---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 10/30/17: 12 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 05:41 AM - Re: Re: First Flights Completed! (william sullivan) 2. 07:46 AM - Re: Twinstar MKII (George Helton) 3. 09:08 AM - Re: First Flights Completed! (RoHam) 4. 09:16 AM - Re: First Flights Completed! (gear leg question) (RoHam) 5. 09:21 AM - Re: Re: First Flights Completed! (Charlie England) 6. 10:18 AM - Re: Re: First Flights Completed! (John Hauck) 7. 10:36 AM - Re: Re: First Flights Completed! (gear leg question) (Bill Berle) 8. 10:47 AM - Re: Re: First Flights Completed! (Bill Berle) 9. 12:16 PM - Rotax 503 GHT probe Question (RoHam) 10. 06:38 PM - Re: Rotax 503 GHT probe Question (woody) 11. 07:20 PM - Re: Rotax 503 GHT probe Question (Richard Pike) 12. 11:09 PM - Re: First Flights Completed! (Mcabbage) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 05:41:20 AM PST US From: william sullivan Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! When I bought my Firestar, it came with a couple of new legs. The ones that were on it were a little bent, so I put the new ones on. About 1/2 an hour of taxiing on grass, and they both bent like the second one in the photo. The previous owner had made them of 6061 (If I remember). Bill Sullivan Windsor Locks, Ct. -------------------------------------------- Pike" Attached is my collection of old Firestar/FSII gear legs. The top set is from the original Firestar from which we built the FF clone, and I would consider them un-straightenable. The next 3 down all have slight bends and could easily be fixed with a press in just a few minutes. The bottom one is unbent. Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/p1060418_medium_140.jpg ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:46:31 AM PST US From: George Helton Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Twinstar MKII Mark, I originally built my Twinstar MK II (TS215) back in 1989 I believe. In those day they came with 1=9D diameter 6061 T6 aluminum struts . They didn=99t hold up very well. Homer (Kolb)then went to providing 1 1/8 =9D diameter aluminum struts which is the standard to this day. I think? You had to pull an aluminum sleeve out of the cage assembly to install them. They hold up very well and are very forgiving to the airframe if you happen to slam a landing. I have a set installed on my 1986 Firestar and they =99ve worked fine for 28 years. They=99re beginning to sag a little now so I plan on replacing them this winter with new ones that I bought from Kolb along with the new spindles. One other thing that can cause bent landing gear struts also is a lack of positive ( toe in.)chamber at your wheel spindles. No or negative chamber (toe out) try=99s to stretch the landing gear apart. This seems to be over looked a lot. The best advice I can offer is to learn to land. I=99m a believer in practice, practice, practice. Ex- flight instructor, sorry. Power on, wheels landings at first until some degree of perfection is reached. Then move on to power on , crosswind wheels on landings , crab approach to cross control touchdown. Then power off gliding landings. You will be called on to perform this someday if you fly a 2 stroke engine long enough. And then to 3 point. Blowing 3 point landings are not only hard on landing gear legs but also tailwheel struts and boom tubes. Keep your airspeed up on approach and fly it to the ground slowing just at touchdown. Remember, Kolbs scrub speed off quickly, just like most ultralight types. And lastly I leave you with some words of advice from the late Homer Kolb. =9CKeep thy airspeed up, lest thee smite the ground.=9D Thanks for your genius, Homer. Congrats on your MK II! Enjoy it and be safe out there. George H. George Helton Firestar =9C0riginal=9D 1986, FS100 14GDH Mesick, Michigan gdhelton@gmail.com On Sun, Oct 29, 2017 at 5:18 PM Mark K wrote: > > Good afternoon Kolbers. I have a Twinstar MKII that I am redoing and > looking for some pointers on the aft cage tubing bending and fastening. I > have scoured the build manual and plans and photo build manual and don't > find any details on the shape to bend the tubing to. Riveting and gusseti ng > is described but nothing on shaping. Any and all input will be greatly > appreciated. Thanks in advance. > > -------- > Mark > Twinstar MKII > Great Bend, PA > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473945#473945 > > =========== =========== =========== =========== =========== > > > -- Have a great day! ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 09:08:15 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! From: "RoHam" Thanks for the response, As far as moving my brake petals,that's not a priority to me. I learned the hard way where my heels belong and comfortable taking off or landing without being in position for braking. Only feel I need them for taxiing. I will try to straighten gear when it seems to get worse. Mine is between Richards #3 & 4 pictures. I'll see how it goes. Just hoping to get more flying in before the winter sets in, then I'll make repairs / improvements. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473971#473971 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/first_landing_623.png ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 09:16:14 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! (gear leg question) From: "RoHam" A buddy of mine is trying this setup for off airport operation. Too much fabrication for me, but I like it. ...Bob Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473972#473972 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/20170910_143822_972.jpg ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 09:21:58 AM PST US From: Charlie England Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! Yet another reason to fly off grass until comfortable in the a/c. :-) On Mon, Oct 30, 2017 at 11:07 AM, RoHam wrote: > > Thanks for the response, > As far as moving my brake petals,that's not a priority to me. I learned > the hard way where my heels belong and comfortable taking off or landing > without being in position for braking. Only feel I need them for taxiing. I > will try to straighten gear when it seems to get worse. Mine is between > Richards #3 & 4 pictures. I'll see how it goes. Just hoping to get more > flying in before the winter sets in, then I'll make repairs / improvements. > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473971#473971 > > > Attachments: > > http://forums.matronics.com//files/first_landing_623.png > > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 10:18:04 AM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: RE: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! If you haven't put a Kolb on its nose "yet", you ain't flying. January 1991, Brother Jim and I were beginning the build on my MKIII at the Kolb Factory. Homer put us up in the house and treated us like family. H e always treated Jim and I like family. We were all hanging out up at his airstrip while he flew kids in the Factory MKIII. Jim and I had been talki ng about what we were going to do with the stock landing gear. Homer came in, landed, turned the tail into the wind and promptly put the MKIII on its nose. Jim and I looked at each other and agreed the main gear needed to c ome forward. After we finished welding up the fuselage the main gear was 8 " forward of the original location attached to a .75" 4130 square tube brid ge, now an integral part of the fuselage. What did this accomplish: -Never came close to nosing over in over 3400.0 hours. -Raised the nose to a good 3 point stance which improved short field take o ffs and landings. -The 1.125" diameter X .120 wall gear legs heat treated to 48 RC provided a dequate suspension when combined with the low pressure 800X6 Air Tracs. 48 RC will allow the spring steel legs to bend prior to breaking. This I prov ed through actual crashes. ;-) The axle sockets are either .90 or .120 an d welded to the end of the gear leg. Originally, I went with the bolt on a xle socket, against Brother Jim's recommendation, he wanted to weld them, b ut I over ruled. Their failure at Rocky Mountain Lodge, 1 July 2000, on Mu cho Lake, in Northern British Columbia, is what caused my crash and test of gear legs to failure. Not a good day. 17 years ago. All was not for nau ght. The day after the crash I got to meet Ernest Borgnine, a real class a ct and friend halibut fisherman. Some of you old timers probably remember that day. I was on my way, I thought, to Point Barrow, Alaska. We did mak e it the next year on Brother Jim's gear legs. ;-) Don't try and fly a Kolb with 4130 legs that have not been heat treated. T hey are not springs until they have been in the oven. Yes, and have it don e by a professional heat treating facility. BTW: My tail wheel strut is .120 wall 4130 heat treated to 48RC. Weight is about the same as the alum 7075 legs. Please pardon my rambling. I tend to do this as I age. ;-) john h mkIII Titus, Alabama From: owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-kolb-list-server@m atronics.com] On Behalf Of Charlie England Sent: Monday, October 30, 2017 11:20 AM Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! Yet another reason to fly off grass until comfortable in the a/c. :-) On Mon, Oct 30, 2017 at 11:07 AM, RoHam wrote: Thanks for the response, As far as moving my brake petals,that's not a priority to me. I learned the hard way where my heels belong and comfortable taking off or landing with out being in position for braking. Only feel I need them for taxiing. I wil l try to straighten gear when it seems to get worse. Mine is between Richar ds #3 & 4 pictures. I'll see how it goes. Just hoping to get more flying in before the winter sets in, then I'll make repairs / improvements. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473971#473971 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/first_landing_623.png -List" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Naviga tor?Kolb-List FORUMS - eferrer" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com WIKI - errer" target="_blank">http://wiki.matronics.com b Site - -Matt Dralle, List Admin. rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 10:36:01 AM PST US From: Bill Berle Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! (gear leg question) " A buddy of mine is trying this setup for off airport operation. Too much fabrication for me, but I like it. ...Bob" Fabrication???? There's a month's worth of ENGINEERING that has to be done on that setup long before the first piece of metal is cut :) ! I am 1000% in favor of innovation and tinkering, but in cases like this where primary structure is involved the innovation has to be balanced with engineering done by someone with training. The exotic setup in that photo MAY BE really well done, and properly engineered. I have no idea if it is or not, and I am not quaified to say if it is engineered well. But I can say that there either has been, or has to be, a fair amount of analysis made on how those landing loads are put into the fuselage structure, and whether the FORWARD fuselage attachment can take those loads without bending the lower longerons or cross members. The REAR mounting ties in with the standard Kolb socket tube, so it is LIKELY OK. I hope it works, and I hope that the Super Cub tyle bungee arrangement delivers the result that is being pursued. Reminds me, I owe the Kolb List a photo of two of my landing gear setup. I used the extra long steel legs from a Kolb Slingshot, and mounted a set of Desser 21 inch LSA bush tires. John H was right, I'll need a ladder to get in the darn thing ! I will actually have to make up some sort of step, or stirrup somewhere to get in it. But it will give me a very high ground angle for the shortest possibe takeoff. Bill Berle FireStar 2 / HKS 700E (now in the engine wiring stage) Los Angeles, CA ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 10:47:07 AM PST US From: Bill Berle Subject: RE: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! Darn right Ernest Borgnine was a class act ! I saw him give a talk to a group of young people when our EAA chapter hosted the "Aluminum Overcast" B-17. He was absolutely awe inspiring. World War 2 Navy veteran before he became an actor. Bill Berle www.ezflaphandle.com - safety & performance upgrade for light aircraft www.grantstar.net - winning proposals for non-profit and for-profit entities -------------------------------------------- On Mon, 10/30/17, John Hauck wrote: Subject: RE: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! To: kolb-list@matronics.com Date: Monday, October 30, 2017, 10:14 AM If you haven't put a Kolb on its nose "yet", you ain't flying. January 1991, Brother Jim and I were beginning the build on my MKIII at the Kolb Factory. Homer put us up in the house and treated us like family. He always treated Jim and I like family. We were all hanging out up at his airstrip while he flew kids in the Factory MKIII. Jim and I had been talking about what we were going to do with the stock landing gear. Homer came in, landed, turned the tail into the wind and promptly put the MKIII on its nose. Jim and I looked at each other and agreed the main gear needed to come forward. After we finished welding up the fuselage the main gear was 8" forward of the original location attached to a .75" 4130 square tube bridge, now an integral part of the fuselage. What did this accomplish: -Never came close to nosing over in over 3400.0 hours. -Raised the nose to a good 3 point stance which improved short field take offs and landings. -The 1.125" diameter X .120 wall gear legs heat treated to 48 RC provided adequate suspension when combined with the low pressure 800X6 Air Tracs. 48RC will allow the spring steel legs to bend prior to breaking. This I proved through actual crashes. ;-) The axle sockets are either .90 or .120 and welded to the end of the gear leg. Originally, I went with the bolt on axle socket, against Brother Jim's recommendation, he wanted to weld them, but I over ruled. Their failure at Rocky Mountain Lodge, 1 July 2000, on Mucho Lake, in Northern British Columbia, is what caused my crash and test of gear legs to failure. Not a good day. 17 years ago. All was not for naught. The day after the crash I got to meet Ernest Borgnine, a real class act and friend halibut fisherman. Some of you old timers probably remember that day. I was on my way, I thought, to Point Barrow, Alaska. We did make it the next year on Brother Jim's gear legs. ;-) Don't try and fly a Kolb with 4130 legs that have not been heat treated. They are not springs until they have been in the oven. Yes, and have it done by a professional heat treating facility. BTW: My tail wheel strut is .120 wall 4130 heat treated to 48RC. Weight is about the same as the alum 7075 legs. Please pardon my rambling. I tend to do this as I age. ;-) john hmkIIITitus, Alabama From: owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Charlie England Sent: Monday, October 30, 2017 11:20 AM To: kolb-list@matronics.com Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! Yet another reason to fly off grass until comfortable in the a/c. :-) On Mon, Oct 30, 2017 at 11:07 AM, RoHam wrote:--> Kolb-List message posted by: "RoHam" Thanks for the response, As far as moving my brake petals,that's not a priority to me. I learned the hard way where my heels belong and comfortable taking off or landing without being in position for braking. Only feel I need them for taxiing. I will try to straighten gear when it seems to get worse. Mine is between Richards #3 & 4 pictures. I'll see how it goes. Just hoping to get more flying in before the winter sets in, then I'll make repairs / improvements. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473971#473971 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/first_landing_623.png ========== -List" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List ========== FORUMS - eferrer" target="_blank">http://forums.matronics.com ========== WIKI - errer" target="_blank">http://wiki.matronics.com =================================== b Site - -Matt Dralle, List Admin. rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution ========== Virus-free. www.avg.com ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 12:16:49 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Rotax 503 GHT probe Question From: "RoHam" Looking over my motor and found I had oil leaking around the plug with the cht probe on it. Should the original plug gasket be with these probes or discarded? Anyone ever use a different location for probes, such as a head bolt? wondering how to remedy [Question] Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473978#473978 ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 06:38:17 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Rotax 503 GHT probe Question From: "woody" My 503 has similar leakage on the rear cyl. as well. To my knowledge, it has done this since I brought it home, about 80 eng. hrs. ago. I get a film on the shroud below the head on the Carb. side. It wipes right off........... Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473988#473988 ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 07:20:27 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Rotax 503 GHT probe Question From: "Richard Pike" Similar application, good ideas. http://inventions.aerocorsair.com/id77.htm >From the Challenger page: http://challengers101.com/CHT_Sensor.html -------- Richard Pike Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) Kingsport, TN 3TN0 Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and Grace really is amazing. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473990#473990 ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 11:09:17 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: First Flights Completed! From: "Mcabbage" Congratulations Bob! -------- 2007 Firestar 2 503 N203SD Moster 185 Flattop PPG/Sky K2 Paraglider Trike Buggy Soaring Trike & Northwing Stratus XP Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=473993#473993 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.