---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 12/05/12: 5 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:13 AM - Re: Re: Tail reinforcement... revisited (John Hauck) 2. 07:44 AM - Re: Re: Tail reinforcement... revisited (Rick Neilsen) 3. 02:03 PM - Tail up grades... (Nick Cassara) 4. 04:01 PM - Re: Tail up grades... (John Hauck) 5. 05:51 PM - Re: Tail up grades... (Larry Cottrell) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:13:15 AM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: RE: Kolb-List: Re: Tail reinforcement... revisited Rebuild the lower tail fin with a heavier steel gusset and thicker wall tubing. Which will support a full swivel locking tail wheel. Dennis T/Kolbers: The above is ok for a temporary fix. Eventually, the tail post will break again. With larger and heavier repairs on my MKIII, we continued to experience failures until my friend Dan Horton came up with the idea of two external struts which create triangles that laterally brace the tail post. Looks like lateral stress from ground handling is the culprit breaking our tail posts. Struts can be fabricated using 4130 or aluminum strap or tubing, and attached with 3/16 bolts. No need for welding which creates a need for paint and fabric repair. Has anyone had a tail post failure after installing external struts? john h mkIII Titus, Alabama ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:44:09 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: Tail reinforcement... revisited From: Rick Neilsen I added 1/8 by 1 inch aluminum straps one on each side (like John suggested) to better control the tail wheel stress on my VW powered MKIIIC. I'm a big believer of learning from others. I figured the two straps one acting in tension in each direction would be enough to strengthen the tail post. I have about 400 hours on the fix with no issues. I also have been criticized a few times about abusing the tail with aggressive ground handling on rough ground. Rick Neilsen Redrive VW Powered MKIIIC On Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 9:12 AM, John Hauck wrote: > > > > Rebuild the lower tail fin with a heavier steel gusset and thicker wall > tubing. Which will support a full swivel locking tail wheel. > > > Dennis T/Kolbers: > > The above is ok for a temporary fix. Eventually, the tail post will break > again. With larger and heavier repairs on my MKIII, we continued to > experience failures until my friend Dan Horton came up with the idea of two > external struts which create triangles that laterally brace the tail post. > Looks like lateral stress from ground handling is the culprit breaking our > tail posts. > > Struts can be fabricated using 4130 or aluminum strap or tubing, and > attached with 3/16 bolts. No need for welding which creates a need for > paint and fabric repair. > > Has anyone had a tail post failure after installing external struts? > > john h > mkIII > Titus, Alabama > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 02:03:55 PM PST US From: "Nick Cassara" Subject: Kolb-List: Tail up grades... Hello John, Thanks for figuring out what I was trying to ask the "List." I think I understand most of what you described, but where did you mount the "saddle" on the boom. Was the Saddle haft the circumference on the boom tube, and riveted to the boom? What material did you use, " In addition to bracing the tail post" for this bracing? Thank you very much, Nick Cassara Palmer, AK 607AK ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 04:01:40 PM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: RE: Kolb-List: Tail up grades... where did you mount the =93saddle=94 on the boom. -Was the Saddle haft the circumference on the boom tube, and riveted to the boom? - What material did you use, =93 In addition to bracing the tail post=94 for this bracing? Nick Cassara Nick C/Kolbers: I included the two previous photos of my lower vertical stabilizer and tail post braces. At the forward end of the lower vertical stabilizer the 4130 saddle is visible. We fabricated the lower vertical stabilizer on my MKIII from 4130 because we knew this was a high stress area during ground handling/taxi. The saddle was cut out of a section of 4130 tail boom ring, welded to the forward end of the lower vertical stabilizer and pop riveted to the bottom of the tail boom. john h mkIII Titus, Alabama ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 05:51:05 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Tail up grades... From: Larry Cottrell I did it a little differently from John. I am sure that he and Jim did it right, I modified an existing screw up and just drilled through the ring at the back of the tube. The ring is under no stress, and a new hole in it isn't going to hurt a thing, so I could find no reason to make it any more complicated than necessary. I used some alum tubing for the brace. Just be sure you don't split it when you flatten the ends. Your options are open and do as you think right. Larry On Wed, Dec 5, 2012 at 3:03 PM, Nick Cassara wrote: > Hello John,**** > > ** ** > > Thanks for figuring out what I was trying to ask the =93List.=94 I think I > understand most of what you described, but where did you mount the =93sad dle=94 > on the boom. Was the Saddle haft the circumference on the boom tube, and > riveted to the boom? **** > > What material did you use, =93 In addition to bracing the tail post=94 fo r > this bracing?**** > > ** ** > > Thank you very much,**** > > ** ** > > Nick Cassara**** > > ** ** > > Palmer, AK**** > > ** ** > > 607AK**** > > * > =========== =========== =========== =========== > * > > -- *If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email address before sending.* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.