Matronics Email Lists :: View topic

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

tail wheel fun

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kitfox-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:08 am Post subject: tail wheel fun

I thought I would give a report on a little tail wheel experience that I had a couple weeks ago.  First off, I have a home builders tail wheel.  Second, the temps outside was 25degrees f.  I went out to fly and was having a good time doing main wheel touches and decided it was time to land.  I came in slow and did a three point land, as soon as I touched I was all over the place, major right then left after correction.  I did a go around and tried a wheel landing trying to figure out what was happening, nice and smooth until the rear wheel touched, then it was all over the place again, I came to a stop and taxied a little to make sure the tail wheel was hopefully locked in, seemed to be.  I took back off and went to the other runway this time and landed, nice and straight and on track.  Got to the hanger and shut down and proceeded to back it into the t-hangar and found the tail wheel was having a terrible time locking in.



I went to the shop and got my grease gun with Amzoil grease.  I went back to the hangar and raised the rear of the plane and greased the wheel and made sure all the old grease came out and the wheel locked and unlocked.  This made a huge difference on the tail wheel, works perfect now.  I suggest the Amzoil grease be used in both the tail wheel and the main wheel bearings.  I went and did an experiment and repacked the left wheel and left the right one with the old grease in it.  Then I went up and watched the wheels on both take off and wheel touch and goes and wow that left wheel free rolls a lot more than the right, I have the same preload on both.  I went and did the right side and it now turns like the left.  This stuff is great, expecially in the cold.



kitfoxmike

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:58 am Post subject: tail wheel fun

Mike ,



I find the same on my Matco tailwheel ,  keep it greased.

I use that blue grease ( lithium ?  not sure) , same as we use to sno 

machines, farm equip and everything.

Amsoil ?  I have no idea but if it is synthetic it is possbile that is will 

attract moisture and not repel it.

Dave

---

_________________
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

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:09 am Post subject: Re: tail wheel fun

I also wiped off all grease.  Plus I decided to put grease in the wheel  monthy. which for me is about 50 hrs.  Good note on the lithium grease though.

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:35 am Post subject: tail wheel fun

Mike,   After this king fox vidoe on the weekend the tailwheel was frozen a 

gain as well as most of the controls

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=kitfoxflyer



Hosed it down and  it thawed, then re - greased that tailwheel .



If we get everyone on this list to do a 10 minute movie each - well then we 

can get our own site like KITFOXTUBE.com     lol

would be the ultimate and show those supercub hardcore guys that there is 

life beyond a Piper product

  < snicker>

btw  if you search on youtue for supercub hardcore i made a treat for you 

guys

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=supercub+hardcore





Dave

---

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:45 am Post subject: Re: tail wheel fun

Dave,

great idea, I have a nice vid camera and I want to make some, just too cold and I need to get the boy out on the runway to take pics.  I see that you are 47, I turned 49 last August.  I also put my heat gun in the hangar for when the door wheels decide to freeze and for any thing like the tail wheel freezing, works good.

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:11 am Post subject: Re: tail wheel fun

also, the heat I use is the 1500 watt gun.  When I use a heat gun on fabric for those occational wrinkles, I use a heat gun used on monokote for remote aircraft.

Bob

Joined: 24 Oct 2006
Posts: 89
Location: Damascus, Maryland, USA

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: tail wheel fun

I need to forward this to my boss, who owns a nose-wheel RV-9!  

Good grief, Dave, how many flights per prop do you get with eating water like that?    Seriously, I see that this was a test, but I am curious if you got any erosion of the leading edge and what type of prop it is?

Thanks

Bob

_________________
Remember that internet advice may only be worth what you pay.

Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject: tail wheel fun

On Jan 16, 2007, at 7:34 PM, dave wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   If we get everyone on this list to do a 10 minute movie each - well 

 then we can get our own site like KITFOXTUBE.com     lol


	


That would be great, Dave, but we already have:

http://kitfox.lazair.com/

with Kitfox video. Should we try to regroup everything in one place?



Cheers,

Michel



do not archive

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:54 pm Post subject: tail wheel fun

GSC prop,  one or two erosion spots on the urethane leading edge.

I have  got alot more marks on rough days on floats though.   Usually  "IF" 

I am on floats I have a urethane taped tips but mostly use a WARP prop on 

floats with no erosion.

I was suprised that there was not more marks on it but hey it was about 25F 

that day  and it was freezing on impact.  So maybe that helped   

Dave

---

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:22 pm Post subject: Re: tail wheel fun

instead of being called, response to mowing the grass, it should be boys playing in the mud.

dosmythe(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject: tail wheel fun

Dave,

    I was more concerned about an engine seizure rather than a prop.  On a 

25 degree day going from power off to full throttle can be risky.  One other 

video was engine off , restart, full throttle (cold day).  Don't you worry 

about an engine seizure?



Don Smythe

---

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject: tail wheel fun

hehe   YUP !!



I used to be big into  4 wheeling in the late 70s to early 80s

I was the first guy to do a  4  x  4  Pinto  that was 6 feet tall with 350 

HP plus used to do serious off roading.



Dave





---

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject: tail wheel fun

Lithium is the milky white grease.  As the lithium in it oxidizes it gets

darker.  Blue may be Teflon.



Noel

Do not archive... Ok.

[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: tail wheel fun

The teflon grease I have is blue and in a can. THis stuff is fluffy, real light, like wipped cream.  I use it on the splines in drive lines.

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:53 pm Post subject: tail wheel fun

I was on the Lazair sight the other night and I don't think it's any where

near back to fully operational.



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:33 pm Post subject: tail wheel fun

You got me...  



The last Teflon grease I had was believe it or not pink.  It turns as hard

as a rock when the temperature drops.  I had a small supply of light green

Teflon grease a few years ago.  It was the only thing I could use on the

dryer section of photographic processors that didn't pick up all kinds of

dust.  I expect there are different weights/types of Teflon grease....  Then

again the label should tell you all you need to know.



Noel

Do not archive.

[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

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