---------------------------------------------------------- Kitfox-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 09/09/09: 8 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 02:46 AM - Re: Wrecked a 2, 709, rudders, gear, two plane solution (wingman) 2. 12:09 PM - Re: Wrecked a 2, 709, rudders, gear, two plane solution (akflyer) 3. 01:56 PM - Re: Re: Kitfox-List Digest: 14 Msgs - 09/06/09 (Lynn Matteson) 4. 03:06 PM - Any Kitfox'ers going to MERFI? (Lynn Matteson) 5. 03:27 PM - Re: Re: Kitfox-List Digest: 14 Msgs - 09/06/09 (Patrick Reilly) 6. 06:46 PM - Re: Re: Kitfox-List Digest: 14 Msgs - 09/06/09 (Lynn Matteson) 7. 08:24 PM - Re: Re: Kitfox-List Digest: 14 Msgs - 09/06/09 (Patrick Reilly) 8. 11:33 PM - Re: Wrecked a 2, 709, rudders, gear, two plane solution (wingman) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 02:46:17 AM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Wrecked a 2, 709, rudders, gear, two plane solution From: "wingman" akflyer Well these are the floats that full lotus recommends for this plane as far as i know. And 100 hp on this setup seems perfect to me. However i could do it your way if i wanted to, but i prefer to use the stick actively to speed things up. And i feel like i am very balanced when on the step. I think that you may be a little underpowered if you are using only a 582 on this setup. -------- Kitfox IV 1200 Rotax 912 ULS on full lotus floats Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=262231#262231 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 12:09:50 PM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Wrecked a 2, 709, rudders, gear, two plane solution From: "akflyer" Just to let ya know. I have rigged these on 7 different aircraft from a PA 12, to PA 20 to kitfoxes and Avids. rigging floats and making them work is not a new game to me. If you talk to Jeff at FL, he will tell you there is a reason the 1450s were developed. It was JUST for planes such as the kitfox or avid "style" due to the buoyancy issue on the front half of the floats. Yes with a 912 you can mask the issue, however it is still there. With a 582 you really need the proper floats to get the most out of your airplane. I feel strongly enough about this to have spent the additional 6000 bucks to get the 1450's versus fighting the issue with my 1260's that I allready had. At the end of the day, I would not trade the Fulllotus floats for ANY other float i the world for the type of flying I do, and for the abuse I dish out to them dang near every flight! NO other float would allow me to do the things I like and want to do.. and in my twisted little brain the things I feel I have to do just because no one else can LOL -------- DO NOT ARCHIVE Leonard Perry aka SNAKE Soldotna AK Avid "C" / Mk IV 582 IVO IFA Full Lotus 1450 #1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009 hander outer of humorless darwin awards Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=262309#262309 ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 01:56:27 PM PST US From: Lynn Matteson Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: RE: Kitfox-List Digest: 14 Msgs - 09/06/09 Hey Pat- I ran out of things to do today, so I took the tailspring apart and cut two and a half inches off the top leaf. This gives the other two leaves the chance to flex a bit, and it made the ride a bit softer. How much softer is hard to say, because I was paying attention to where I was going, and watching gauges, etc., but didn't notice the jolting that I sometimes would. On the other hand, it rained cats and dogs yesterday, so the field could have been a bit softer, too. I'll pay attention tomorrow when I go up. I figured that I'd leave the short spring in and just shorten it...that way it acts as a 1/4" shim, lowering the tailwheel assembly away from the rudder, and also so I didn't have to change bolt lengths, and those small spacer lengths, either. Lynn Matteson Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger Jabiru 2200, #2062, 761.4 hrs Countdown to 1000 hrs~239 to go Sensenich 62"x46" Wood prop Electroair direct-fire ignition system Rotec TBI-40 injection Status: flying On Sep 7, 2009, at 8:20 PM, Patrick Reilly wrote: > Lynn, I eliminated the small top leaf. The 3 leafs seemed like it > just was too much spring. I haven't flown it yet. I start taxi > tests this week. What do you think about using only the 2 full > length leaves. > > Pat Reilly > Mod 3 582 Rebuild > Rockford, IL > > On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 2:57 PM, Lynn Matteson > wrote: > > > Ed- > > I had a single-with-helper spring (two leaves total) as original > equipment on my model and it broke, allowing the tail to contact > the ground. I got a three-leaf replacement form John and Debra. > This arrangement has a hole for the tailwheel-bracket mounting bolt > that goes through both of the long leaves. Even if one leaf breaks, > you will still have one leaf holding the tail up. The chances of > both leaves breaking at the same time is probably astronomical. > With the original set-up, only the one long leaf is bolted to the > tailwheel bracket, and when that leaf breaks, your tail is on the > ground. > > > Lynn Matteson > Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger > Jabiru 2200, #2062, 760.3 hrs > Sensenich 62"x46" Wood prop > Electroair direct-fire ignition system > Rotec TBI-40 injection > Status: flying > > > On Sep 7, 2009, at 2:19 PM, Ed Gray wrote: > > > I need help with my tailwheel spring. I installed a Matco > tailwheel (full > swivel) I bought from Kitfox. It has a single leaf spring with > about a 30 > degree bend. While taxi testing on the mains and allowing the tail > to drop > to the runway, the large bolt and castle nut through the swivel has > contacted the bottom tube of the rudder and slightly bent it. The > spring is > obviously too weak. Do I need a thicker spring or another leaf to > double > it? As I recall the spring is part of the Matco tailwheel kit. > The plane > weighs #525 and there is only 40 lbs. on the tailwheel. All advice > appreciated. Now taxi testing and waiting for the Faa registration > to come > through. It wants to fly but I am holding her down! > > A pilot friend says any FAA licensed inspector can do the sign- > off. I was > thinking only an FAA guy or EAA designee could do it > > Ed Gray, Dallas, KII , 582 > hank you for your generous support! > > > ist Un/Subscription, > www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List" target="_blank">http:// > www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List > ronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com > Matt Dralle, List Admin. > ==== > > > www.matronics.com/contribution _- > =========================================================== ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 03:06:53 PM PST US From: Lynn Matteson Subject: Kitfox-List: Any Kitfox'ers going to MERFI? Are there any Kitfox'ers going to MERFI? That's the Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-In, at Urbana, Ohio at Grimes Field (I74), this Saturday and Sunday (www.merfi-urbana.webs.com/) I just read the following on their site: "We will have judging but not EAA judging. Several classes of ballots will be handed out as people enter the grounds. People's Choice, Pilots's Choice, Builder's Choice, Coolest Airplane, and Farthest distance award." Also: "People's choice will be voted by the general admission entry, Pilot's choice is by pilots attending, Builder's choice is voted by people with either an experimental repairman's certificate or A&P cert. Coolest airplane is a kids ballot." I take this to mean that those of us who fly our planes, instead of just polishing them, might stand a chance. : ) So get out your scroungy Kitfox, your camping gear, and come on down! (of course, by merely announcing this, it will mean that the weather will be crap between here and there) Lynn Matteson Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger Jabiru 2200, #2062, 761.4 hrs Countdown to 1000 hrs~239 to go Sensenich 62"x46" Wood prop Electroair direct-fire ignition system Rotec TBI-40 injection Status: flying do not archive ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 03:27:54 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: RE: Kitfox-List Digest: 14 Msgs - 09/06/09 From: Patrick Reilly Lynn. I had to have mine rearched and didn't have the top spring rearched. I can have that done no problem if I decide to use it.. What spacers are you talking about? Also what is the empty weight of yur plane? Pat Reilly On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 3:53 PM, Lynn Matteson wrote: > > Hey Pat- > I ran out of things to do today, so I took the tailspring apart and cut two > and a half inches off the top leaf. This gives the other two leaves the > chance to flex a bit, and it made the ride a bit softer. How much softer is > hard to say, because I was paying attention to where I was going, and > watching gauges, etc., but didn't notice the jolting that I sometimes would. > On the other hand, it rained cats and dogs yesterday, so the field could > have been a bit softer, too. I'll pay attention tomorrow when I go up. > > I figured that I'd leave the short spring in and just shorten it...that way > it acts as a 1/4" shim, lowering the tailwheel assembly away from the > rudder, and also so I didn't have to change bolt lengths, and those small > spacer lengths, either. > > Lynn Matteson > Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger > Jabiru 2200, #2062, 761.4 hrs > Countdown to 1000 hrs~239 to go > Sensenich 62"x46" Wood prop > Electroair direct-fire ignition system > Rotec TBI-40 injection > Status: flying > > > On Sep 7, 2009, at 8:20 PM, Patrick Reilly wrote: > > Lynn, I eliminated the small top leaf. The 3 leafs seemed like it just was >> too much spring. I haven't flown it yet. I start taxi tests this week. What >> do you think about using only the 2 full length leaves. >> >> Pat Reilly >> Mod 3 582 Rebuild >> Rockford, IL >> >> On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 2:57 PM, Lynn Matteson wrote: >> >> >> Ed- >> >> I had a single-with-helper spring (two leaves total) as original equipment >> on my model and it broke, allowing the tail to contact the ground. I got a >> three-leaf replacement form John and Debra. This arrangement has a hole for >> the tailwheel-bracket mounting bolt that goes through both of the long >> leaves. Even if one leaf breaks, you will still have one leaf holding the >> tail up. The chances of both leaves breaking at the same time is probably >> astronomical. With the original set-up, only the one long leaf is bolted to >> the tailwheel bracket, and when that leaf breaks, your tail is on the >> ground. >> >> >> Lynn Matteson >> Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger >> Jabiru 2200, #2062, 760.3 hrs >> Sensenich 62"x46" Wood prop >> Electroair direct-fire ignition system >> Rotec TBI-40 injection >> Status: flying >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Sep 7, 2009, at 2:19 PM, Ed Gray wrote: >> >> >> I need help with my tailwheel spring. I installed a Matco tailwheel (full >> swivel) I bought from Kitfox. It has a single leaf spring with about a 30 >> degree bend. While taxi testing on the mains and allowing the tail to >> drop >> to the runway, the large bolt and castle nut through the swivel has >> contacted the bottom tube of the rudder and slightly bent it. The spring >> is >> obviously too weak. Do I need a thicker spring or another leaf to double >> it? As I recall the spring is part of the Matco tailwheel kit. The plane >> weighs #525 and there is only 40 lbs. on the tailwheel. All advice >> appreciated. Now taxi testing and waiting for the Faa registration to >> come >> through. It wants to fly but I am holding her down! >> >> A pilot friend says any FAA licensed inspector can do the sign-off. I was >> thinking only an FAA guy or EAA designee could do it >> >> Ed Gray, Dallas, KII , 582 >> hank you for your generous support! >> >> >> >> ist Un/Subscription, >> www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List" target="_blank">http:// >> www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List >> ronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com >> Matt Dralle, List Admin. >> ==== >> >> >> >> >> > > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 06:46:11 PM PST US From: Lynn Matteson Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: RE: Kitfox-List Digest: 14 Msgs - 09/06/09 There are two spacers, one on either side of the stack of leaves, and there is a #10 AN bolt that goes up through a metal clamping plate, then through each of these spacers, and into a metal plate that is welded to the fuselage. They are used to keep the leaves in alignment. My leaves are 1-1/4" wide. My empty weight was 650 at the weigh-in, but probably closer to 660-670 by now. At weigh-in there was 43 lbs on the rear, 305 on one wheel and 302 on the other...funny how I can still remember those numbers. My extra weight on the rear undoubtedly came from the ribs that I built into the vertical and the rudder. You had to have the NEW springs from McBean re-arched? Why? Lynn Matteson Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger Jabiru 2200, #2062, 761.4 hrs Countdown to 1000 hrs~239 to go Sensenich 62"x46" Wood prop Electroair direct-fire ignition system Rotec TBI-40 injection Status: flying On Sep 9, 2009, at 6:20 PM, Patrick Reilly wrote: > Lynn. I had to have mine rearched and didn't have the top spring > rearched. I can have that done no problem if I decide to use it.. > What spacers are you talking about? Also what is the empty weight > of yur plane? > > Pat Reilly > ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 08:24:43 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: RE: Kitfox-List Digest: 14 Msgs - 09/06/09 From: Patrick Reilly Lynn, I have the bush gear which is 4" taller. The tailwheel pivot bolt did not have enough castor angle. As a matter of fact it had alot of the wrong castor angle. I had the spring flattened considerably. I don't think 4" taller landing gear made all the difference, but maybe. I don't have those spacers in my tailwheel mounting. Just the plate welded to the fusalage and the bottom plate. I wondered about the ability of my mounting to keep the spring from shifting sideways at that clamping point. Your plane weighs 32# more than mine. You have a much heavier engine. I don't remember the individual main weights. It is 590 on the mains and 38# on the rear. I really thought I would come in around 590#, but my plane has everything on it and doors that have a heavy latch system and gas struts. I can see how I went overboard, and could have eliminated maybe 50#. But damn it, I don't see how those boys bring a mod 3 kitfox in under 500# with anything at all on the plane. Pat Reilly Mod 3 582 Rebuild Rockford, IL On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 8:43 PM, Lynn Matteson wrote: > > There are two spacers, one on either side of the stack of leaves, and there > is a #10 AN bolt that goes up through a metal clamping plate, then through > each of these spacers, and into a metal plate that is welded to the > fuselage. They are used to keep the leaves in alignment. My leaves are > 1-1/4" wide. > My empty weight was 650 at the weigh-in, but probably closer to 660-670 by > now. At weigh-in there was 43 lbs on the rear, 305 on one wheel and 302 on > the other...funny how I can still remember those numbers. My extra weight on > the rear undoubtedly came from the ribs that I built into the vertical and > the rudder. > > You had to have the NEW springs from McBean re-arched? Why? > > Lynn Matteson > Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger > Jabiru 2200, #2062, 761.4 hrs > Countdown to 1000 hrs~239 to go > Sensenich 62"x46" Wood prop > Electroair direct-fire ignition system > Rotec TBI-40 injection > Status: flying > > > On Sep 9, 2009, at 6:20 PM, Patrick Reilly wrote: > > Lynn. I had to have mine rearched and didn't have the top spring >> rearched. I can have that done no problem if I decide to use it.. What >> spacers are you talking about? Also what is the empty weight of yur plane? >> >> Pat Reilly >> >> > > ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 11:33:18 PM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Wrecked a 2, 709, rudders, gear, two plane solution From: "wingman" Well you clearly have much more experience than me. I have flown only 1260 and 1220's and been satisfied. So i will hold my horses until i have tried the 1450's as well. -------- Kitfox IV 1200 Rotax 912 ULS on full lotus floats Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=262385#262385 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kitfox-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Kitfox-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/kitfox-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kitfox-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.