sitting in the  tail wheel dolly, was broken at the welded joint and the fiberglass tail spring  rod was broken where it exits the steel tube on the plane.  Some other  damage was: Dented muffler, but still usable; Fuselage fabric support  bent down and fabric torn on left side.

  

 I have already rebuilt the wing, built a new aileron and repaired the  elevators.  Also have stripped all the fabric off the fuselage (it was  15 years old) and will recover it.

  

 Question.  I got a new 3/4" aluminum tail wheel  rod/spring from Travis.  It fits kind of loose into both the tail  wheel bracket and the steel fuselage tube.  What is a good way to shim this  to make a better fit.  (The original fiberglass rod was epoxied in place  and was a bear to drill out.  I don't want to do that to the metal  rod.)

  

 Bill  Varnes

Original Kolb FireStar

Audubon  NJ

  [quote][b]

Jimmy Young

Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 182
Location: Missouri City, TX

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:42 am Post subject: Re: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

Bill,



I had a similar problem with a gear leg repair. I used some aluminum tape to take up the slack. It worked fine for me. 



Sorry to hear about the damage report, good luck with it.

_________________
Jimmy Young
Missouri City, TX
Kolb FS II/HKS 700

slyck(at)frontiernet.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 5:27 am Post subject: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

Bill, you could try cleaning out the tube ends and smearing a coating of epoxy inside and then drilling or honing to a good fit.I think someone makes epoxy with little metal particles in it.

Since it's not a safety in flight area a little experimentation wouldn't hurt.

BB



On 28, Jun 2010, at 10:55 PM, WhiskeyVictor36(at)aol.com (WhiskeyVictor36(at)aol.com) wrote:

[quote]  Hi Guys,

  

 My Original FireStar has suffered some damage.  In January a  severe wind storm caused an 80' tall pine tree to snap off at the  40' high point, which then fell onto my hangar.  The hangar is one of those  instant car garages, consisting of round metal roof rafters and a canvas  cover.  It is 12' wide X 24' long and I fold the wings on the Kolb to park  it inside.  The tree fell onto the hangar longitudely, that is,  it did not fall directly on top of the Kolb (well a few branches did) because it  hit slightly off the center line on the left side.  But, the  hangar rafters were bent down and they contacted the left folded wing,  destroying the aileron, leading and trailing wing spars, bent some ribs and the  bow tip was crumpled.  The main spar was ok.  Since the wing was  pushed downward really hard, it tore out the wing support cross tube that goes  thru the boom tube. Both of the outer ends of the elevators were  damaged.  Rudder was OK.  The tail wheel, which was sitting in the  tail wheel dolly, was broken at the welded joint and the fiberglass tail spring  rod was broken where it exits the steel tube on the plane.  Some other  damage was: Dented muffler, but still usable; Fuselage fabric support  bent down and fabric torn on left side.

  

 I have already rebuilt the wing, built a new aileron and repaired the  elevators.  Also have stripped all the fabric off the fuselage (it was  15 years old) and will recover it.

  

 Question.  I got a new 3/4" aluminum tail wheel  rod/spring from Travis.  It fits kind of loose into both the tail  wheel bracket and the steel fuselage tube.  What is a good way to shim this  to make a better fit.  (The original fiberglass rod was epoxied in place  and was a bear to drill out.  I don't want to do that to the metal  rod.)

  

 Bill  Varnes

Original Kolb FireStar

Audubon  NJ

   	  Quote: 	
		  

	


[b]

by0ung(at)brigham.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 6:04 am Post subject: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

Question.  I got a new 3/4" aluminum tail wheel  rod/spring from Travis.  It fits kind of loose into both the tail  wheel bracket and the steel fuselage tube.  What is a good way to shim this  to make a better fit.  (The original fiberglass rod was epoxied in place  and was a bear to drill out.  I don't want to do that to the metal  rod.)

  

 Bill  Varnes

Original Kolb FireStar

Audubon NJ

[quote]

[quote]>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>if you put a small amount of silicone rubber on the tail rod, and inside the socket,    bolt it in place and wipe off the excess,  let it sit a couple days till the silicone sets up before putting on the ground.  the rod will be much more solid.  but if you need to get it out you can twist and break the silicone looseand pull it out.  it will also keep the rust out.boyd young mkiii [b]

John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 6:19 am Post subject: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

Boyd:

  

 I did that once, used silicone seal on the tail  wheel strut.

  

 Upon removal, some time later, I discovered  extensive corrosion.

  

 I don't use silicone seal on 4130  anymore.

  

 john h

 mkIII

  

  

 [quote]    if you put a small    amount of silicone rubber on the tail rod, and inside the    socket,    

    	  Quote: 	
		  bolt it in place and wipe off the excess,  let it sit a couple days till the silicone sets up before putting on the ground.  the rod will be much more solid.  but if you need to get it out you can twist and break the silicone looseand pull it out.  it will also keep the rust out.boyd young mkiii 	


[b]

_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

zeprep251(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 6:48 am Post subject: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

Bill,

 Seems like all of them fit a little loose.I tried this and it works really well.first hacksaw 2 cuts in the tube end,one vertical and one horizontal,which lets the tube end compress around the new rod.Also drilled a new hole through the tube and rod, (near the old hole) for good register at that attach point.Its a 2 piece aluminum clamp using counter sunk cap screws.

 G.Aman MK-3C

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by0ung(at)brigham.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:13 pm Post subject: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

john

 when i pulled mine apart i found no corosion at  all....    as i remember  i had run some epoxy primer  on the inside before assembly.  i may recheck for the fun of  it.

  

  

 boyd

  

  

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  

  

  

  Boyd:

  

 I did that once, used silicone seal on the tail  wheel strut.

  

 Upon removal, some time later, I discovered  extensive corrosion.

  

 I don't use silicone seal on 4130  anymore.

  

 john h

 mkIII

  

  

 [quote]    if you put a small    amount of silicone rubber on the tail rod, and inside the    socket,    

    	  Quote: 	
		  bolt it in place and wipe off the excess,  let it sit a couple days till the silicone sets up before putting on the ground.  the rod will be much more solid.  but if you need to get it out you can twist and break the silicone looseand pull it out.  it will also keep the rust out.boyd young mkiii 	


[b]

herbgh(at)nctc.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 6:24 pm Post subject: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

Non acetic acid silicone is likely less reactive with cro molly steel.. Herb 



 

 At 12:54 PM 6/29/2010, you wrote:

 [quote] 

 john

 when i pulled mine apart i found no corosion at all....    as i remember  i had run some epoxy primer on the inside before assembly.  i may recheck for the fun of it.

  

  

 boyd

  

  

  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  

  

  

 Boyd:

  

 I did that once, used silicone seal on the tail wheel strut.

  

 Upon removal, some time later, I discovered extensive corrosion.

  

 I don't use silicone seal on 4130 anymore.

  

 john h

 mkIII

  

  

    if you put a small amount of silicone rubber on the tail rod, and inside the socket,    

 [/b]

   	  Quote: 	
		  bolt it in place and

wipe off the excess, 

[/b] 	


   	  Quote: 	
		  let it sit a couple

days till the silicone sets up before putting on the ground. 

[/b] 	


   	  Quote: 	
		  the rod will be much

more solid.  but if you need to get it out you can twist and break

the silicone

loose[/b] 	


   	  Quote: 	
		  and pull it out. 

it will also keep the rust

out.[/b] 	


   	  Quote: 	
		  boyd young

mkiii[/b] 	


   	  Quote: 	
		   	


  

 [b]

WhiskeyVictor36(at)aol.co
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 7:12 pm Post subject: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

To:  Jimmy Young, Bill Sullivan, Gene Zimmerman, BB, Boyd  Young, John Hauck and Herb,

   	  Quote: 	
		     Regarding my    Question:  I got a new 3/4" aluminum tail wheel    rod/spring from Travis.  It fits kind of loose into both the tail    wheel bracket and the steel fuselage tube.  What is a good way to shim    this to make a better fit?

    

   Thanks to all of you for giving me some good ideas to modify    the tail rod installation.  I am leaning toward using metal tape wrapped    around the rod for a snug fit.  In fact I already tried it on the tail    wheel end and it works great.

    

   Bill Varnes

Original Kolb FireStar

Audubon  NJ

	


  [quote][b]

Chris_A

Joined: 20 Jun 2010
Posts: 20
Location: Mustang OK

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

I used this for mine loctite 660 press fit repair



http://www.loctite.sg/sea/content_data/93755_Loctite_660_Quick_Metal_Retaining_Compound.pdf

WhiskeyVictor36(at)aol.co
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 12:28 pm Post subject: FireStar Tail Wheel Rod/Spring

In a message dated 7/2/2010 12:56:08 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  50calibercruiser(at)cox.net writes:

   	  Quote: 	
		     I used this for mine loctite 660 press fit repair

    

   Chris,

    

   Thanks for the suggestion.

        Bill Varnes

Original Kolb FireStar

Audubon NJ

Do Not    Archive



	


  [quote][b]

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