---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 08/27/03: 25 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:03 AM - More wing (Kirk Smith) 2. 07:11 AM - Re: Props (Jack & Louise Hart) 3. 07:54 AM - Tailwheel (Larry Bourne) 4. 07:54 AM - Re: Cleaning Up The FireFly Continues. (Larry Bourne) 5. 07:54 AM - Re: Props (John Hauck) 6. 07:54 AM - Re: Props (Larry Bourne) 7. 07:55 AM - Re: special tap for mounting holes for Rotax gearbox? (Larry Bourne) 8. 08:37 AM - Web Pages (Larry Bourne) 9. 09:38 AM - Re: Tailwheel (Bob Bean) 10. 10:58 AM - Re: Tailwheel (John Hauck) 11. 10:58 AM - Re: powerfin? (Ben Ransom) 12. 11:25 AM - Re: powerfin? (John Hauck) 13. 12:02 PM - sprockets (Paul Petty) 14. 12:02 PM - Re: Tailwheel (possums) 15. 01:38 PM - EVO/Air (Paul Petty) 16. 01:42 PM - EVO/AIR (Paul Petty) 17. 06:02 PM - Re: Tailwheel (kuffel) 18. 06:08 PM - Re: sprockets (Bob Bean) 19. 06:11 PM - fho pah (Bob Bean) 20. 06:13 PM - Re: Tailwheel (John Cooley) 21. 07:13 PM - Re: Tailwheel (Richard Pike) 22. 07:32 PM - Re: Tailwheel (Richard & Martha Neilsen) 23. 07:51 PM - Engine (John Cooley) 24. 07:57 PM - Re: More wing (John Hauck) 25. 08:24 PM - gear boxes (Larry Cottrell) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:03:34 AM PST US From: "Kirk Smith" Subject: Kolb-List: More wing --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Kirk Smith" John H, Not sure if my answer to your question about adding more wing got posted. Didn't see it here. Anyway, the guy has made the Mark 3 a parasol wing. The gap between the wings is now wing also. More lift and parasitic drag and better air flow to the prop.......Kirk Do not archive ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:11:09 AM PST US From: Jack & Louise Hart Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Props --> Kolb-List message posted by: Jack & Louise Hart John, Your numbers were interesting, and what you said about adding hp is right on. The generalized drag formula is HP=kxDxLxVxVxV/375. where k=drag factor D=diameter - inches L=length - feet V=velocity - mph One can lump kxDxL/375 and call it a new constant K so HP=CxVxVxV Assuming your plane has not changed in any way except engine one can solve for C Using 65 HP and 80 mph <-cruise speed C=65/80x80x80 Using this value, and solving for V V=(HP/C)1/3 (1/3 is an exponent) For 95 HP V=91 mph cruise For 100HP V=92 mph cruise which match your cruise speeds fairly well. And if you up the power For 200HP V=116 mph cruise and one doubles the fuel flow for 14 mph. The only way to get more cruise speed out of the same HP is to reduce drag and profile. Some one who has done this in ultra lights is Morry Hummel. He has produced some very efficient slick designs and if you want to fly inside a tin can, this is the way to go. If you want to fly up front with your head out, there is the FireFly and other Kolb designs. Some work can be done to smooth out the Kolb designs, but they will never be defined as efficient. Jack B. Hart FF004 Jackson, MO At 06:52 PM 8/26/03 -0500, you wrote: >--> Kolb-List message posted by: John Hauck > >Kirk/All: > >Can you explain "then added some wing." please? > >I don't think I follow what you are saying. > >90 mph should be standard top speed for a 65 hp MK >III. > >1,000 FPM should be no sweat on 65 hp. > >I think I need to explain a few things about my >airplane. I started with a 582. It flew a few >MPH shy of what it does now with 95 hp. I know, >the 912S is rated at 100 hp, but if it is propped >for 5,500 rpm, that is 95 hp max continuous power. > >The increases in hp gave me the capability to >climb faster with heavier loads possibly. But top >speed has hovered around 95 mph. Seems to be a >brick wall about this speed range in the MK III. >No being educated in the "aeronautical >engineering" department, my guess is wing design >along with all the other parasitic drag inherent >in the MK III. > >Cruise speed was about 80 mph with 582, 85 mph >with 912, and 85 to 90 mph with the 912S. That >little bit of increase in cruise cost me about one >gph. Is it worth it? Yes, especially when you >throw in the increase in reliability over the >first generation 912 and increased climb >performance. But I lose out in spark plug >replacement which is 100 hours rather than 200 >hours with the 912. Oh well, can't have >everything. Gain something here, lose it over there. > >Thinking out loud again, > >john h > >do not archive > Jack & Louise Hart jbhart@ldd.net ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 07:54:45 AM PST US From: "Larry Bourne" Subject: Kolb-List: Tailwheel --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" I'm sure this has been gone over in the past, but can't remember specifics. I replaced my stock issue Kolb tailwheel with a "real" tailwheel. Don't remember which flavor, but it's the $140.00 one in the new Aircraft Spruce catalog. This is a dandy unit, but lacks the "breakaway" feature which would let it pivot all the way around. Being a cheapskate, I hate to spend another $250.00 on a proper one, so, here's my question..................can I get away with just eliminating the springs and chains from the rudder and just let the tailwheel caster on its' own back there ?? I have the heel brakes, so differential braking will give me control in turns, etc. Seems to me that airflow would keep it aligned properly while in flight, so it wouldn't veer when touching down. (??) I've asked several people during this trip, and got several answers/opinions. Whadda you guys think ?? Big Lar, expecting to be in El Paso, Texas by tomorrow (Wed) night. Larry Bourne Palm Springs, CA Kolb Mk III - Vamoose N78LB www.gogittum.com ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 07:54:45 AM PST US From: "Larry Bourne" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Cleaning Up The FireFly Continues. --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" Hokay..................with that thought in mind, what about this - to make Vamoose fit in that trailer, I had to cut the aileron counterbalance rod sockets about 4" to get clearance in the nose of the trailer. Do you think I'll need longer counterbalance rods, or will the existing ones be heavy enuf ?? Do you feel that the ailerons should balance "neutral" with the rods, or just off-set some of the weight ?? I had trouble figuring just where "neutral" was, cause of the weight of the flaps. Puzzled Lar, camped at Carlsbad Caverns, NM tonight. (at Ronnie Wehba's excellent suggestion, during our visit in Sweetwater, Texas today) Larry Bourne Palm Springs, CA Kolb Mk III - Vamoose N78LB www.gogittum.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Pike" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Cleaning Up The FireFly Continues. > --> Kolb-List message posted by: Richard Pike > > At 09:14 AM 8/26/03 -0500, you wrote: > > >--> Kolb-List message posted by: Jack & Louise Hart > > > >I am curious. What was your aileron chord, and at what speed did you > >experience the flutter? > > > >Jack B. Hart FF004 > >Jackson, MO > > Standard MKIII aileron, except with a trim tab added. (Leetle extra weight) > And flutter started at around 87-88 mph. > The aileron counter balancer from Kolb cured it. > > However, the MKIII was somewhat aileron flutter susceptible anyway, so who > knows? > > Richard Pike > MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) > > ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 07:54:48 AM PST US From: John Hauck Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Props --> Kolb-List message posted by: John Hauck > Some one who has done this in ultra lights is > Morry Hummel. He has produced some very > efficient slick designs and if you want to fly > inside a tin can, this is the way to go. If > you want to fly up front with your head out, > there is the FireFly and other Kolb designs. > Some work can be done to smooth out the Kolb > designs, but they will never be defined as > efficient. > > Jack B. Hart FF004 Jackson, MO Jack/Gang: Agree with you totally. My MK III may be slow and inefficient, but it high STOL performance and carries a lot of weight and volume. I would be hard pressed to try a cross country in a Hummel Bird. Probably one pair of clean drawers, my credit card, and sectionals. Thanks for all the numbers, but you lost me from the get go. :-) john h ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 07:54:57 AM PST US From: "Larry Bourne" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Props --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" Some time ago, I published a page on pitching the prop with a laser. It was far more accurate than the protractor, but my setup was pretty crude, too, and took a lot of cussing to make it work properly. With proper support for the laser, and a shady area, it'd be a simple and precise system. Food for thought. In this campground, I don't have immediate access to a phone line to check, but I believe I published it on the 1st page of http://www.gogittum.com . Look down by the "Picture Pages." Lar. Larry Bourne Palm Springs, CA Kolb Mk III - Vamoose N78LB www.gogittum.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Swiderski" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Props > --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Richard Swiderski" > > Dwight, > I have found that anything more than .5 degree difference makes a > noticable effect on performance. Richard Swiderski > > > With the recent prop discussion, I have a question for all. At Oshkosh > > this year I bought a Warp Drive prop protractor (great tool). I put it on > > my Ivo and found the two tips to be 2.5 degrees off from each other. I > > then checked my old Tennessee wood prop and found the tips to be 2 degrees > > off. Is this common for tips to be different from each other? > > ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 07:55:04 AM PST US From: "Larry Bourne" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: special tap for mounting holes for Rotax gearbox? --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" I didn't know special tolerances were available. A while back, (last year ??) I published a couple of photos on Photoshare that showed the difference between a couple of 3/8" fine pitch taps that I was going to use to chase the threads for the re-drive adapter on the flywheel. This is a very critical area and the bolts weren't threading easily, so I grabbed my handy Chinese tap to chase the threads, and it immediately started making a heavy cut - on a hole that had been torqued in the past. I stopped - instantly. With that heavy cut, torquing would have stripped the threads. Went down to the local Ace Hardware & Aircraft Supply with my calipers, and started checking taps. They ranged over several thou in actual size, so I picked the smallest and took it home. Did a beautiful job. Can anyone find that photoshare for me ?? As I said in the other post............I don't have access to a phone line, and then only for a few minutes, as others wait their turn. Lar. Larry Bourne Palm Springs, CA Kolb Mk III - Vamoose N78LB www.gogittum.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Swiderski" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: special tap for mounting holes for Rotax gearbox? > --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Richard Swiderski" > > Jim, > That was me. I didn't know different tolerences were an option when > buying taps. I used a standard tap for my 1st hole when converting a SeaDoo > 587 to a aviation 582. It was not acceptable, much too loose. My machinist > buddy ordered me a closer tolerance starting & bottom tap & it was perfect. > The tap was a Regal 8 X 1.25 D3. It has 1E08 on it as well. > > Richard Swiderski > > > I seem to remember vaguely that Richard or someone (sorry) recommended > > something I think was called a close tolerance tap for making the holes > for > > mounting a gearbox to an engine which was not already threaded for a > > gearbox. Is this ringing anyone's memory bell? I am about to tap the > > holes to mount a "C" box to a 6061 T651 plate, 0.65" thick, for "C" box > > mounting. > > > > Jim Gerken > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 08:37:37 AM PST US From: "Larry Bourne" Subject: Kolb-List: Web Pages --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" Just finishing publishing a couple more pages to the vacation website. I'm still way behind, but can now start work on the "Kitty Hawk" page. Go to my website, and "Traveling", or go direct by clicking on: http://www.webpictures.homestead.com/03homepage.html . Hope you enjoy 'em. Lar. Do not Archive. Larry Bourne Palm Springs, CA Kolb Mk III - Vamoose N78LB www.gogittum.com ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 09:38:09 AM PST US From: Bob Bean Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Tailwheel --> Kolb-List message posted by: Bob Bean Lar, we'd all like to have the video cam rolling for that landing :) -nice stiff springs are the route to go....I must check into the compression method some on the list are using, where do I buy them? -BB do not archive Larry Bourne wrote: >--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" > >I'm sure this has been gone over in the past, but can't remember specifics. I replaced my stock issue Kolb tailwheel with a "real" tailwheel. Don't remember which flavor, but it's the $140.00 one in the new Aircraft Spruce catalog. This is a dandy unit, but lacks the "breakaway" feature which would let it pivot all the way around. Being a cheapskate, I hate to spend another $250.00 on a proper one, so, here's my question..................can I get away with just eliminating the springs and chains from the rudder and just let the tailwheel caster on its' own back there ?? I have the heel brakes, so differential braking will give me control in turns, etc. Seems to me that airflow would keep it aligned properly while in flight, so it wouldn't veer when touching down. (??) I've asked several people during this trip, and got several answers/opinions. Whadda you guys think ?? Big Lar, expecting to be in El Paso, Texas by tomorrow (Wed) night. > >Larry Bourne >Palm Springs, CA >Kolb Mk III - Vamoose N78LB >www.gogittum.com > > > > ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 10:58:13 AM PST US From: John Hauck Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Tailwheel --> Kolb-List message posted by: John Hauck I must check into the compression > method some on the list are using, where do I buy them? -BB Bob/All: Any of the acft supply houses probably have them. Maule has a spring kit for their tail wheels, one large and one small spring. I had a couple kits and pieces, decided to use the two smaller springs (compression) because they worked better in my situation. Rudder horn is smaller than the tail wheel horn, screws up my geometry a little. john h ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 10:58:25 AM PST US From: Ben Ransom Subject: Re: Kolb-List: powerfin? --> Kolb-List message posted by: Ben Ransom I flew my Firestar (447) with a warp (66"?) high aspect ratio for 4 years (170 hours or so) and then tried a Powerfin. That ended after just 4 or 5 good fun flights and the ruin of my plane from breaking away from its tie-downs. In those first 4-5 flights, I was working on optimizing the powerfin performance. I don't recall off-hand which model from Powerfin, but I think it was a B cut, and pretty new from Powerfin at that time (early 1999). Powerfin worked with me to advise on trimming off a little diameter as I was the first 447 Firestar to use this. I believe I got the prop pitch and diameter about as close to ideal as possible -- of course, I didn't want to trim diameter too far as you can't add back. :) As of last tests with this prop, it gave me just a little lower climb performance, and barely noticeble less cruise compared to the Warp. However, it was also a little smoother, as expected. The Warp is smooth enf while flying, just a jumpy racket at low to idle rpm. (If you have good brakes, run a high idle and sit on the brakes when passing admirers.) If I recall correctly, Dennis of orig Kolb advised against the Warp on the smaller engines, but great on the bigger ones. I still love the performance of the Warp -- I doubt if it can be beat. There might be some question as to whether the B gearbox will last as long with the Warp. -Ben Ransom First flight after rebuild expected in 2-3 weeks ...stay tuned. --- Jim Gerken wrote: > --> Kolb-List message posted by: Jim Gerken > > > >I have been looking for another propeller with a broad blade. I > came > across Powerfin. > >They make claims of lower inertia than, 1/3 the flexure of, and > better > >performance than the IVO. Does anyone have any experience with > Powerfin > on > >a Kolb product? If so, how has it performed? > > >Jack B. Hart FF004 > >Jackson, M > > I used a 3 blade 66" Powerfin original design blade prop for six > years/170 > hours. It performed perfectly for me. It would not survive a bolt > or > spark plug passing thru it as well as a Warp prop would, but other > than > that, it beats Warp in many ways. Most guys in the know agree that > if you > can beat a Warp, buy it. Powerfin weighs less, has lower rotational > inertia, better aerodynamics. Hans did a back to back with Warp, > Ivo, > Powerfin and found Powerfin to be slightly more efficient than others > tested. Powerfin runs smoother than Warp due to slightly more > flexible, > but is not nearly as flexible as Ivo so will not require the 5" > clearance > of Ivo. The newest Powerfins (B or F blade designs) are more > efficient > than my old A blade. My A blade was pitched for use with a 582 on a > Mkiii, "C" box at 2.62:1, 6200 static, 6600 WOT level flight at 93 > mph. > Climb was excellent, I had no vertical indicator but, with 20 mph > headwind > the plane would go very nearly straight up. I kept the prop and will > now > use it on the BMW. BMW progress report soon. > > > Jim Gerken > > > > > > > > ===== http://mae.ucdavis.edu/~ransom __________________________________ http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 11:25:07 AM PST US From: John Hauck Subject: Re: Kolb-List: powerfin? --> Kolb-List message posted by: John Hauck If I recall > correctly, Dennis of orig Kolb advised against the Warp on the smaller > engines, but great on the bigger ones. I still love the performance of > the Warp -- I doubt if it can be beat. There might be some question as > to whether the B gearbox will last as long with the Warp. > > -Ben Ransom Ben/All: If Dennis Souder is lurking, perhaps he will enlighten us on why he would advise not running the Warp two blade on smaller Rotax with B gearbox. Heck, I remember seeing folks running 3 blade warps on the B gearbox on 582's. Thanks for the info Ben. Waiting patiently for you to get back into the air. Good luck. john h ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 12:02:03 PM PST US From: "Paul Petty" Subject: Kolb-List: sprockets --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Paul Petty" Kolbers, Anyone know where I might find a 41 tooth #40 Double stran sprocket besides WW Grainger? pp do not archive ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 12:02:25 PM PST US From: possums Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Tailwheel --> Kolb-List message posted by: possums At 06:47 PM 8/26/2003 -0700, you wrote: I did that once - off St. Simon's Island. Lost a spring while landing on a sand bar (on a stock Firestar wheel). Just happened to notice it before I took off. Couldn't find the missing one - so it seemed only reasonable to take the other one off and let it caster, rather than leave on just the one. My next landing was on Jekyll Island and I lost almost complete control as soon as my rear wheel touched down - YEEFRIGGINHAAA. Did a nice 45 degree turn across the grass and taxie/parking area. If there had been any planes there I would have hit them. My friend - sitting on the ground thought I was doing it on purpose and thought it was hilarious. Got one of them real $250 wheels now. >--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" > >I'm sure this has been gone over in the past, but can't remember >specifics. I replaced my stock issue Kolb tailwheel with a "real" >tailwheel. Don't remember which flavor, but it's the $140.00 one in the >new Aircraft Spruce catalog. This is a dandy unit, but lacks the >"breakaway" feature which would let it pivot all the way around. Being a >cheapskate, I hate to spend another $250.00 on a proper one, so, here's my >question..................can I get away with just eliminating the springs >and chains from the rudder and just let the tailwheel caster on its' own >back there ?? I have the heel brakes, so differential braking will give >me control in turns, etc. Seems to me that airflow would keep it aligned >properly while in flight, so it wouldn't veer when touching >down. (??) I've asked several people during this trip, and got several >answers/opinions. Whadda you guys think ?? Big Lar, >expecting to be in El Paso, Texas by tomorrow (Wed) night. > >Larry Bourne ________________________________ Message 15 ____________________________________ Time: 01:38:51 PM PST US From: "Paul Petty" Subject: Kolb-List: EVO/Air --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Paul Petty" For anyone that has not seen the Harley run go here. www.c-gate.net/ppetty/testrun032303.wmv The website is www.c-gate.net/~ppetty pp ________________________________ Message 16 ____________________________________ Time: 01:42:22 PM PST US From: "Paul Petty" Subject: Kolb-List: EVO/AIR --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Paul Petty" Opps! try this www.c-gate.net/ppetty/TestRun032303.wmv pp ________________________________ Message 17 ____________________________________ Time: 06:02:34 PM PST US From: kuffel Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Tailwheel --> Kolb-List message posted by: kuffel Big Lar, <> Strongly agree with all the negative comments. In a taildragger you will sooner or later need every ounce of yaw control you can muster. Attach the wheel, then for the rare times you need to turn sharper than the wheel will allow after you have started the engine, just add power (gently), full "down" elevator and perhaps inside brake. The tail will easily skid the wheel sideways. Hope your Grand Tour was as much fun as it looked from here. Tom Kuffel Whitefish, MT Building Original FireStar ________________________________ Message 18 ____________________________________ Time: 06:08:15 PM PST US From: Bob Bean Subject: Re: Kolb-List: sprockets --> Kolb-List message posted by: Bob Bean Paul, I have a Bearings Inc. catalog and they show 40 and 42 but no 41. They sell Bruening, Dixie and King. There is type B (slip on) , QD and taper-lock. -BB Paul Petty wrote: >--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Paul Petty" > >Kolbers, >Anyone know where I might find a 41 tooth #40 Double stran sprocket besides WW Grainger? > >pp >do not archive > > > > ________________________________ Message 19 ____________________________________ Time: 06:11:20 PM PST US From: Bob Bean Subject: Kolb-List: fho pah --> Kolb-List message posted by: Bob Bean Arrrggghh, had to do it someday too, sorry, meant for Paul Petty, sprocket head, -BB do not archive ________________________________ Message 20 ____________________________________ Time: 06:13:29 PM PST US From: "John Cooley" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Tailwheel --> Kolb-List message posted by: "John Cooley" --> Kolb-List message posted by: John Hauck I must check into the compression > method some on the list are using, where do I buy them? -BB Bob, Gang, Got mine from Aircraft Spruce. Page 220 of the 2002-2003 catalog. Later, John Cooley . ________________________________ Message 21 ____________________________________ Time: 07:13:11 PM PST US From: Richard Pike Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Tailwheel --> Kolb-List message posted by: Richard Pike No you have to have the springs. And you don't need the breakaway tailwheel feature, that's what the down elevator is for, to raise the tail up off the ground and pivot it around. (Or stand it on it's nose and amuse the neighbors) (Guess how I know this?) You can get the springs from Aircraft Spruce (Maule) or from Ace Hardware, etc and make them up yourself, I did. Let me know if you want a picture off list. Richard Pike MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) do not archive At 06:47 PM 8/26/03 -0700, you wrote: >--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" > >I'm sure this has been gone over in the past, but can't remember >specifics. I replaced my stock issue Kolb tailwheel with a "real" >tailwheel. Don't remember which flavor, but it's the $140.00 one in the >new Aircraft Spruce catalog. This is a dandy unit, but lacks the >"breakaway" feature which would let it pivot all the way around. Being a >cheapskate, I hate to spend another $250.00 on a proper one, so, here's my >question..................can I get away with just eliminating the springs >and chains from the rudder and just let the tailwheel caster on its' own >back there ?? I have the heel brakes, so differential braking will give >me control in turns, etc. Seems to me that airflow would keep it aligned >properly while in flight, so it wouldn't veer when touching >down. (??) I've asked several people during this trip, and got several >answers/opinions. Whadda you guys think ?? Big Lar, >expecting to be in El Paso, Texas by tomorrow (Wed) night. > >Larry Bourne >Palm Springs, CA >Kolb Mk III - Vamoose N78LB >www.gogittum.com > > ________________________________ Message 22 ____________________________________ Time: 07:32:48 PM PST US From: "Richard & Martha Neilsen" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Tailwheel --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Richard & Martha Neilsen" Larry You need tail wheel springs. You need them for landing if you are ever going to land in more than a 5 MPH wind. Brakes should get you from 1-5 MPH range without springs but beyond that you need both. You remember my post about control problems in 15-20 MPH winds. Without springs I would have been in big trouble. You can't always restrict yourself to no wind. Another issue is with the take off. You need to counter a change in direction that will occur at low air speeds when you add power and with the high thrust line you will have, the LAST thing you want to do is hit a brake. Also I spent the $ for the full swivel tail wheel so that I could maneuver easily. I never had a problem with the original bogy wheel tail wheel. If I didn't need the ability to easily pivot on a point I would have stayed with the original wheel. Rick Neilsen Redrive VW powered MKIIIc ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Bourne" Subject: Kolb-List: Tailwheel > --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Bourne" > > I'm sure this has been gone over in the past, but can't remember specifics. I replaced my stock issue Kolb tailwheel with a "real" tailwheel. Don't remember which flavor, but it's the $140.00 one in the new Aircraft Spruce catalog. This is a dandy unit, but lacks the "breakaway" feature which would let it pivot all the way around. Being a cheapskate, I hate to spend another $250.00 on a proper one, so, here's my question..................can I get away with just eliminating the springs and chains from the rudder and just let the tailwheel caster on its' own back there ?? I have the heel brakes, so differential braking will give me control in turns, etc. Seems to me that airflow would keep it aligned properly while in flight, so it wouldn't veer when touching down. (??) ________________________________ Message 23 ____________________________________ Time: 07:51:21 PM PST US From: "John Cooley" Subject: Kolb-List: Engine --> Kolb-List message posted by: "John Cooley" Hi Gang, I am no longer engine-less for the Mark III that I am building. Made a good deal on a 912S package today with John Russell, if there is such a thing as a good deal on a Rotax 912. Getting everything needed to mount and fly on the Mark III. I have been busy making mods to the frame and have finished the Hauck brothers special landing gear (many thanks goes out to Jim and John Hauck for all the information and endless questions they have put up with). I have modified the bottom vertical stabilizer with chrome-moly to take the extra abuse and weight. I have also built gull wing door frames out of 1/2 x .028 chrome-moly tubing and took out the big bulge at shoulder height of the stock setup. Still have plenty of room for two 220+ pounders, more headroom and will hopefully get a little better air flow to the prop. Maybe in a year or so I will be able to make one of those Monument Valley trips, Oshkosh, Sun-n-fun or whatever comes up. Sounds like a lot of fun. Later, John Cooley ________________________________ Message 24 ____________________________________ Time: 07:57:15 PM PST US From: John Hauck Subject: Re: Kolb-List: More wing --> Kolb-List message posted by: John Hauck > John H, Not sure if my answer to your question > about adding more wing got posted. Kirk Kirk/All: Yes sir, it did. I read but did not respond. Are you by chance referring to Woody's T-Bird Kolb clone? john h DO NOT ARCHIVE ________________________________ Message 25 ____________________________________ Time: 08:24:37 PM PST US From: "Larry Cottrell" Subject: Kolb-List: gear boxes --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Larry Cottrell" Could someone explain to me the differences and advantages of different gear ratios. For instance I have a 3:1 gear reduction on my 582. The reason for the question is that I sent in my "in flight adjustable motor to IVO in Long Beach Calif for repair. The guy wanted to know what my gear ratio was. When I told him he proceeded to try to sell me a medium blade rather than the "light" ones that I have. I didn't tell him if I was to actually change blades it would probably be a warp. :-) Anyway if anyone has a plain layman simple explanation of the differences between the different drives I would be grateful. Larry