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tricycle conversion

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dave.go

Joined: 20 Jul 2009
Posts: 26

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:36 am Post subject: tricycle conversion

I emailed the factory and confirmed that a nose wheel conversion is available for my Model IV - 1050. It's pricey enough to discourage me for just now but I might follow up in a few months. Has anyone actually tried and flown a Model IV with the tricycle gear? I understand I be giving up landing on sandbars, farmers fields, and all sorts of out of the way places. I can live with all that. I would be interested in how the nose wheel affects flight, eases landings etc. Just for info.      [quote][b]

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dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 9:46 am Post subject: Re: tricycle conversion

Dave,



I have flown a Trigear Mod 2 and since then converted it to a taildragger for the owner. 



Plane handles excellent on the ground but you could go off the runway if you decide to not steer it. ( lazy feet)



I do not think the owner will change it back and he a low time pilot.

You seem to have some reservation on your Kitfox -- 582 not  trusted now taildragger not right. My current Mod IV I have over 2000 hours on it on 582 alone and never had a engine failure.  Kitfox are a great, fun airplane and they are what you make of it.  



I have over 200 videos on youtube  and the Kitfox is a blast.

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_________________
Realtime Kitfox movies to separate the internet chatter from the truth
http://www.youtube.com/user/kitfoxflyer
Hundreds of Kitfox Movies
Most viewed Kitfox on youtube
Most popular on youtube
Highest rated on youtube

occom

Joined: 26 Aug 2006
Posts: 404

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 12:19 pm Post subject: tricycle conversion

I wouldn't say I have reservations as such.  My 582 works quite well, but I

have not had enough hours behind it to allow me to completely dismiss all

the horror stories people like to tell. As far as the tricycle gear goes, I

am having a little trouble learning to cope with the tailwheel on landing

and am a little frustrated. The plane flies fine and any landing problem are

with me not the aircraft. OTOH two of the major differences between this and

the little Cessna I used to rent are tailwheel and the screaming little

motor, I'm still coming to grips with both of them. 



[quote] --

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lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:41 pm Post subject: tricycle conversion

Dave, the Kitfox is notoriously squirrely  on landing.  For the most part, I 

believe because the bungee gear comes from the factory seriously toed in.  I 

checked my new to me 1992 gear and it was toed in almost three degrees per 

side.  This gear had never been on an airplane and was in new out of the box 

condition.  Toed in is very destabilizing especially on roll out.  I might 

suggest that you check the wheel alignment and if  toed in use the muscle 

method to tweak the gear into alignment and see if it helps.  It is a much 

less expensive and simpler trick than replacing the engine mount and adding 

the nose gear.



Lowell



--------------------------------------------------

From: "Dave " <occom(at)ns.sympatico.ca>

Sent: Friday, August 26, 2011 1:16 PM

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: RE: Re: tricycle conversion



[quote] 



 I wouldn't say I have reservations as such.  My 582 works quite well, but 

 I

 have not had enough hours behind it to allow me to completely dismiss all

 the horror stories people like to tell. As far as the tricycle gear goes, 

 I

 am having a little trouble learning to cope with the tailwheel on landing

 and am a little frustrated. The plane flies fine and any landing problem 

 are

 with me not the aircraft. OTOH two of the major differences between this 

 and

 the little Cessna I used to rent are tailwheel and the screaming little

 motor, I'm still coming to grips with both of them.



> --

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Tommy Walker

Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 442
Location: Anniston, AL 36207

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: tricycle conversion

Excuse me for butting in....



I know nothing! (As Shultz used to say) about tail draggers, but I noticed in the Kitfox catalog they sell some shims to correct that problem.  Or at least that's what it looked like to me.



Tommy Walker in Alabama

Do Not Archive.....



[quote="dave.go"]Toed in is very destabilizing especially on roll out. I might 

suggest that you check the wheel alignment and if toed in use the muscle 

method to tweak the gear into alignment and see if it helps. It is a much 

less expensive and simpler trick than replacing the engine mount and adding 

the nose gear.   	  Quote: 	
		  [b]

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_________________
Tommy Walker
N25A - Anniston, AL

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:30 pm Post subject: tricycle conversion

Tommy,



You are correct providing the airplane has either the Grove aluminum spring 

gear or their new Bush Gear with the bolt on axles. The original factory 

gear came with a welded tube that the axle is inserted into and fastened 

with a single bolt through the butt end.  The only way to correct the 

alignment on these gear legs is to secure the airplane solid and muscle them 

into alignment with brute force.  It can be done.  Denney in the old days 

wrote an article on it in the Kitrox Times, their quarterly builders 

newsletter.



Lowell



--------------------------------------------------

From: "Tommy Walker" <twalker(at)cableone.net>

Sent: Friday, August 26, 2011 2:46 PM

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Re: tricycle conversion



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Excuse me for butting in....



 I know nothing! (As Shultz used to say) about tail draggers, but I noticed 

 in the Kitfox catalog they sell some shims to correct that problem.  Or at 

 least that's what it looked like to me.



 Tommy Walker in Alabama

 Do Not Archive.....



 [quote="dave.go"]I emailed the factory and confirmed that a nose wheel 

 conversion is available for my Model IV - 1050. It's pricey enough to 

 discourage me for just now but I might follow up in a few months. Has 

 anyone actually tried and flown a Model IV with the tricycle gear? I 

 understand I be giving up landing on sandbars, farmers fields, and all 

 sorts of out of the way places. I can live with all that. I would be 

 interested in how the nose wheel affects flight, eases landings etc. Just 

 for info.

> [b]

 --------

 Tommy Walker

 N8701  -  Anniston, AL





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=350673#350673

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7suds(at)Chartermi.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:21 pm Post subject: tricycle conversion

Tommy,

When I did my Model 4 it was done exactly as Lowell is describing, brute

force.  I snapped a line on the floor of my garage and dropped 2 plumb bobs

from the fuselage to the line to square the plane over it. I then used two

8' aluminum angles against the ends of the axles and squared with a

machinist's square (I did this with my tires off), then measured to the

center line fore and aft. Then you know what axle needs to go what way and

how much, I used a piece of solid shaft that fit snuggly through the tube

where the axle is attached, (I had to pull the axle out each time), I would

slip it through so I had several feet out each side, then as Lowell

mentioned, start pulling. I had to tweak on them several times and each time

I would have to slip the axle back in, re-plumb and check. Once I had it I

put the plane in flight attitude and checked again (Wheel landing position).

I was not looking for perfection but I wanted them close and toed out both

at both 3-point and wheel landing attitudes. If you are having trouble with

darting on landing, this may be your problem.



Lloyd



--

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