---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 10/02/10: 14 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 04:29 AM - Re: HKS (McCarthy Tom) 2. 06:01 AM - Re: HKS (Richard Neilsen) 3. 06:32 AM - Re: sorta kinda kolb related (Dana Hague) 4. 06:47 AM - torque wrenches (robert bean) 5. 07:02 AM - Re: sorta kinda kolb related (robert bean) 6. 07:25 AM - Ultralight/LSA confusion (David Kulp) 7. 07:25 AM - Re: sorta kinda kolb related (william sullivan) 8. 11:06 AM - Re: HKS & Kolb (JetPilot) 9. 05:39 PM - Re: HKS & Kolb (Larry Cottrell) 10. 07:46 PM - Re: HKS & Kolb (Richard Girard) 11. 08:13 PM - How well does the HKS work on a Kolb? (Richard Pike) 12. 08:21 PM - Re: HKS & Kolb (John Hauck) 13. 08:40 PM - Re: HKS & Kolb (Larry Cottrell) 14. 08:51 PM - Re: How well does the HKS work on a Kolb? (Larry Cottrell) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 04:29:28 AM PST US From: McCarthy Tom Subject: Re: Kolb-List: HKS I should have been a little more specific on my original post, I know better after being a long time lurker. I purchased the HKS with 50hrs on it that was on a trike with a 71" arplast ?sp I believe, it was reduced to a one blade when I got it. The real trick here is the gear box. I had to pitch the borrowed 68" Warp to 17 1/2 degrees to get the static rpm to 6000rpm, which I consider to be already marginal. It's the higher thrust line that I'm worried about. I might be able to turn the gear box down, and shim up the motor a bit,to get the 68" to fit, and after reading Richard's post, I wonder if a 4 blade might work as well. I'm not sure if a longer prop up higher,or a shorter blade lower is best, that's why I put it out there. I see a lot of 912 drivers are using 72", which Daryl said would work on this HKS, and thought that was the way to go at first. I'm hoping to get it up in the air again in the next week or so to try it as is. I think the HP rating should be fine for this bird, as it will only be a single seater with cargo space. I bought the Slingshot to replace the Firestar 5 rib, that couldn't be upgraded to a four stroke, and had no room to carry anything. Flying the Slingshot is nothing short of a hoot, I look forward to dialing it in, just as the original Firestar/377 is. Thanks again, Tom McCarthy N514 TM Zenith 601HD 240 hrs N414 TM Kolb Firestar 377, 594 hrs N863 GB Kolb Slingshot 154 hrs ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 06:01:14 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: HKS From: Richard Neilsen Tom I don't know much about the HKS or the Slingshot but I have played around with props on my VW powered MKIIIC. I would recommend the longer prop. You just get more thrust with the longer prop and you are a bit low on power so why not make it as efficient as possible. The down side might be the the long prop will not have the speed range of a shorter prop. I still think you can pitch the prop for cruise which will give you maybe less than optimal RPMs for takeoff but overall more thrust. This is really a black art but Kolbs like long slow props. Kolbs also like lower thrust lines as possible but the higher thrust line is better if you use it all with a longer prop. Also check with the HKS guy I know they put a HKS on a Slingshot. Rick Neilsen 1st Redrive VW Powered MKIIIC On Sat, Oct 2, 2010 at 7:26 AM, McCarthy Tom wrote: > I should have been a little more specific on my original post, I know > better after being a long time lurker. I purchased the HKS with 50hrs on it > that was on a trike with a 71" arplast ?sp I believe, it was reduced to a > one blade when I got it. The real trick here is the gear box. I had to > pitch the borrowed 68" Warp to 17 1/2 degrees to get the static rpm to > 6000rpm, which I consider to be already marginal. It's the higher thrust > line that I'm worried about. I might be able to turn the gear box down, and > shim up the motor a bit,to get the 68" to fit, and after reading Richard's > post, I wonder if a 4 blade might work as well. I'm not sure if a longer > prop up higher,or a shorter blade lower is best, that's why I put it out > there. I see a lot of 912 drivers are using 72", which Daryl said would > work on this HKS, and thought that was the way to go at first. I'm hoping > to get it up in the air again in the next week or so to try it as is. I > think the HP rating should be fine for this bird, as it will only be a > single seater with cargo space. I bought the Slingshot to replace the > Firestar 5 rib, that couldn't be upgraded to a four stroke, and had no room > to carry anything. Flying the Slingshot is nothing short of a hoot, I look > forward to dialing it in, just as the original Firestar/377 is. > > Thanks again, > * > > Tom McCarthy N514 TM Zenith 601HD 240 hrs N414 TM Kolb Firestar 377, 594 > hrs N863 GB Kolb Slingshot 154 hrs > > * > > * > > * > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 06:32:14 AM PST US From: Dana Hague Subject: Re: Kolb-List: sorta kinda kolb related All I know is that I have had bad luck with cheap Chinese bearings in the past evey time I've used them. If somebody offers me an unknown "equivalent" I ask where it's from, and if it's from China, no thanks. Same is true for rubber products (belts, vibration mounts, etc.). -Dana -------------------------------------------------- robert bean wrote: (10/01/2010 14:38) > > Hey guys, I stumbled on a great source. I was looking for some bearings for my -------- and the only local availability was > $20 per. This outfit mailed me a bag of ten for $15.00. For the shipping method I checked the "take your time" box (cheap) > and they arrived in two days. After some of the mail order hassles I've been through this year, this order was a pleasant surprise. > -Yah, I know they are probably cheap chinese junk but in the tough environment these are in it makes no difference. > I'd use them in a minute for my Kolb wheel bearings. I may order some of those too. > > http://www.vxb.com/ > > BB > ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 06:47:02 AM PST US From: robert bean Subject: Kolb-List: torque wrenches Kolbers: I checked through some of the archives and didn't see anything on this, so I'll offer some. I had recently bought another cheapo Harbor Fright click type torque wrench and checked it against a Sears beam type. The beams are very consistent and durable but lack good resolution and convenience. If you do use this method for calibration be sure to hold the pivot handle on the beam wrench in a free position and not touching fore or aft as this changes the arm. This wrench was the little $20 in lb model that goes from 20 to 200 inch lbs. 1/4" drive It was fairly close but lacks some linear accuracy . -that is if you correct it at, for instance, 100 in lbs, it will be slightly off at 175. The best way to overcome this deficiency would be to correct it for the setting you use most and attach a little chart to the handle for others. So, curiosity leading me on, I checked another old clicker I had, a longer handle 3/8" drive that I had used for a long time. I had checked it several years ago and was satisfied with the accuracy. -Not so this time. It had gotten off by an unacceptable degree. This model is very easy to adjust, with a little window for a screwdriver to stick in the handle. -again, linear accuracy is not perfect. I would imagine that a real, industrial quality torque wrench would be more accurate but all the clickers will shift over time and use. Two things to remember: in spite of what you may have been told, do not adjust them to slack. Always leave a small tension on the adjustment. This keeps the workings from shifting around and possibly goofing up the calibration. two: each time you use the wrench (and after every setting change) click it several times before doing the actual torque. BB all torqued up ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 07:02:02 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: sorta kinda kolb related From: robert bean Dana, on their web site they also sell brand name bearings. In my case these were for replacement on the front deck wheels of my husqvarna mower :) I'm sure the originals were of good quality but with the beating I give 'em it didn't make any difference. You are correct though, I wouldn't trust my life to chinese bearings. BB do not archive On 2, Oct 2010, at 9:31 AM, Dana Hague wrote: > > All I know is that I have had bad luck with cheap Chinese bearings in > the past evey time I've used them. If somebody offers me an unknown > "equivalent" I ask where it's from, and if it's from China, no thanks. > Same is true for rubber products (belts, vibration mounts, etc.). > > -Dana > > -------------------------------------------------- > robert bean wrote: > (10/01/2010 14:38) > >> >> Hey guys, I stumbled on a great source. I was looking for some bearings for my -------- and the only local availability was >> $20 per. This outfit mailed me a bag of ten for $15.00. For the shipping method I checked the "take your time" box (cheap) >> and they arrived in two days. After some of the mail order hassles I've been through this year, this order was a pleasant surprise. >> -Yah, I know they are probably cheap chinese junk but in the tough environment these are in it makes no difference. >> I'd use them in a minute for my Kolb wheel bearings. I may order some of those too. >> >> http://www.vxb.com/ >> >> BB >> > > > > > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 07:25:09 AM PST US From: David Kulp Subject: Kolb-List: Ultralight/LSA confusion ** Even at airports with control towers, after identifying myself (as above), as soon as the tower controller sights my Kolb, he'll come back with, "Ultralight three delta kilo, cleared to land." Sheesh! (In the famous words of Bugs Bunny, "What a maroon!") So instead of fighting the system, I eventually gave in, and began referring to myself on the radio as "Ultralight niner three delta kilo." But when I had this conversation with John Williamson a few years ago, in his wisdom and perpetual quest for correctness, he recommended I NOT identify myself as "ultralight," but rather continue to use the correct nomenclature, like "Experimental Kolb 93DK," or "Light Sport 93DK." "Do it the right way," he told me. I'll always remember that. Dennis/All; While GA pilots may be confused and uninformed about the difference between ultralight and LSA aircraft, you'd think that the instruction manual would get it right. Wrong! Check the attachment of a page from the Jeppesen ground school textbook. Two people enjoying the ride. Dave Kulp Bethlehem, PA FireFly 11DMK ** ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 07:25:11 AM PST US From: william sullivan Subject: Kolb-List: Re: sorta kinda kolb related - We tried all brands of wheel bearings in the trucking business, and the brand that outlasted all the rest was Timken.- The rest would chip, or t he chrome would flake off, or rust when the trailer had been parked in deep water.- This was with both domestic and foreign makes.- If you have a choice, get Timken.- I don't think the price was all that different. - do not acrhive ------------------------- ------------------------- --- Bill Sullivan ------------------------- ------------------------- --- Windsor Locks, Ct. ------------------------- ------------------------- --- FS 447 ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 11:06:46 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: HKS & Kolb From: "JetPilot" I just wonder why you are putting an HKS on a slingshot ??? This engine is really to small for that plane. It will probably fly but you will have a big compromise in speed and climb. I believe it will get off the ground, but these planes are so much more enjoyable when they are not underpowered. The best engine choice for that plane is the Rotax 912-S. Mike -------- "NO FEAR" - If you have no fear you did not go as fast as you could have !!! Kolb MK-III Xtra, 912-S Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=314414#314414 ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 05:39:48 PM PST US From: "Larry Cottrell" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: HKS & Kolb Tom, The only thing that I would worry about is the higher thrust line. Mine with the HKS and a 66 inch prop climbs when I give it power rather than cause me to hold up elevator. Mine is trimmed to 5300 and 5800 gives me about 200 fpm climb. Your plane, your choices! Larry Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history, which includes my email address. ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 07:46:33 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: HKS & Kolb From: Richard Girard Larry, Do you mean to say at WOT climb, you're only getting 200 fpm? I've measured the climb in my trike with a variometer on days from 60 to 100 degrees and the worst I ever got was 500 fpm at 800 lb. all up. On cooler days I've seem 800 fpm and that was with the smaller speed wing. Rick On Sat, Oct 2, 2010 at 7:36 PM, Larry Cottrell wrote: > Tom, > The only thing that I would worry about is the higher thrust line. Mine > with the HKS and a 66 inch prop climbs when I give it power rather than > cause me to hold up elevator. Mine is trimmed to 5300 and 5800 gives me > about 200 fpm climb. > Your plane, your choices! > Larry > > Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history, > which includes my email address. > > * > > * > > -- Zulu Delta Kolb Mk IIIC 582 Gray head 4.00 C gearbox 3 blade WD Thanks, Homer GBYM It is not bigotry to be certain we are right; but it is bigotry to be unable to imagine how we might possibly have gone wrong. - G.K. Chesterton ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 08:13:10 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: How well does the HKS work on a Kolb? From: "Richard Pike" The thread concerning the HKS really intrigues me - my first ride in a Kolb was in a basic Twinstar, the one with the open front end and a single carb 46 horse 503, and it performed VERY well with that combination, but it was obviously much lighter than my MKIII. I also got to fly a single carb (46 horse) 503 powered MKIII 2 up (Kolb used to offer that as one of the options) it was built very light, and it had all the performance of a Cessna 150... IOW it was a real dog. Obviously there is a lot of difference between a 46 horse 503 and a 60 horse HKS, I suspect that possibly the 4-stroke torque of the HKS would make it not all that much less that the way my MKIII performed with the original 532, which was quite acceptable. So my question is: Who out there is using an HKS, what are using it on, what does your airplane weigh, and how do you like it? Richard Pike MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=314452#314452 ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 08:21:48 PM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: HKS & Kolb Rick G/Gang: How does the trike compare to the FSII in performance/weight, etc? I guess the line of thrust on the trike (which I know very little to nothing about) is below the wing and the FSII above the wing. Did not realize the trike, all up, weighed that much, 800 lbs. john h mkIII Rock House, OR Larry, Do you mean to say at WOT climb, you're only getting 200 fpm? I've measured the climb in my trike with a variometer on days from 60 to 100 degrees and the worst I ever got was 500 fpm at 800 lb. all up. On cooler days I've seem 800 fpm and that was with the smaller speed wing. Rick ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 08:40:46 PM PST US From: "Larry Cottrell" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: HKS & Kolb Larry, Do you mean to say at WOT climb, you're only getting 200 fpm No, not at all. Well perhaps it seemed that I did. I have the plane trimmed to 5300 rpm hands off. When I increase the rpms to 5800 it climbs at 200 or more fpm hands off. On my trip to Burns recently, I left the rpm's at 5800 and was able to cruise at 67 MPH (GPS) and still climb to 7000 feet before I reached the Mountains that I needed to clear, and still only burn 3 gph. Larry Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history, which includes my email address. ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 08:51:09 PM PST US From: "Larry Cottrell" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: How well does the HKS work on a Kolb? Obviously there is a lot of difference between a 46 horse 503 and a 60 horse HKS, I suspect that possibly the 4-stroke torque of the HKS would make it not all that much less that the way my MKIII performed with the original 532, which was quite acceptable. So my question is: Who out there is using an HKS, what are using it on, what does your airplane weigh, and how do you like it? Richard, With the increased weight of the HKS along with the increased HP my take off performance is worse than it was with the 503 however the cruise is faster by about 4 MPH. and the climb is better by about 250 fpm. I do not have a correct weight for my Firestar II, but with me and full gas, (10 gal) I believe that it weighs about 700 lbs. Using bathroom scales and in as unscientific a manner as is possible I came up with 460 lbs empty. The value for me is the increase in rebuild time and fuel savings. The answer for me is yes its worth it. Larry Note: If you forward this email, please delete the forwarding history, which includes my email address. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kolb-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Kolb-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/kolb-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kolb-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.