---------------------------------------------------------- Zenith701801-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 09/03/09: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 04:38 AM - Re: Trouble making the nose ribs on the form block (kmccune) 2. 07:16 AM - Re: Quality of pre-drilled holes (n85ae) 3. 01:14 PM - 801 float kit (Keystone Engineering LLC) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 04:38:37 AM PST US Subject: Zenith701801-List: Re: Trouble making the nose ribs on the form block From: "kmccune" I can't figure out who posted the question but here is my $.02. The scratch built video is a very good buy, it will get you going quicker. The 3/8 in rod ( I use the skinny end of a small ball peen hammer handle) is pounded into the formed flutes on the block. This makes very nice flutes and is pretty easy and quick. I've only used the fluting pliers ( home made ones) for flattening the rib after it is out of the form block. Hope this helps Kevin -------- History is a great teacher if you take time to study it. Steve Bennett Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=261173#261173 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:16:41 AM PST US Subject: Zenith701801-List: Re: Quality of pre-drilled holes From: "n85ae" DKrummel wrote: > Hello Jake -- I am in the midst of building an 801. So far it has been a bad dream - but not quite a nightmare. The stories I can tell you. Keep trudging - it is still a great plane once it is finished. > > Dennis Krummel > I would second this! I'm building my doors, and while I can certainly figure it out at this point (after building the rest of the kit for practice). The process is look at the pics, manual, drawings - Figure out a revised plan in my mind. Then build one door hoping it works, and then build the second based on the learning experience from the first. Most of Zenith's 801 instructions will not work as written, so I only use them as a rough guide to get started. Jeff Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=261206#261206 ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 01:14:08 PM PST US From: Keystone Engineering LLC Subject: Zenith701801-List: 801 float kit John The front attach points are not robust enough! When I installed the floats as shown on the drawings, the front attach points rotated. I gave up for the year. The next year I widened and extended the strap steel and bolted it to the fire wall. I think mine is now 1 1/2" wide. As I was tightening the front X bracing the attach points bent. I ended up with a compression strut between the front attach points. Because the front attach points are not really strong enough I stay out of "big" water. White caps yes streaks no! The Full Lotus floats are full of air and provide quite a bit of cushioning. AL floats transmit a lot more pounding force to the plane. Jeff Fortune set his 801 up so there is not a 90 degree bend but his straps are a lot smaller. He said he bent the attach points in some chop in the Caribbean. Last time I corresponded with him he was going to work up a better attachment method. Jeff Holomis with Full Lotus floats said he is working with someone with an 801 on a different float kit. Last time we corresponded he was asking the axle diameter so I assume the main gear will attach to the floats. I hope next year, I will have a different float kit. I'm only going to be on floats for another month so the way they are is fine for now. FYI I am taking off for the weekend and will be back Tuesday or Wednesday next week weather permitting. Bill Wilcox Valdez, Alaska N801BW 475 hrs On floats! Time: 03:47:59 PM PST US Subject: Re: Zenith701801-List: 801 big tires From: John Swartout Bill, how did you attach your front float struts to the fuselage? I have drawings from CAW showing basically a quarter-inch-thick tang sandwiched between the firewall and lower motor mount, sharing the motor mount bolt. This tang is bent and bolted to the strut. It seems "all wrong" to me--multiplying the shear stress on the motor mount bolt not to mention adding much to the tension stress. If you did it that way, how's it working out? John ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message zenith701801-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Zenith701801-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/zenith701801-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/zenith701801-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.