---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sun 10/27/13: 7 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 09:48 AM - Re: Xtra Steering Problems (Roy Spangler) 2. 10:41 AM - Re: Xtra Steering Problems (John Hauck) 3. 04:55 PM - Re: Xtra Steering Problems (Larry Dunphy) 4. 05:24 PM - Re: Xtra Steering Problems (kinne russ) 5. 05:34 PM - Reklaw Fly-In (Jimmy Young) 6. 05:39 PM - Re: Xtra Steering Problems (Larry Dunphy) 7. 06:07 PM - Re: Reklaw Fly-In (John Hauck) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 09:48:42 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Xtra Steering Problems From: Roy Spangler Brad, In the for what it's worth department. If the wheels toe out even a little bit you'll have a handful. roy On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 3:43 PM, Brad Nation wrote: > I=92m having steering problems with my Xtra. Two Issues: > > 1. I was doing some familiarization taxing. I taxied it down the > runway at about 3000 RPM and it was all over the place. At first I tho ugh I > was just over controlling it but I don=92t think that is the case. I t ried a > few times with the same result. I the last attempt I ended running off the > side of the runway. I had another experienced Kolb pilot (Dennis Kir by) > taxi it as well. We aborted the taxi test because we were unable to t urn > to the right even with full right brake and power. After getting back to > the hanger we had a look at the tail wheel and noticed that the linkag e > from the rudder to the tail wheel seemed loose. I shortened the chains by > one link. However, can the chain linkage be too tight? > > 2. The tail wheel is somewhat hard to unlock going clockwise (nose is > 12:00) and very very difficult, if at all, going counter clock wise. I > have regressed the tailwheel but that doesn=92t seem to help. > > > Thanks in advance, > > Yellow Bird 1 > (Brad) > MKIII Xtra > N952DK > > > * > =========== =========== =========== =========== > * > > ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 10:41:05 AM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: RE: Kolb-List: Xtra Steering Problems Yellow Bird 1/Kolbers: I use compression springs. Some of the springs issued with Kolb kits do not have enough tension to do the job. The rudder is deflected, but the spring stretches and the tail wheel does not respond. Here are some from Aircraft Spruce: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/lgpages/06-15700.php john h mkIII Titus, Alabama I'm having steering problems with my Xtra. Two Issues: 1. I was doing some familiarization taxing. I taxied it down the runway at about 3000 RPM and it was all over the place. At first I though I was just over controlling it but I don't think that is the case. I tried a few times with the same result. I the last attempt I ended running off the side of the runway. I had another experienced Kolb pilot (Dennis Kirby) taxi it as well. We aborted the taxi test because we were unable to turn to the right even with full right brake and power. After getting back to the hanger we had a look at the tail wheel and noticed that the linkage from the rudder to the tail wheel seemed loose. I shortened the chains by one link. However, can the chain linkage be too tight? 2. The tail wheel is somewhat hard to unlock going clockwise (nose is 12:00) and very very difficult, if at all, going counter clock wise. I have regressed the tailwheel but that doesn't seem to help. Thanks in advance, Yellow Bird 1 (Brad) MKIII Xtra N952DK ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 04:55:48 PM PST US From: "Larry Dunphy" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Xtra Steering Problems I just did my solo today in a Kolb Mk III Xtra, and during my training, I did a few hard landings. My landing gear (s) are bent out some. I will be replacing them this winter, but want to get flight time in before the cold weather sets in and I put the plane away. Am I at risk in take off/ taxi with my gear bow legged???? From: Roy Spangler Sent: 27 October, 2013 12:48 PM Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Xtra Steering Problems Brad, In the for what it's worth department. If the wheels toe out even a little bit you'll have a handful. roy On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 3:43 PM, Brad Nation wrote: I=92m having steering problems with my Xtra. Two Issues: 1.. I was doing some familiarization taxing. I taxied it down the runway at about 3000 RPM and it was all over the place. At first I though I was just over controlling it but I don=92t think that is the case. I tried a few times with the same result. I the last attempt I ended running off the side of the runway. I had another experienced Kolb pilot (Dennis Kirby) taxi it as well. We aborted the taxi test because we were unable to turn to the right even with full right brake and power. After getting back to the hanger we had a look at the tail wheel and noticed that the linkage from the rudder to the tail wheel seemed loose. I shortened the chains by one link. However, can the chain linkage be too tight? 2.. The tail wheel is somewhat hard to unlock going clockwise (nose is 12:00) and very very difficult, if at all, going counter clock wise. I have regressed the tailwheel but that doesn=92t seem to help. Thanks in advance, Yellow Bird 1 (Brad) MKIII Xtra N952DK get="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List tp://forums.matronics.com _blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 05:24:49 PM PST US From: kinne russ Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Xtra Steering Problems Congrats on the solo! -- but as to flying with bent gear? I sure wouldn't chance it. Even if you TO OK, you still have to land! If the gear's out of track you can have a wild handful on landing. But I haven't even seen the extent of the bends. I assume you plan to keep this lil bird? Russ On Oct 27, 2013, at 7:56 PM, Larry Dunphy wrote: > I just did my solo today in a Kolb Mk III Xtra, and during my training, I did a few hard landings. My landing gear (s) are bent out some. I will be replacing them this winter, but want to get flight time in before the cold weather sets in and I put the plane away. Am I at risk in take off/ taxi with my gear bow legged???? > > > From: Roy Spangler > Sent: 27 October, 2013 12:48 PM > To: kolb-list@matronics.com > Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Xtra Steering Problems > > Brad, > > In the for what it's worth department. If the wheels toe out even a little bit > you'll have a handful. > > roy > > > On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 3:43 PM, Brad Nation wrote: > I=92m having steering problems with my Xtra. Two Issues: > I was doing some familiarization taxing. I taxied it down the runway at about 3000 RPM and it was all over the place. At first I though I was just over controlling it but I don=92t think that is the case. I tried a few times with the same result. I the last attempt I ended running off the side of the runway. I had another experienced Kolb pilot (Dennis Kirby) taxi it as well. We aborted the taxi test because we were unable to turn to the right even with full right brake and power. After getting back to the hanger we had a look at the tail wheel and noticed that the linkage from the rudder to the tail wheel seemed loose. I shortened the chains by one link. However, can the chain linkage be too tight? > > The tail wheel is somewhat hard to unlock going clockwise (nose is 12:00) and very very difficult, if at all, going counter clock wise. I have regressed the tailwheel but that doesn=92t seem to help. > > > Thanks in advance, > > Yellow Bird 1 > (Brad) > MKIII Xtra > N952DK > > > > > > > get="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List > tp://forums.matronics.com > _blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution > > > > > href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List">http://www.matronics .com/Navigator?Kolb-List > href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com > href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/c > > > ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 05:34:42 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Reklaw Fly-In From: "Jimmy Young" Kolbers, I flew up to the Reklaw event in East Texas Friday & ran into Travis Bennett. I hadn't seen Travis since the Nauga Fly-Around back in November of 2011. It was my first time Reklaw and it's a great one. I'd guess there were 400 planes there of all types and most everyone was camping. I sold my Firestar a while back as I was close to completing my Zenith 750, and it was good to see a Kolb again. Travis was the first one to fly early Saturday morning. I took this photo of his Kolbra at his campsite. Jimmy Y Houston TX Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=411559#411559 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/100_0245_509.jpg ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 05:39:07 PM PST US From: "Larry Dunphy" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Xtra Steering Problems I do ... the legs are more =93bowed=94 than bent ... I understand this is common with the Kolb aluminum gears. I taxied and flew today with no issue, but saw the post from someone who did have issues, and the reply concerning the toe-out. From: kinne russ Sent: 27 October, 2013 8:24 PM Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Xtra Steering Problems Congrats on the solo! -- but as to flying with bent gear? I sure wouldn't chance it. Even if you TO OK, you still have to land! If the gear's out of track you can have a wild handful on landing. But I haven't even seen the extent of the bends. I assume you plan to keep this lil bird? Russ On Oct 27, 2013, at 7:56 PM, Larry Dunphy wrote: I just did my solo today in a Kolb Mk III Xtra, and during my training, I did a few hard landings. My landing gear (s) are bent out some. I will be replacing them this winter, but want to get flight time in before the cold weather sets in and I put the plane away. Am I at risk in take off/ taxi with my gear bow legged???? From: Roy Spangler Sent: 27 October, 2013 12:48 PM To: kolb-list@matronics.com Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Xtra Steering Problems Brad, In the for what it's worth department. If the wheels toe out even a little bit you'll have a handful. roy On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 3:43 PM, Brad Nation wrote: I=92m having steering problems with my Xtra. Two Issues: 1.. I was doing some familiarization taxing. I taxied it down the runway at about 3000 RPM and it was all over the place. At first I though I was just over controlling it but I don=92t think that is the case. I tried a few times with the same result. I the last attempt I ended running off the side of the runway. I had another experienced Kolb pilot (Dennis Kirby) taxi it as well. We aborted the taxi test because we were unable to turn to the right even with full right brake and power. After getting back to the hanger we had a look at the tail wheel and noticed that the linkage from the rudder to the tail wheel seemed loose. I shortened the chains by one link. However, can the chain linkage be too tight? 2.. The tail wheel is somewhat hard to unlock going clockwise (nose is 12:00) and very very difficult, if at all, going counter clock wise. I have regressed the tailwheel but that doesn=92t seem to help. Thanks in advance, Yellow Bird 1 (Brad) MKIII Xtra N952DK get="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List tp://forums.matronics.com _blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List">http://www.matronic s.com/Navigator?Kolb-List href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/c href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List">http://www.matronic s.com/Navigator?Kolb-List href="http://forums.matronics.com/">http://forums.matronics.com href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/c ontribution ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 06:07:54 PM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: RE: Kolb-List: Reklaw Fly-In I flew up to the Reklaw event in East Texas Friday & ran into Travis Bennett. Jimmy Y Houston TX Great photo, Jimmy: Makes me antsy. Haven't done any serious flying and camping in a while. I had to take the lopping shears and weed eater to the airstrip today to get my airplane out of the hanger. Haven't flown Miss P'fer in about 5 months. The trees and bushes had grown up under the nose of the MKIII. After 5 months my solar maintainer had kept the battery up to snuff. She cranked right up and had no fuel problems after the long storage. I might add, I had 10 gals of 100LL in the tank. Flew over to Wetumpka Airport and put 10 more gals on top of that. After a bad experience with 93 oct alcohol laced fuel, 3 years ago when I broke my leg and did not fly the airplane for 6 months, I always try to store it with 100LL only in the tank. It works. Despite the dirt, barn dust, bug crap, bird crap, and carpenter bee droppings, my MKIII flew like a champ. First take off she turned 5400 and was singing her song. There were times during my 4 month, one week trip West this year, I wished I had her with me. I'm hoping I will feel up to flying back out West next year to celebrate my 75th year. We will have to see if I am up to it, and still want to do it. It is not an easy flight from here to the Rock House near Burns Junction, Oregon. Always high winds and turbulence in the vicinity of the Rockies. Usually, the wind is blowing the wrong way. 40 mph ground speed doesn't get it. Much easier flying in to the Fish Camp in the Owyhee River Canyon than doing the 56 mile one way trip on an ATV. As long as I have room for the big cast iron frying pan and my little pack stove to fry the small mouth bass and blue cat fish. Might have to try to get back out there a little earlier than last year. Last of June is really hot in the high desert of SE Oregon. Take care, john h mkIII Titus, Alabama ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.