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Front wheel service

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pilotdds(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject: Front wheel service

Anyone use the nut at the bottom of the fork as a jacking point to service the front wheel?What are you guys doing to jack up the aircraft for front wheel service.I am told weighting down the tail can cause damabe.thanks-jim

 

 

 --

dlm46007(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:54 pm Post subject: Front wheel service

we use wing jacks and a tail weight (attached at the tie  down ring) to lift the aircraft off the floor. A floor jack would be ok if just  the nose wheel needs service but still should be aware not to raise the nose to  high  to avoid an inadvertent tail strike.

   From: owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com  [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of  pilotdds(at)aol.com

Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 5:38 PM

To:  rv10-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Front wheel  service

Anyone use the nut at the bottom of the fork as a jacking point to  service the front wheel?What are you guys doing to jack up the aircraft for  front wheel service.I am told weighting down the tail can cause  damabe.thanks-jim

--

Jim Berry

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 237
Location: Denver

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 7:47 am Post subject: Re: Front wheel service

I use a loop of 1" nylon webbing through the upper tubes of the engine mount, then lift with my engine hoist. Get the stuff climbers use, not the HD stuff. Climbers webbing is good for 6,000 lbs.



Jim Berry

40482

N15JB

gengrumpy(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 8:19 am Post subject: Front wheel service

I have used it, but makes checking the torque on the fork swing impossible.



I just used a 2x4 (padded) and 2 bottle jacks (built like Tim's) just aft of the exhaust pipes under the fuselage.  Worked great!

grumpy

do not archive



On May 10, 2009, at 7:38 PM, pilotdds(at)aol.com (pilotdds(at)aol.com) wrote:

[quote]Anyone use the nut at the bottom of the fork as a jacking point to service the front wheel?What are you guys doing to jack up the aircraft for front wheel service.I am told weighting down the tail can cause damabe.thanks-jim

 

 

 --

Tim Olson

Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2878

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject: Front wheel service

I used to be worried about using the tail ring to pull down on the

tail and jack up the nose, so before, I would un-cowl and use

an engine hoist to lift up the front.  It was very inconvenient, but

it worked.  More recently though I started to think about it a

bit...



The RV-10 has had NUMEROUS cases of 2 people trying to board the

plane at the same time, resulting in a tail strike.  Yeah, it

balances fine on it's 3 legs, but it doesn't take THAT much

force to tip it.  If you are really concerned, you can always

keep maybe 4 lead shot bags in the hangar and throw them in the aft

baggage area, and that would help offset some nose weight during

the pull.  So now I'm perfectly comfortable with the concept

of pulling the tail down to lift the nose.  It just

doesn't take that much force.   What I did is to cut a hole

in my asphalt hangar, and pour in a 1'x1'x1' cube of concrete

under the floor, with an embedded large 12" long turn buckle

that came up flush to the floor.  So now I just thread in the

tail eye, and a floor eye, and I use a simple come-a-long

cable puller to crank the plane down and hold it.



I'm less comfortable with the aft loading that it would take to

tow the plane into the hangar with a winch, although I've done that

a couple times now and it's worked out fine. I only used it when

I had to tow over ice.  I have a remote-controlled winch that only

runs about 1 second per button push, and I push on the front

of the plane while I run the winch, so even that cable isn't having

to pull too awful hard.  I wouldn't do it if I had to pull

up a steep incline though.



Tim Olson - RV-10 N104CD



David McNeill wrote:

[quote] we use wing jacks and a tail weight (attached at the tie down ring) to 

 lift the aircraft off the floor. A floor jack would be ok if just the 

 nose wheel needs service but still should be aware not to raise the nose 

 to high  to avoid an inadvertent tail strike.

 

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

 *From:* owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com 

 [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] *On Behalf Of 

 *pilotdds(at)aol.com

 *Sent:* Sunday, May 10, 2009 5:38 PM

 *To:* rv10-list(at)matronics.com

 *Subject:* Front wheel service

 

 Anyone use the nut at the bottom of the fork as a jacking point to 

 service the front wheel?What are you guys doing to jack up the aircraft 

 for front wheel service.I am told weighting down the tail can cause 

 damabe.thanks-jim

 

 

 --

billderou(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 8:13 am Post subject: Front wheel service

I have tried using a block & tackle pulling the tail to the floor, and building a bench and using bottle jacks under the firewall to lift the nose. Not happy with either method.

  

 Got busy designing and my latest scheme thusfar is the safest and most convenient.

  

 From the tail tiedown I suspended a hook with weights just like a balance beam. Each weight or platter weights 35 lbs and is 3.5" thick made from cast concrete (with some ribarb support embedded). The basic hook is 3/8" ribarb that is approx 18" top to bottom with a platter cast into the bottom. I just add the platters until the tail is somewhat balanced with the nose wheel. Since the main gear provides an "over-center" geometry I can (with one hand and a coffee cup in the other) drop the tail within 18" of the ground or raise the tail and the nose will stay on the ground.

  

 Very quick and handy and I only need to move 35 lbs at a time. Six or seven platters will do the trick. Sorry for the lack of a picture but I am traveling at this time. 

  

 If anyone has factual information from Vans engineering that this technique will harm the airframe then please respond.

  

 Bill DeRouchey

 N939SB

   



--- On Mon, 5/11/09, Miller John <gengrumpy(at)aol.com> wrote:



 [quote]

From: Miller John <gengrumpy(at)aol.com>

Subject: Re: Front wheel service

To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Monday, May 11, 2009, 9:11 AM



 I have used it, but makes checking the torque on the fork swing impossible. 



 I just used a 2x4 (padded) and 2 bottle jacks (built like Tim's) just aft of the exhaust pipes under the fuselage.  Worked great!

 



 grumpy

 



 do not archive

 

  On May 10, 2009, at 7:38 PM, pilotdds(at)aol.com (pilotdds(at)aol.com) wrote:

 [quote]Anyone use the nut at the bottom of the fork as a jacking point to service the front wheel?What are you guys doing to jack up the aircraft for front wheel service.I am told weighting down the tail can cause damabe.thanks-jim

--

bkbrown(at)minetfiber.com
Guest

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 9:13 am Post subject: Front wheel service

Go to many aircraft shops and you’ll see many examples of something along the lines of a 5 gallon bucket (or plywood framed wooden box), on wheels, filled with a bag or two of sakrete (premixed concrete) and set with an anchor bolt with an eye on top just about in the center of the box or bucket.  You can roll it around wherever you want it and use it as an anchor point for your tie down ring.  Just another variation of mounting a tiedown ring in your hangar…I’ve also seen old tires used like this, but they’re not so convenient to move as a heavy “box” on wheels.  

From: owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Bill DeRouchey

 Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:10 AM

 To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Front wheel service  

I have tried using a block & tackle pulling the tail   to the floor, and building a bench and using bottle jacks under the firewall   to lift the nose. Not happy with either method.   

Got busy designing and my latest scheme thusfar is the   safest and most convenient.   

From the tail tiedown I suspended a hook with weights just   like a balance beam. Each weight or platter weights 35 lbs and   is 3.5" thick made from cast concrete (with some ribarb support   embedded). The basic hook is 3/8" ribarb that is approx   18" top to bottom with a platter cast into the bottom. I just add   the platters until the tail is somewhat balanced with the nose wheel. Since   the main gear provides an "over-center" geometry I can (with   one hand and a coffee cup in the other) drop the tail within 18" of   the ground or raise the tail and the nose will stay on the ground.   

Very quick and handy and I only need to move 35 lbs   at a time. Six or seven platters will do the trick. Sorry for the lack   of a picture but I am traveling at this time.    

If anyone has factual information from Vans engineering   that this technique will harm the airframe then please respond.   

Bill DeRouchey   

N939SB   

   --- On Mon, 5/11/09, Miller John <gengrumpy(at)aol.com>   wrote:   

   [quote]   

   From: Miller John <gengrumpy(at)aol.com>

   Subject: Re: Front wheel service

   To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com

   Date: Monday, May 11, 2009, 9:11 AM      

I have used it, but makes checking the torque on the fork   swing impossible.       

I just used a 2x4 (padded) and 2 bottle jacks (built like   Tim's) just aft of the exhaust pipes under the fuselage.  Worked great!   

grumpy   

do not archive   

On May 10, 2009, at 7:38 PM, pilotdds(at)aol.com wrote:   

Anyone use the nut at the   bottom of the fork as a jacking point to service the front wheel?What are you   guys doing to jack up the aircraft for front wheel service.I am told   weighting down the tail can cause damabe.thanks-jim

   --

John Ackerman

Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 130
Location: Prescott, AZ

Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 9:48 am Post subject: Front wheel service

One of the things that Bill's design does that some others do not is make it convenient – even _possible_ for some of us – to move the weights around. Also, it is self-centering - no need to place the tail exactly over a fixed anchor point.

The downward pull on my plane's tiedown ring is something just less than 300 lb, I think, with engine and prop, but no tail feathers or wings or interior seats and such. 

My "anchor" comprises 12" X 12" X 1 1/2" concrete pavers in four stacks on a square wooden frame that has four casters near the corners. The frame is 2X4s on edge supporting a 1/2" plywood platform, about 28" X 28" overall.  I needed twenty pavers, sixteen was too few. The pavers weigh about 17 lb for a total of 340 lb, more or less. A bolt placed horizontally through the frame at the center provides an attach point for the block and tackle that pulls the tail down. A small come-along would have been better, but I already had the block and tackle. The casters let the anchor center itself under the tiedown ring. If the pavers are not stacked evenly or if there are too few of them, the frame lifts off the floor and tips, so I strap the pavers down to the frame with nylon straps and ratchets from Costco "just in case" and use a few more pavers than the minimum required. That gives a nice, stable anchor.

This approach was cheaper and quicker (for me), but it's not nearly as elegant and usable as Bill's, nor is it as safe. Also, the anchor takes up a lot of floor space in the heavy traffic area at the tail. 

"Next time" I would probably invest the time and effort needed to cast all those weights and follow Bill's approach.

 

On May 12, 2009, at 10:01 AM, Bob and Karen Brown wrote:

[quote]Go to many aircraft shops and you’ll see many examples of something along the lines of a 5 gallon bucket (or plywood framed wooden box), on wheels, filled with a bag or two of sakrete (premixed concrete) and set with an anchor bolt with an eye on top just about in the center of the box or bucket.  You can roll it around wherever you want it and use it as an anchor point for your tie down ring.  Just another variation of mounting a tiedown ring in your hangar…I’ve also seen old tires used like this, but they’re not so convenient to move as a heavy “box” on wheels.

 

From: owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com) [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com)] On Behalf Of Bill DeRouchey

Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9:10 AM

To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com (rv10-list(at)matronics.com)

Subject: Re: Front wheel service



 

I have tried using a block & tackle pulling the tail to the floor, and building a bench and using bottle jacks under the firewall to lift the nose. Not happy with either method.



 



Got busy designing and my latest scheme thusfar is the safest and most convenient.



 



From the tail tiedown I suspended a hook with weights just like a balance beam. Each weight or platter weights 35 lbs and is 3.5" thick made from cast concrete (with some ribarb support embedded). The basic hook is 3/8" ribarb that is approx 18" top to bottom with a platter cast into the bottom. I just add the platters until the tail is somewhat balanced with the nose wheel. Since the main gear provides an "over-center" geometry I can (with one hand and a coffee cup in the other) drop the tail within 18" of the ground or raise the tail and the nose will stay on the ground.



 



Very quick and handy and I only need to move 35 lbs at a time. Six or seven platters will do the trick. Sorry for the lack of a picture but I am traveling at this time.



 



If anyone has factual information from Vans engineering that this technique will harm the airframe then please respond.



 



Bill DeRouchey



N939SB



  



--- On Mon, 5/11/09, Miller John <gengrumpy(at)aol.com (gengrumpy(at)aol.com)> wrote:



[quote]

From: Miller John <gengrumpy(at)aol.com (gengrumpy(at)aol.com)>

Subject: Re: Front wheel service

To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com (rv10-list(at)matronics.com)

Date: Monday, May 11, 2009, 9:11 AM

I have used it, but makes checking the torque on the fork swing impossible.

 



I just used a 2x4 (padded) and 2 bottle jacks (built like Tim's) just aft of the exhaust pipes under the fuselage.  Worked great!



 



grumpy



 



do not archive



 

On May 10, 2009, at 7:38 PM, pilotdds(at)aol.com wrote:





Anyone use the nut at the bottom of the fork as a jacking point to service the front wheel?What are you guys doing to jack up the aircraft for front wheel service.I am told weighting down the tail can cause damabe.thanks-jim

--

tc1234c(at)roadrunner.com
Guest

Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 10:57 am Post subject: Front wheel service

For my  9A I brought a round dolly with four swivel casters, two short rebars, a segment  of steel chain, and a few bags of pre-mix concrete (80 lb each) from  Lowes. I tied rebar in a cross and passed the center through one end of the  chain links. Then I used cardboard to make a cylindrical form and kept  the chain at the center of the cylinder by supporting the other end of the chain  on top of the form. After mixing and pouring concrete in the form I made  myself a free casting tail weight. It is cheap and easy to  make. 

  

 Ted

 

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

T.C. Chang

http://3limafoxtrot.com/

RV-9A, Lycoming  (ECI) O320-D2A, 160 hp, Carb, left Mag + right Lightspeed EI, Sensenich  FP

GRT dual DU H1, TT DigiFlight II VSGV, 573 hrs Hobbs

Last flight: http://www.mail2600.com/cgi-bin/track.cgi?call=KD8IIR&last=1



RV10  emp, #40948

 [quote]   

   --

coop85(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject: Front wheel service

Looks like I’m the first to respond Yes to your question.  Very unconventional, but I found if I put a standard wheel chock forward of the wheel, then put a 2x4 under the nut on the bottom of the fork, over the chock and then sit on it I can lever the wheel up comfortably, remove the wheel and then put boards under the fork while I work on the wheel.  

   

There are some stability concerns, but it’s worked great for me using a little caution.  

   

Marcus  

   

Do not archive.  

     

From: owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv10-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of pilotdds(at)aol.com

 Sent: Sunday, May 10, 2009 8:38 PM

 To: rv10-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Front wheel service  

  

   

Anyone use the nut at the bottom of the fork as a jacking point to service the front wheel?What are you guys doing to jack up the aircraft for front wheel service.I am told weighting down the tail can cause damabe.thanks-jim

 

 

 --

pilotdds(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject: Front wheel service

Thanks Mark that is exactly what I did-worked great with caution.

 

 

 --

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