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Catz631(at)AOL.COM
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 Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 5:03 am Post subject: Grove landing gear |
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In a message dated 12/28/2007 2:01:31 AM Central Standard Time, kitfox-list(at)matronics.com writes:
| Quote: | | http://forums.matronics.com//files/n474dp_281.jpg |
Frank,
In regard to your question about replacing my bungee gear with the Grove, I have thought about it.(although I like the narrow gear just fine) I have only had my Kitfox 4 for less than a month (already have 10 hours on it) and I am trying to get as much info on the airplane and the engine as I can.( that's why I am asking so many questions.) One of the questions I was going to ask was, what is the process to replace the gear. How doesthe Grove gear attach? Does anyone have any instructions on how to do it. It seems in the long run the Grove gear would sure reduce the maintenance.
Dick Maddux
Fox4-1200
912UL
top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
[quote][b]
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f.miles.tcp.833(at)clearw
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:31 am Post subject: Grove landing gear |
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Dick,
The Grove gear is easy to install. It comes with all of the instructions and Grove is very helpful on the phone should you have any questions. I think that I installed mine in a couple of hours – well, maybe three or four. It installs on already existing attachment points. The total took me a little longer as I also replaced all of the wheels and brakes at the same time. That also came from Grove. The Grove gear is about six inches wider which is a plus. Good luck with the bungee cord thing. I have been told that they should be changed every year which may be some excessive but it sounds like you are way over due.
Frank
From: owner-kitfox-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-kitfox-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Catz631(at)aol.com
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2007 5:03 AM
To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: Grove landing gear
In a message dated 12/28/2007 2:01:31 AM Central Standard Time, kitfox-list(at)matronics.com writes:
Frank,
In regard to your question about replacing my bungee gear with the Grove, I have thought about it.(although I like the narrow gear just fine) I have only had my Kitfox 4 for less than a month (already have 10 hours on it) and I am trying to get as much info on the airplane and the engine as I can.( that's why I am asking so many questions.) One of the questions I was going to ask was, what is the process to replace the gear. How doesthe Grove gear attach? Does anyone have any instructions on how to do it. It seems in the long run the Grove gear would sure reduce the maintenance.
Dick Maddux
Fox4-1200
912UL
top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
| Quote: | | http://www.matronics.com/contribution |
012345678901234
12/27/2007 1:34 PM
12/27/2007 1:34 PM
[quote][b]
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dave
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:05 am Post subject: Re: Grove landing gear |
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| Quote: | | The Grove gear is about six inches wider which is a plus. Good luck with the bungee cord thing. |
Grove gear looks good but VERY expensive and extra weight over the bungee. A personal choice aesthetically , but No substitute to taildragger training.
| Quote: | I have been told that they should be changed every year which may be some excessive but it sounds like you are way over due.
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Non-SENSE !! My current bungees have over 700 hours on Wheels and Skis . The plane is switched to floats annually too. The last 2 years i have only wrapped them 5 times rather than 6 times and Had no issues. I must add my disclaimer that they are old and a few frayed spots and will likely break next time I fly. I just flew on skis 30 mins ago and they are still holding up. I have a roll of MIL SPEC bungee cord here and should really make a new set soon.
I have never flown a grove equipped aircraft and a similar one with bungees so I cannot compare. I have flown quite a few Avids, Kitfoxes and clones taildraggers and have never really found them difficult to fly.
If you want to see a tame Kitfox just look at my videos here http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=kitfoxflyer&p=r
some have over 10,000 views now and are getting real popular.
New Years getting close !! Have a good one and a safe one !!
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kitfoxmike
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:18 am Post subject: Re: Grove landing gear |
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If you have the original tube gear, or first design. I would not hesitate nor think of cost, after all it's your life. You either, change to a better tube gear, wall thickness is thicker, or change to the grove. You won't think anything is wrong with the 1st design gear until you land, usually you touch on the left side first and that's the side that encounter the problems, the exhaust hits right on the tube and weakens it. Where it breaks is at the weld where the bunchies wind up.
Now visual coming in to land and hitting a hole, pop goes the landing gear and the left wing drops, you level the plane and you still don't understand what just happened, you start going off to the left, then you hit trees on the left side as you power up to go around, the plane does a left as you pull off the runway, then you hit a small tree on the right side of the horizontal and then you smack into a tree straight on. Not fun. The Grove gear was a wise choice. What makes the decision easier is the fact to upgrade to a better tube gear was about the same price as the grove gear. Oh and the weight added for Grove is about 25lbs.
If you think this is BS, there is a bulletin in the old skystar database for this problem. It will speak for itself.
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dave
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:26 am Post subject: Re: Grove landing gear |
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I did a google search and found this
http://kitfox.lazair.com/Service_Letters/sl48.htm
The purpose of this service letter is to give you information regarding the design and proper handling of the welded tube landing gear. It has been our experience that incorrect handling of the aircraft on the ground (especially during landing) and poor maintenance have led to failures in a few of these gears in the field.
Is this the letter you mention ?
| Quote: | | If you think this is BS, there is a bulletin in the old skystar database for this problem. It will speak for itself. |
And if you think BS still -- my movies show that the gear is pretty rugged.
>> If you want to see a tame Kitfox just look at my videos here http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=kitfoxflyer&p=r
some have over 10,000 views now and are getting real popular.
| | - The Matronics Kitfox-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List |
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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 |
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kitfoxmike
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:58 am Post subject: Re: Grove landing gear |
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I don't want to start a shooting match here. You now have the notice on this, so read it. I will add that the weld that broke on mine had broken the weld previously to the final brake. There was a definite half brake of the weld, just took the right hit to brake it the rest of the way.
My advice, anybody with this landing gear needs to strip all the paint off and inspect very carefully the welds and then make sure the main bars are straight.
have a nice day and fly safe.
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dave
Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382
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| Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject: Re: Grove landing gear |
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| Quote: | | My advice, anybody with this landing gear needs to strip all the paint off and inspect very carefully the welds and then make sure the main bars are straight. |
Mike , you are correct that all parts should be inspected on your walkaround. Your wingstruts and entire fuselage is all 4130 and some of it will be more brittle that other parts due to Mig welding and lack of normalizing. BUT for the most part is decent. 4130 can bend just outside of the weld without normalizing with Mig welding.
I have no idea if my gear has been updated or not but it is been flying for over 15 years now and I think the original tube gear.
For the record the wind here is 15 G knots and I had a new low time instructor with only a few types that he has flown just drop in for a check out in a Kitfox as he had never flown one before and has a Kitfox student ready to go that he will be switching some training over into the students Kitfox. He had trouble landing due to mechanical turbulence today so I pulled the power and said engine !! LAND IT NOW . we were are 200 agl. We touched down in a frozen wheat field about 40% snow and ice /60% frozen mud chucks and a bit of wheat grass showing. The Skis rather and thudded along then I said full power lets get outta here. We climbed up to 200 agl and headed back to my strip. We then did a 80 degree crosswind landing to finish off the flight into my runway over 50' trees with a stiff wind 20 mph + at 80% from the left.
No problem and to say the least he was BLOWN away and Really impressed with the handling of my Kitfox. I would bet he buys one soon. He wants to come back this weekend for more flying now and he has 3 planes of his own already.
So TUBE GEAR -- No problem in my book. --disclaimer ==> YET 
This is a report for London, Ont., Canada. The report was made 22 minutes ago, at 21:00 UTC. The wind was blowing at a speed of 10.3 meters per second (23.0 miles per hour) from east (100°). The temperature was 1 °C (34 °F), with a dew-point at -3 °C (27 °F). The temperature felt like -6 °C (22 °F). [/b]
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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 |
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