---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Tue 12/20/22: 8 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 07:12 AM - Re: Firestar KXP (kolbflyer) 2. 07:41 AM - wheel pant options for Firestar (Jay Dub) 3. 07:47 AM - Re: Firestar KXP (slingshot003) 4. 09:39 AM - Re: Re: Firestar KXP (Larry Cottrell) 5. 09:54 AM - Re: wheel pant options for Firestar (Stuart Harner) 6. 02:40 PM - Re: Re: Firestar KXP (B) 7. 02:43 PM - Re: Re: Firestar KXP (Rick Neilsen) 8. 09:48 PM - Re: wheel pant options for Firestar (Richard Pike) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 07:12:00 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Firestar KXP From: "kolbflyer" Larry, thanks for the link to an upgraded tailwheel. which one is a direct mount, if any? additionally, did you add those vertical bars to both sides to support the tailwheel assembly or just one side? Thanks again and hope you have a great holiday. Jeremy Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=509745#509745 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:41:00 AM PST US From: Jay Dub Subject: Kolb-List: wheel pant options for Firestar As I'm working on my build I keep thinking ahead of what I would like to finish before flying. The airstrip I plan to use is newly graded pasture (imagine WY having pasture land haha). The dirt has fine gravel in it as there is a vein of gravel in that area (a gravel pit is across the dirt road). Being a pusher, and having flown a pusher a while, I know anything that can go through the prop WILL go through the prop. I'm concerned about kicking up stones on take off and landings. We are in a semi arid climate so grass doesn't just grow much unless it's watered a lot. Because of the stones, I need to either fabricate a wheel well of some sort (I have a few ideas) or just throw wheel pants on it. Any ideas of what is available that work well on a Firestar? My tires are the Carlisle Turf Glide 8-6 on 6x6 Blackmax 1 piece wheels. I saw in the plans there is a special nut/spacer to use with wheel pants. Where is that part available? I don't know much about putting wheel pants on a Kolb so I'm asking for advice. Thanks, Jay ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 07:47:59 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Firestar KXP From: "slingshot003" Hello Jeremy, You are going to love your new plane! Your concern about the tail wheel is valid. It is not designed to have a lot of side force on it. You have to be careful with it and definitely don't blast the tail around with the prop while its on the ground. Give me a call, 35two-342-2982, if you have any questions. I have a KXP1 as well. -Richard Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=509747#509747 ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 09:39:44 AM PST US From: Larry Cottrell Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: Firestar KXP The link that I sent you will slip onto your tail wheel tube. The braces for the tail wheel are both sides, using the existing bolts and holes already in the tail wheel tube, Just drill holes in the collar in between existing holes. One of the posts by Jay Dub talks about wheel pants to keep gravel out of the prop. The only thing that ever went through my prop always came from off the top of the engine. :-/ Where the gravel kicked up by the tires only hits the vertical stab and rudder. I have never had a serious problem with anything like that, but if I was going to "solve" the problem I would go with the "deflectors' like those on the bush planes on the series "Flying Wild Alaska". They are merely flat pieces of aluminum about 5 inches wide that are bolted to the wheel axle. The problem with wheel pants is that things end up inside the pants. I cannot prove it but the flat piece behind the wheel will do about as much to decrease drag as do the pants. Larry On Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 8:14 AM kolbflyer wrote: > > > Larry, > thanks for the link to an upgraded tailwheel. which one is a direct mount, if any? > > additionally, did you add those vertical bars to both sides to support the tailwheel assembly or just one side? > > Thanks again and hope you have a great holiday. > > Jeremy > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=509745#509745 > > -- The older I get, the less tolerant I am of those who are intolerant of others. If you forward this email, or any part of it, please remove my email address before sending. ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 09:54:12 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: wheel pant options for Firestar From: Stuart Harner The smartass in me has to say this: How about just using titanium skis? Light weight, usable year round and you could rig a retractable "cat's claws" type of braking system. ;) Seriously though, what about some kind of "mud flap"? A lot of taildraggers just had a half wheel pant to keep mud off the bottom of the wings. If you had some kind of mud flap that could trail in the wind, it would deflect rocks at slow speed but would lift up into a more streamlined position during flight. Of course it might act as a speed brake at the bottom of the airframe, just where you don't want it. You could experiment with just clamping it to the gear leg until you figured out a final design. Just spit ballin.... Stuart On 12/20/22 09:40, Jay Dub wrote: > > As I'm working on my build I keep thinking ahead of what I would like to finish before flying. > > The airstrip I plan to use is newly graded pasture (imagine WY having pasture land haha). The dirt has fine gravel in it as there is a vein of gravel in that area (a gravel pit is across the dirt road). Being a pusher, and having flown a pusher a while, I know anything that can go through the prop WILL go through the prop. I'm concerned about kicking up stones on take off and landings. We are in a semi arid climate so grass doesn't just grow much unless it's watered a lot. > > Because of the stones, I need to either fabricate a wheel well of some sort (I have a few ideas) or just throw wheel pants on it. Any ideas of what is available that work well on a Firestar? My tires are the Carlisle Turf Glide 8-6 on 6x6 Blackmax 1 piece wheels. I saw in the plans there is a special nut/spacer to use with wheel pants. Where is that part available? I don't know much about putting wheel pants on a Kolb so I'm asking for advice. > > Thanks, > Jay > > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 02:40:27 PM PST US From: B Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: Firestar KXP This is not the best picture, but look at the front of the tail wheel attachment rod,, up to the ring that attaches the back of the empanage to the tail boom.... I have a 1/4 by 3/4 flat bar on both sides. They triangulate the lower vertical stabilizer to the tail boom and eliminate most of the side load. ___Boyd_________________ looks like it could fold over if there was enough side loading. > > anyone have pictures of their tailwheel attachment point to see if my > setup is wrong or how to reinforce it. > > Thanks > > ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 02:43:43 PM PST US From: Rick Neilsen Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: Firestar KXP Jeremy I too added the tail wheel brace to my plane. I have seen damage from others and felt it was needed. I used two pieces of 1/8 by one inch aluminum hardware stock to brace the tail wheel. Yes, both sides. I also changed the tail wheel from the pizza cutter to Kolb supplied locking full swivel unit. Seems like Brian had a lighter unit he developed. I have the older style which required modifications to work properly. First drilled holes in the tail wheel bellcrank inboard/closer to the pivot so that the tail wheel would rotate enough at full rudder movement so the tail wheel would unlock. Then I added compression springs so that I could taxi in a cross wind without unintended tail wheel unlocking. Rick Neilsen Redrive VW Powered MKIIIC On Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 10:14 AM kolbflyer wrote: > > Larry, > thanks for the link to an upgraded tailwheel. which one is a direct > mount, if any? > > additionally, did you add those vertical bars to both sides to support the > tailwheel assembly or just one side? > > Thanks again and hope you have a great holiday. > > Jeremy > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=509745#509745 > > ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 09:48:55 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: wheel pant options for Firestar From: "Richard Pike" Jaydub said: (Quote) I saw in the plans there is a special nut/spacer to use with wheel pants. Where is that part available? I don't know much about putting wheel pants on a Kolb so I'm asking for advice. (End quote) I am 99% sure this is what you are referring to. They replace the standard axle nuts and extend out to the outside inner part of the wheelpant, and are threaded for a 1/4" screw/bolt. Verify that your axle thread on your KXP is the same as the MKIII (which is what these are off of - I made them for my MKIII about 26 years ago) and they will likely fit, depending on the width of your wheel pants. You can always add a spacer if necessary. Yours free plus a few bucks for shipping. PM me your address once you are sure they will work. Check out the link here for how I mounted the wheel pants on my MKIII: http://oh2fly.net/oldpoops/pg6.htm I may still have those mounting brackets somewhere, if I can find them and you want them, you can have them too. -------- Richard Pike Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) Kingsport, TN 3TN0 Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing. 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