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Door Locks?

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Nick(at)Scholtes1.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:38 pm Post subject: Door Locks?

All,



I envision taking my 'Fox to places where I want to leave it sit on the 

ramp unattended for a while.  Is a locking mechanism for the KitFox IV 

doors already invented?  Does someone have plans, or is there an 

aftermarket device?  I've studied it, and don't want to re-invent the 

wheel if I don't have to.



Best,



Nick

kitfox69(at)earthlink.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:14 pm Post subject: Door Locks?

Hi Nick,



    A trick I used and it works well, is to dispense with any knobs outside

the door and just insert a home made key bent in a "L"shape out of 1/8

round stock. Put it on your key chain and just place it in the slot on the

outside, engaging the hole on the striker and slide it back. Works great

and would take someone with "ill intent" a while to figure out. Recently, I

added a cover over the slot to further foil evil doers. It's just a 1 inch

X 3/8 inch piece of light aluminum flashing, ends rounded, with a

 rivet in one end. Turn it down outa the way, insert your homegrown key,

and WALA! , the door she has opened!



Regards,  Floyd

 	  Quote: 	
		   [Original Message]

 From: Nick Scholtes <Nick(at)Scholtes1.com>

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

 Date: 3/7/2007 4:44:47 PM

 Subject: Door Locks?



 



 All,



 I envision taking my 'Fox to places where I want to leave it sit on the 

 ramp unattended for a while.  Is a locking mechanism for the KitFox IV 

 doors already invented?  Does someone have plans, or is there an 

 aftermarket device?  I've studied it, and don't want to re-invent the 

 wheel if I don't have to.



 Best,



 Nick

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: Door Locks?

I went to the aviation dept. at home base and got a lock with a lever, for a cabinet, and put it on the door when locked it holds the door to the fuse.  On the other door I put a bolt in the lock mechanism, I have one in each door to keep them both from opening in flight, held in place with mech. wire.  Next time I'm at the plane I'll take some pics.

tleiss(at)earthlink.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject: Door Locks?

I also have the Tool Box type key lock with the swinging arm.  Mine are on

both sides, with same key..I'll try to remember to take photos too..



Todd Leiss

Model IV Speedster

Merritt Island, FL

 	  Quote: 	
		   [Original Message]

 From: kitfoxmike <customtrans(at)qwest.net>

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

 Date: 3/7/2007 6:42:43 PM

 Subject: Re: Door Locks?



 



 I went to the aviation dept. at home base and got a lock with a lever,

for a cabinet, and put it on the door when locked it holds the door to the
	


fuse.  On the other door I put a bolt in the lock mechanism, I have one in

each door to keep them both from opening in flight, held in place with

mech. wire.  Next time I'm at the plane I'll take some pics.

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 --------

 kitfoxmike

 model IV, 1200

 speedster

 912ul

 Do not archive





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=99357#99357

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:57 pm Post subject: Door Locks?

I installed my door latch with bolts that go thru the

frame and door skin.  These bolts have hex heads, so a

hex-key on my key-ring works.  Not foolproof, but a

deterant to those not too mechanically enclined.



I worry about crash crew/first on sceen responders

being able to open the doors without some tool in case

of an accident where I am not able to open from the

inside. Comments?  I am sure a determined person will

get a KitFox's door open.



Had a friend with a Tri-Champ (Nose gear under the

rear seat) who's plane was borken into.  Caused $400

damage to the door in order to steal a $30 CB radio. 

The door was not locked!  Apparently the thief

couldn't even operate a Champ door handle???



Kurt S.



--- Nick Scholtes <Nick(at)Scholtes1.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   All,

 

 I envision taking my 'Fox to places where I want to

 leave it sit on the 

 ramp unattended for a while.  Is a locking mechanism

 for the KitFox IV 

 doors already invented?  Does someone have plans, or

 is there an 

 aftermarket device?  I've studied it, and don't want

 to re-invent the wheel if I don't have to.

 

 Best,

 

 Nick


	




 

Bored stiff? Loosen up... 

Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games.

http://games.yahoo.com/games/front

Float Flyr

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

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:52 pm Post subject: Door Locks?

These are very light built planes not bank vaults.... If thieves will break

in through the window of a car don't kid yourself thinking that any lock on

a fabric plane will keep them out.



Never leave the keys in the ignition, come to think of it never leave

anything in the plane (GPS or portable radios) and leave the doors open.

Also when possible park in a secure area.



A Lock is only to tell an honest man there is no one home.



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Float Flyr

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

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:42 pm Post subject: Door Locks?

I have seen the result of thieves stealing a stereo out of a Cadillac.  The

quickest way, the method they used was to plug an electric chainsaw into the

power outlet and remove the part of the dash they wanted.  



The mistake your friend made was leaving the CB in the plane.  If they had

any trouble removing it they could have done a lot more damage.  Imagine if

they didn't know the Kitfox door was hinged at the top...



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Bill Willyard

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Grandville, Michigan U.S.A.

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:33 am Post subject: Door Locks?

Nick, I installed locks in both my doors using cam-lock mechanisms purchased from a lock shop. I had them keyed the same for simplicity. By attaching a small piece of aluminum to the inside handle of the door latch, the cam-lock can be used to secure the door without hindering normal door operation when in flight. See attached photo.

    

   Also here is a link that will show some of the many cam-lock options available.

   http://www.monroeengineering.com/locks/Cam-Lock/index.htm

    

   Bill W.

    

  

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_________________
Bill Willyard
Classic IV 912UL

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:04 am Post subject: Re: Door Locks?

The kitfox is not a bank vault.  But, the thing I hate most is when people get snoopy, or just want to see the experimental out front.  Usually they want to sit inside and play with the controls, of course without you knowing.  Having some sort of lock on the door takes care of this.

84KF
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Door Locks?

"...the thing I hate most is when people get snoopy, or just want to see the experimental out front. Usually they want to sit inside and play with the controls...."



.



Those  non-aviation creeps should just learn to control their dreams and desires.

We need a new FAR.



Oh...I do that with every plane I can.

Float Flyr

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

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:15 am Post subject: Door Locks?

My main worry about leaving the plane out where unknowing people have easy

access to it is that many people don't realize the plane is actually covered

with cloth.  On one occasion I had to stop one fellow form checking to see

if it really was cloth with his pocket knife.  I live in an area where

snowmobiles are as common as grass.  I've been asked, not if the engine came

out of a Ski-Doo but did I think it would fit in a Ski-Doo and have more

power.



I had a friend who had his Seawind 3000 vandalized and the idiot broke the

canopy and stole the battery.  The next day he was stopped for speeding and

the Mountie saw the battery in the back of his truck.  When he was asked

about the strange looking battery, I think it was a NiCad, he said it was

picked up from a friend the night before.  His finger prints matched and he

was prosecuted to the full extent of the law.



In Gander, CYQX, at the seaplane base there is free open access to the

waterfront.  A few years ago they put up signs asking people not to fish in

the vicinity of the planes.  Since the signs went up there has been no

problems.  The people are used to seeing planes and now don't bother them.

There are also better places to fish close to Gander.  Of the dozen or so

planes docked there I don't know of any that are locked...those that have

ignition keys ( The beavers generally don't ) the keys are generally

removed.  There are no locks on the moorings.



The past few years I've always towed my plane to the pond I fly from. This

costs me an extra hour or two in time to go flying and an extra hour or two

to get the plane back to the garage.  More than once I towed the plane to

the beach, unfolded the wings, fuelled the plane and then had to undo

everything and tow back home. (a bit over a mile)  In that time the worst

thing that can happen is to have someone offer to help me  either launch or

recover the plane.  



That was where the fellow was going to see for himself if the plane was

cloth covered.  I asked him how he would feel about it if I were to hack a

piece out of his new truck with my knife... His answer was, "Sorry I never

thought about that".  



Next summer I have a more remote area to beach the plane in mind.  As soon

as I am sure there are no little kids around the two camps close to the

beach I'll pull the plane up there and carry my fuel in to the plane with an

ATV.  Any time I'm expecting bad weather the plane will go back to the

garage.



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Guy Buchanan

Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 1204
Location: Ramona, CA

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:33 am Post subject: Door Locks?

At 07:04 AM 3/8/2007, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  The kitfox is not a bank vault.  But, the thing I hate most is when 

people get snoopy, or just want to see the experimental out 

front.  Usually they want to sit inside and play with the controls, 

of course without you knowing.  Having some sort of lock on the door 

takes care of this.


	


In that case Murle Williams' door latches will work. His require an 

Allen wrench to open from the outside. I used a modified version of 

his design and am quite happy with it.



Guy Buchanan

K-IV 1200 / 582-C / Warp / 100% done, thanks mostly to Bob Ducar.

_________________
Guy Buchanan
Deceased K-IV 1200
A glider pilot too.

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 8:39 am Post subject: Re: Door Locks?

I've had more problems with other pilots, generaly the ones with the certified airplanes, the older folks that can't fly anymore... the list goes on.  



I really like to be at an airshow where there are kids and I'm there with the plane, I like putting the kids in the plane and watch their eyes light up.  The fox fits the kids much better than one of those spam cans.

clemwehner(at)sbcglobal.n
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:01 am Post subject: Door Locks?

This subject comes up every few years on this list. A few years back,

the simplest solution proposed was to drill a hole through the bottom of

both door frames and put an aluminum rod through the door frames across

the cockpit with a lock on one end. It can be done with almost no

visible change to the aircraft except for the 2 small holes. It can be a

small lock, because as someone said you don't need a big lock because

you won't prevent a determined intruder anyway, but might deter some

idiot who just wants to sit inside and play with your knobs. 



Clem

Lawton, OK

KF-IV, 912

--

Float Flyr

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

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:00 pm Post subject: Door Locks?

I agree....The operative words here are, "I'm there with the plane".



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:39 pm Post subject: Door Locks?

Nick,



I used a couple of pieces of SS cable with swaged loops on the ends  that 

can fit through the holes on the outside door handles and passes under the 

fuse.  I put some heat shrink on critical areas to prevent scuffing the 

fabric and lock it with a hasp lock.  As someone else suggested, it will 

keep the relatively honest out, but nothing, I guess will keep the real bad 

guy out.



Lowell



---

7suds(at)Chartermi.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:46 pm Post subject: Door Locks?

Bill,

 I like your setup, I had the same in my IV less the bungy and  the lock. One thing I added to mine was another latching leg alongside the one  you have that goes down along the inside of the fuselage holding the door  closed. It was positioned farther in towards the seat to allow  the original one to go on the outside of the fuselage and the new one  on the inside, this would hold the door about a half inch open for  those hot days that you wanted to get a little breeze but something that  would not blow everything around the cockpit.

  

 Lloyd

 [quote]   ---

Bill Willyard

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Grandville, Michigan U.S.A.

Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 6:46 pm Post subject: Door Locks?

Thanks Lloyd, I may give that a try.

    

   Bill W.

   Do not archive

    

  

 --

_________________
Bill Willyard
Classic IV 912UL

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