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Current events/ski story

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Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject: Current events/ski story

Just a general observation about this "movie" that's playing. It  

seems as though I've seen this one before, and I think this is the  

part where several of the "cast" get indignant, walk out and start a  

splinter group. Sometimes they come back, apparently missing some of  

the regular cast of characters, and some don't. I've got a short  

memory, and can't recall just what happened when this movie played  

before. But it was a good movie, and so I'll stay and watch it again.  

Who knows, maybe somebody edited it while it was awaiting reruns, and  

it'll be different this time around. That's why I'll be waiting and  

watching, having my popcorn and soda, and enjoying the show, maybe  

even booing or hissing, but as always thoroughly entertained and  

enlightened.



Curious thing about splinters....sometimes a real pain, but sometimes  

you just have to let them work themselves out.



I just finished reinforcing my homebuilt snow skis that I'm using on  

my Kitfox IV. I had a close encounter of the first kind [to continue  

the movie theme  ] with a frozen snow bank the other day, and bent  

the tips of my skis up. They bent just ahead of where the last  

diagonal brace departs with the main side rails. I like the bend up,  

but they weren't equal, so I re-bent the ski with the larger bend to  

match the other, and then added a diagonal bend from the VERY tip of  

the skis back to the main cluster. This current temperature of 57F  

and two days of rain has knocked our previous foot of snow out  

completely, so this is the perfect time for me to do the repair. The  

skis flew perfectly after the bending took place, and even allowed  

the skis to climb a little higher above the deep snow. I had always  

felt that I needed a little more up-bend at the fronts, and now I  

have it, thanks to good old Mother Nature.



Lynn Matteson

Grass Lake, Michigan

Kitfox IV Speedster  w/Jabiru 2200

flying w/450+ hrs

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

avidfox

Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 87

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject: Current events/ski story

"This current temperature of 57F

and two days of rain has knocked our previous foot of snow out

completely, "

  

 Lynn,

   Do you, or are you having, a humidity problem inside your hanger with the weather being what it is the last few days? 

  

 If so, any sugestion on how to stop or at least control it, other then just better air circulation?

  

 Steve Benesh

 Milford Mi.

  [quote][b]

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject: Current events/ski story

I meant to say that I added a diagonal BRACE from the very tip of the  

skis back to the main cluster...sorry.



Lynn



On Jan 7, 2008, at 12:27 PM, Lynn Matteson wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   


	


 	  Quote: 	
		   equal, so I re-bent the ski with the larger bend to match the  

 other, and then added a diagonal bend from the VERY tip of the skis  

 back to the main cluster. This current temperature of 57F and two  

 days of rain has knocked our previous foot of snow out completely,  

 so this is the perfect time for me to do the repair. The skis flew  

 perfectly after the bending took place, and even allowed the skis  

 to climb a little higher above the deep snow. I had always felt  

 that I needed a little more up-bend at the fronts, and now I have  

 it, thanks to good old Mother Nature.



 Lynn Matteson

 Grass Lake, Michigan

 Kitfox IV Speedster  w/Jabiru 2200

 flying w/450+ hrs

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject: Current events/ski story

I just went to my hangar today, and there was moisture all over the  

fabric, but none in the vicinity of the engine. I have been using a  

200 watt strip heater that lays under the engine between the oil  

cooler and the oil pan. This keeps the entire engine warm, and a  

insulated blanket over the cowl keeps the heat within the cowl. I  

think that just opening the hangar doors and leaving them open would  

*maybe* keep the humidity down, but I'm not sure. I'm gonna try that  

tomorrow.



I'm really tickled pink with the way this strip heater keeps the  

engine warm. Lately, with the temp outside around 20-30 F., I've been  

seeing oil temp of about 100, cyl head temp of about 75, and cowl  

temp of about 75 before ever starting the engine, just by having this  

strip heater going 24 hours. I mentioned this heater in a post on Jan  

1, asking for any input from folks regarding any negative aspects  

that using this heater might bring about, but got no response. Maybe  

mentioning it again now will bring some answers?



Lynn Matteson

Grass Lake, Michigan

Kitfox IV Speedster  w/Jabiru 2200

flying w/450+ hrs

On Jan 7, 2008, at 10:13 PM, 84KF wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   "This current temperature of 57F

 and two days of rain has knocked our previous foot of snow out

 completely, "



 Lynn,

   Do you, or are you having, a humidity problem inside your hanger  

 with the weather being what it is the last few days?



 If so, any sugestion on how to stop or at least control it, other  

 then just better air circulation?



 Steve Benesh

 Milford Mi.

 www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List _- 

 www.matronics.com/contribution _- 

 ============================================================

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Float Flyr

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

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject: Current events/ski story

You got to watch those drifts.  I had a friend who flew a 180 in the back of

Labrador.  One winter he landed close to Goose Bay and hit a drift that

flicked the main gear straight out to the sides and bent the be$%^&* out of

the prop.  Your encounter seems to me to be constructive rather than

destructive.



Noel

III-A



--

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 3:16 am Post subject: Re: Current events/ski story

Lynn for reference use,



I had a friend build a pair of skis last year out of plywood and over laid with glass at my shop. When he brought them out I said I think it has a pretty steep angle on the nose of ski but he thought it would be ok.  Well he finished them and they looked great.    Took him an hour to put them on and rug the cables and bungees but when he started to taxi the noses dug in.  Took him 2 hours  to dig the plane out and get back to hangar. 



Not to run his nose in it I taxing mine repeatedly through his ruts and where he got stuck to show him that the ones that I have did in fact work better and not dig it with a shallower tip angle.



I am just pointing out how critical this was to him  and hopefully as other have pointed out to "help others gain form the experience of others" with the use of this forum.

_________________
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Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:36 am Post subject: Current events/ski story

Mine now have a 2-stage angle on the front...the recent 8° bend (I  

call it the Mother Nature bend), and the original approx. 45° angle.  

This allowed them to get through the snow rather well, with the 12- 

inch width of the "shoe." Were his narrower than yours? Was his tip  

bend short in height? How about the length from the axle pivot to the  

tip? A shorter dimension here could affect his ability to climb over  

the snow, I would think, especially with a steep tip angle.



Lynn Matteson

Grass Lake, Michigan

Kitfox IV Speedster  w/Jabiru 2200

flying w/450+ hrs



On Jan 8, 2008, at 6:16 AM, dave wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Lynn for reference use,



 I had a friend build a pair of skis last year out of plywood and  

 over laid with glass at my shop. When he brought them out I said I  

 think it has a pretty steep angle on the nose of ski but he thought  

 it would be ok.  Well he finished them and they looked great.     

 Took him an hour to put them on and rug the cables and bungees but  

 when he started to taxi the noses dug in.  Took him 2 hours  to dig  

 the plane out and get back to hangar.



 Not to run his nose in it I taxing mine repeatedly through his ruts  

 and where he got stuck to show him that the ones that I have did in  

 fact work better and not dig it with a shallower tip angle.



 I am just pointing out how critical this was to him  and hopefully  

 as other have pointed out to "help others gain form the experience  

 of others" with the use of this forum.



 --------

 Rotax Dealer, Ontario Canada

 Flying Videos and Kitfox Info

 http://www.cfisher.com/





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=156734#156734

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

avidfox

Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 87

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 11:25 am Post subject: Current events/ski story

Lynn,  

I've installed a number of FAA PMA approved preheaters on misc. Continental and Lycoming engines, mostly the "Tanis" systems. These consist of heat pads that are siliconed to the oil tank, or sump, and may include individual heating elements that are attached to the individual cylinders in various ways.   

For some reason, I recall , probably from their advertising literature, that the main concern was not to allow f a "hot spot" to develope at the tank or sump from high,unregulated, heater pad temperture. They went on to explain how their "systems" were thermostatically" controled to prevent this, maintaining a mild, constant heat point, so as not to allow the oil to "coke", which I THINK means "burn". They aslo "warned" about the "dipstick heaters", again, they would get much to hot, at the stick itself, and break down the  oil.in contact with it. A unusual change in oil colour, with traces of black soot\sludge mixed in might indicate "coking" at a hot spot. 

Another concern, again paraphrased, was condesation developing in a constanaly changing enviroment inside a tank\sump\engine if a consistant ambiant temp is not maintained over a long period of time due to irregular thermostat control.  

These are just things I remember hearing\reading about. I couldn't prove or disprove any of them personally. 

I would think any pad\element that is not allowed to run wild is fine.  

This is just second hand, old memory, heresay, but the concept is sound.  

At the time, a Tannis would run about $150.00, but one could get a automotive style oil pan heater from J.C.Whitney for $15.00. Both would do the same, but only one was " FAA Approved". for installation on Certificated aircraft and naturally, Tanis wanted one to buy their products. 

 

Steve Benesh 

84KF  [quote][b]

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:00 am Post subject: Current events/ski story

Thanks, Steve. The "coking" was the exact concern that I had. My  

element sits under the pan but over the oil cooler, and it's the  

cooler, with its thinner tubes that is my concern. I've been having  

this mental picture going on, since I started to use the strip  

heater, of a hot spot like you mentioned. I've thought about moving  

the heater to a different area so that this doesn't present a  

problem, and I think that's the answer. Either that or insulate the  

bottom of my heater a bit so that where the oil is the least  

concentrated, so is the heat.



Lynn Matteson

Grass Lake, Michigan

Kitfox IV Speedster  w/Jabiru 2200

flying w/450+ hrs



On Jan 8, 2008, at 1:18 PM, 84KF wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   Lynn,



 I've installed a number of FAA PMA approved preheaters on misc.  

 Continental and Lycoming engines, mostly the "Tanis" systems. These  

 consist of heat pads that are siliconed to the oil tank, or sump,  

 and may include individual heating elements that are attached to  

 the individual cylinders in various ways.



 For some reason, I recall , probably from their advertising  

 literature, that the main concern was not to allow f a "hot spot"  

 to develope at the tank or sump from high,unregulated, heater pad  

 temperture. They went on to explain how their "systems" were  

 thermostatically" controled to prevent this, maintaining a mild,  

 constant heat point, so as not to allow the oil to "coke", which I  

 THINK means "burn". They aslo "warned" about the "dipstick  

 heaters", again, they would get much to hot, at the stick itself,  

 and break down the oil.in contact with it. A unusual change in oil  

 colour, with traces of black soot\sludge mixed in might indicate  

 "coking" at a hot spot.



 Another concern, again paraphrased, was condesation developing in a  

 constanaly changing enviroment inside a tank\sump\engine if a  

 consistant ambiant temp is not maintained over a long period of  

 time due to irregular thermostat control.



 These are just things I remember hearing\reading about. I couldn't  

 prove or disprove any of them personally.



 I would think any pad\element that is not allowed to run wild is fine.



 This is just second hand, old memory, heresay, but the concept is  

 sound.



 At the time, a Tannis would run about $150.00, but one could get a  

 automotive style oil pan heater from J.C.Whitney for $15.00. Both  

 would do the same, but only one was " FAA Approved". for  

 installation on Certificated aircraft and naturally, Tanis wanted  

 one to buy their products.



 Steve Benesh



 84KF



 www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List _- 

 www.matronics.com/contribution _- 

 ============================================================

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:50 am Post subject: Re: Current events/ski story

Lynn, 



I dug out a pic of those skis i mentioned above. 



I can tell you that these skis did not work very well as the tips just dig, dove  whatever with that tip too steep.

Picture 003.jpg

Description:

Wooden ski with tip too steep
www.cfisher.com Kitfox

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Viewed:

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Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:41 am Post subject: Current events/ski story

I see what you mean....they look way too blunt to me. It looks like  

they are no more than about 4" high at the tip, and too steep, like  

you said. I think I made mine about 6" high at the tip, and much more  

pointed. The recent encounter probably gave me another 1 1/2 to 2"  

more height at the tip, and they seem to like the deeper snow now. Of  

course all of our snow is totally gone now, so I'll have to wait  

until more falls, or head toward the upper part of the state to find  

snow.



Incidentally, the Annual Skiplane Fly-in at Pioneer Field in Oshkosh  

is coming up in a couple of weeks.



Lynn Matteson

Grass Lake, Michigan

Kitfox IV Speedster  w/Jabiru 2200

flying w/450+ hrs

On Jan 10, 2008, at 5:50 AM, dave wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Lynn,



 I dug out a pic of those skis i mentioned above.



 I can tell you that these skis did not work very well as the tips  

 just dig, dove  whatever with that tip too steep.



 --------

 Rotax Dealer, Ontario Canada

 Flying Videos and Kitfox Info

 http://www.cfisher.com/





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=157203#157203





 Attachments:



 http://forums.matronics.com//files/picture_003_193.jpg

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:04 am Post subject: Re: Current events/ski story

Lynn,



Back on wheels as of today .



we  98% green  ,well  brown and water everywhere . Just in from a flight 

fun fun fun

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