---------------------------------------------------------- Kitfox-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 03/12/10: 10 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 05:13 AM - Re: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics (fox5flyer) 2. 05:20 AM - Re: Re: Northstar problems (fox5flyer) 3. 05:57 AM - Re: help--how to mount wingtips. help--how to mount wingtips. (Catz631@aol.com) 4. 06:20 AM - Re: Brake pedal ergonomics (Tom Jones) 5. 07:54 AM - Re: Brake pedal ergonomics (Mark Napier (napierm)) 6. 09:03 AM - Re: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics (Joel Mapes) 7. 11:40 AM - Re: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics (Pete Christensen) 8. 04:21 PM - Re: Northstar problems (akflyer) 9. 04:28 PM - Re: Brake pedal ergonomics (akflyer) 10. 06:51 PM - Re: Brake pedal ergonomics (WurlyBird) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 05:13:08 AM PST US From: "fox5flyer" Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics Rick, I had the same problems with the toe brakes on my model II, like many others. My fix was to just keep a pair of moose hide moccasins in the airplane and change out of my shoes whenever I would fly. They enabled me to "feel" the toe brakes and solved the problem. Deke ----- Original Message ----- From: Weiss Richard To: kitfox-list@matronics.com Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 10:57 PM Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics I have the same problem on my Model V. To angle my size 13 feet back in order to keep my toes off the brakes is difficult. On my last landing I went to put in some right rudder and ended up braking the right wheel. It was fun screeching off to the right rapidly and unexpectedly! The fix I made was to cut a one inch square of wood as wide as the pedal. I secured it with duct tape, which actually holds the world together, so I know it won't come off. I fit checked it while in the hangar, ( I now clear the brake by about =BC of an inch) but haven't flown it. If it works, I plan to make an aluminum copy of it and bolt it to the pedal, unless of course the duct tape works out good, in which case I'll stick with it (pun intended). It reminds me when I was a kid and had blocks on the pedals because I couldn't reach them:-) Rick Weiss N39RW Series V Speedster, 912ULS SkyStar S/N 1 Port Orange, FL On Mar 11, 2010, at 9:29 PM, WurlyBird wrote: I sure hope there is a good solution to this one because it is in the front of m time about every time I do a landing and forget to move my feet completely off the brakes, and then have to remove my feet from the pedals to get back on the brakes when I transition to taxiing. The mechanics of these brakes really should have been re-thought somewhere between Mk 1 and however far these things went, I know at least to Mk 3. -------- James Kitfox 3 / 582 / GSC prop The ink is still drying on my new certificate Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290072#290072 - The Kitfox-List --> &n======================== ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 05:20:03 AM PST US From: "fox5flyer" Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Re: Northstar problems Yup, correcto, Lynn. I replaced it with a 2-gallon aluminum tank with an even bigger sump and bottom drain. Deke Morisse Mikado Michigan S5/Subaru/CAP 438+ TT Previously Model 2 582 400 Hrs "If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there'd be a shortage of sand." -- Nobel prize-winning economist Milton Friedman (1912-2006) > I think that's what Jim was pointing out, Noel. If you look at the > picture again, you'll see a fitting....looks like a quick- > drain....underneath the header tank. I think Jim just hasn't got around > to cutting the fabric at that point...or am I full of it again, Jim? : ) > > Aren't the present tanks equipped with the bottom drain? Mine is, and I > think it was from a model 5 if not mistaken....Deke? > > Lynn Matteson > Kitfox IV Speedster, taildragger > Jabiru 2200, #2062, 876.7 hrs (since 3-27-2006) > Countdown to 1000 hrs~124 to go(135 days to go) > Sensenich 62"x46" Wood (summer) > Sensenich 55.5" x 46" Wood (winter) > Electroair direct-fire ignition system > Rotec TBI-40 injection > Status: flying (and learning) > > > On Mar 11, 2010, at 3:40 PM, Noel Loveys wrote: > >> You need an access port on the bottom of the fuse to take samples from >> your header. A nice addition on future header tanks would be for the >> tank to have a small sump on the bottom to trap water. >> >> >> >> Noel >> >> >> >> From: owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-kitfox- >> list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Zimmermans >> Sent: March 10, 2010 1:15 AM >> To: kitfox-list@matronics.com >> Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Northstar problems >> >> >> >> Here you can see the outlet on the front and the drain in the bottom. >> >> Jim Series 5 0-200 >> >> 21D MN >> >> ============================================================ _- >> ============================================================ _- >> contribution_- >> =========================================================== > > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 05:57:42 AM PST US From: Catz631@aol.com Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: help--how to mount wingtips. help--how to mount wingtips. Here is a reason to have removable tips. I just replaced my strobes and had to rewire the wing for the new system, This involved stringing a 5 wire cable vs the 3 wire that was originally in the wing. The original builder had fastened the old cable to a rib with a tie wrap as it exited the rear spar. If the tips were not removeable,I wouldn't have had access to that tie wrap. Removable tips also gave me access to spar/wing inspection. I did find a small amount of surface corrosion in my rear spar and was able to treat it from the wing tip access. I am very glad the builder had the forethought to make the wing tips removable. Dick Maddux Fox 4 Milton,Fl ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 06:20:41 AM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics From: "Tom Jones" > I made the square blocks that are the links between the piston rod > and the fixed point (?) longer. What this did was to rotate the top > of the pedal toward me, and made my short legs reach the tops of the > pedals. It seems like I also shortened the cables, too, bringing the > whole pedal closer. > > Lynn Matteson I had not even thought of adjusting the cables. That may be the fix for me. I have the adjustable connecting links. If that doesn't help then the blocks mentioned by a few will be my next modification. -------- Tom Jones Classic IV 503 Rotax, 72 inch Two blade Warp Ellensburg, WA Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290102#290102 ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 07:54:16 AM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics From: "Mark Napier (napierm)" Hey James, The brakes on my 3 bothered me too. A fix that helps a lot is using the KF 4 style E pedals. On the 3 the brakes are connected to the rudder bars, not on the floor. To make them fit you need the 4 style E pedals from the passenger (right) side. They will fit pilot (left) side on the 3. I had to make two mods. One is that the tube that went through the pedal (hinge tube?) was too short so I welded on an extension. The other was that the lower corner of the tab that connects to the brake tended to hit the clevis so I had to grind on it some. You could probably get Kitfox Aircraft to make you a pair: just ask them to make the center tube a couple of inches longer than normal. You can cut it to length with a hacksaw. With that done you can keep your feet on the pedals without actuating the brakes by mistake. I did still have the issue others have mentioned. With the pedal near the firewall you have to push hard with your toes to actuate the brakes. The right foot is worse because I have big feet and the top of my shoe would catch on the throttle bell-crank and cables if I didn't think to keep that foot low. I also adjusted the cable length to compensate for my long legs and big butt. In the end the cockpit is large enough to keep me comfortable even on long cross countries. Have fun, Mark ------------------------------------------------------------- Time: 06:29:59 PM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics From: "WurlyBird" I sure hope there is a good solution to this one because it is in the front of m time about every time I do a landing and forget to move my feet completely off the brakes, and then have to remove my feet from the pedals to get back on the brakes when I transition to taxiing. The mechanics of these brakes really should have been re-thought somewhere between Mk 1 and however far these things went, I know at least to Mk 3. -------- James Kitfox 3 / 582 / GSC prop The ink is still drying on my new certificate Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290072#290072 ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 09:03:08 AM PST US From: Joel Mapes Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics I made a similar arrangement using scraps of plastic/wood decking material. Totally water and rot proof=2C lighter than aluminum and easier to work wi th. Joel=2C Kitfox V 912ULS Warp _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search=2C chat and e-mail from your inbox .. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID27925::T:WLMTAGL:O N:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:032010_3 ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 11:40:30 AM PST US From: "Pete Christensen" Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics I have my idle set so that I hardly use the brakes. As a matter of fact I flew to Oshkosh last summer and my right brake went out in route and I had no problem waiting until I got home to fix it. Pete Kitfox III, 912 Leander, TX ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 04:21:55 PM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Northstar problems From: "akflyer" Float Flyr wrote: > Those glass bowls were pretty hefty and hard as nails... I expect it was > not the glass that broke but the body (top ) of the gascolator. Like any > other fitting on the fuel system if it breaks that is not good. Don't > forget the location of that glass bowl is the lowest part of the whole fuel > system. As to whether or not Lynn's filters are susceptible to fracture I'm > sure the manufacturers have done studies on it. > > Noel > > -- no, it was the glass. I have not seen any glass that would not break and the aluminum housing would. Last time I checked, the metal was alot tougher than the glass. When I stuffed the pacer (short wing piper death trap for some of you out there :-) ) in, the glass shattered on it, but I was fortunate enough that it did not ignite. easy test, go smack one with a hammer and tell me if the glass shatters or the metal housing fails. Lynn is probably right in thinking that if his break, he probably wont be in any shape to scream, or worry about the ensuing flames. FWIW, I have plastic see through filters on mine with the rounded barbs and they have not given me any trouble. one started to plug off, but I knew it right away as my fuel flow was running lower than it should have been on my flow meter. I kicked on the electric back up pump and set it down in short order and swapped it (I carry 2 spares). -------- DO NOT ARCHIVE Leonard Perry aka SNAKE Soldotna AK Avid "C" / Mk IV 582 (100 hrs and counting on the rebuild) IVO IFA Full Lotus 1450 #1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009 I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die.... Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290156#290156 ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 04:28:57 PM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics From: "akflyer" http://www.avidfoxflyers.com/index.php?/topic/541-pic-request/ Good thread on the brake geometry, and what one guy has done to fix the issue. I will have a set of his pedals if I ever take the floats of and go back to wheels. As you can see in the pics that C5 posted, there is a small bar that your feet hit on to keep you off the brakes when you are trying to only use the rudder! -------- DO NOT ARCHIVE Leonard Perry aka SNAKE Soldotna AK Avid "C" / Mk IV 582 (100 hrs and counting on the rebuild) IVO IFA Full Lotus 1450 #1 snake oil salesman since 1-22-2009 I would rather die trying to live, than to live trying not to die.... Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290157#290157 ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 06:51:28 PM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: Brake pedal ergonomics From: "WurlyBird" Does anyone have a picture or two they can post of what they are talking about? It sounds like some of you are saying you attached a block to the front side of the rudder pedal, which would certainly help me as I am also one of those short people, which shifts the function of the brake farther back from the seat. If this is the case is there still plenty of room to apply full brake? -------- James Kitfox 3 / 582 / GSC prop The ink is still drying on my new certificate Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290165#290165 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.