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Tricycle Kitfox II
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jose_m_toro(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject: Tricycle Kitfox II

Hi listers:

  

 Has any of you converted a Kitfox II to tricycle.  Would like to get advice, pictures, etc.  I received feedback from John McBean that it has been done before.  Now I just need to find the guy...

  

 Jose Toro (on behalf of "my" Kitfox new owner)

 ex-Kitfox II/582

 ---

henrysfork1(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject: Tricycle Kitfox II

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->  Guys name was Scott Millhouse maybe? I had a picture of the  conversion but is gone. I would suggest you search the archives if you haven't  already done so. Try his email address at <Scott.D.Millhouse(at)hnd01.usace.army.mil (Scott.D.Millhouse(at)hnd01.usace.army.mil)>.  Hope this is right.

  

 Dee Young

 Model II

 N345DY

  

 Do not archive

 [quote]   ---

SkySteve

Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Location: Huntsville, UT

Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

Jose,

I have just completed a Model I conversion to tri gear.  Glad to help if I can.  I used the Grove gear.  Many people said it would only fit the Model IV and newer, but it bolted right onto my Model I.  Got the nose gear from John McBean.  When I did mine, I made certain the Grove gear could be repositioned to the forward position so I could later convert the plane back to taildragger if I wanted to.  Make certain to keep the tail wheel if you do this.

_________________
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox Model 1- 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:51 am Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

Jose,



I have a Kitfox 2 in my shop now with tri gear.  Owner wanted to convert to taildragger but now has decided to wait till spring.   If you need pics , let me know.  Look on my youtube videos and you will see it flying . White one.

_________________
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http://www.youtube.com/user/kitfoxflyer
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jose_m_toro(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:41 am Post subject: Tricycle Kitfox II

Dave:

  

 I need pictures of the fuselage modifications.

  

 Thanks!

  

 Jose

 ---

jose_m_toro(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:45 am Post subject: Tricycle Kitfox II

Steve:

  

 Could you provide pictures of the fuselage modification?  Can send directly to my e-mail.  Certainly aluminum main gear sounds like the right way to go. 

  

 Thanks!

  

 Jose

 ---

rspriggle(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:31 am Post subject: Tricycle Kitfox II

By the replies I've seen so far, it sounds like this is a pretty easy/common conversion then?  I'm keeping my eyes open for an older model Kitfox for some pure flying fun, but would prefer a tri-gear over a taildragger.  Any idea what the approximate cost is for the conversion?  I see the Grove gear is about $1600, so I'm assuming about $2500 until you get the nose gear, wheels/tires, re-plumb brakes, etc.



Thanks,

Rick



________________________________   Message    ____________________________________

Time:  08:32:58  PM  PST  US

Subject:   Re:  Tricycle  Kitfox  II

From:  "SkySteve"  <Wilson(at)REinfo.org (Wilson(at)REinfo.org)>

Jose,

I  have  just  completed  a  Model  I  conversion  to  tri  gear.   Glad  to  help  if  I  can.

I  used  the  Grove  gear.   Many  people  said  it  would  only  fit  the  Model  IV  and

newer,  but  it  bolted  right  onto  my  Model  I.   Got  the  nose  gear  from  John  McBean.

When  I  did  mine,  I  made  certain  the  Grove  gear  could  be  repositioned  to  the

forward  position  so  I  could  later  convert  the  plane  back  to  taildragger  if  I

wanted  to.   Make  certain  to  keep  the  tail  wheel  if  you  do  this.



--------

Steve  Wilson

Huntsville,  UT

Kitfox  I-IV  85DD

912A  /  3  Blade  Warp  Drive 

Convertable  Nosewheel  &amp;  Tailwheel





 [quote][b]

SkySteve

Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Location: Huntsville, UT

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:31 am Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

I didn't do the work on mine.  I hired an A&P to do it, so my costs include labor.  When I started the project I expected the rebuild to cost around $5,000 to $8,000, but so far I have $15,000 into the rebuild plus the cost of the airplane.  One very important thing that I did was to add 10" of height to the vertical stabilizer and replace the Model I rudder with a new model IV rudder.  I also did several other mods such as:  add primer, new Warp Drive prop, move battery to rear tail to help offset W&B change, new grove wheels and brakes, new brake lines and add a reservoir, new brake cylinders for both sides (4), add toe brake controls to right side, new tires and new transponder antenna.  Still have a few other mods to do but the plane is now ready to fly.

_________________
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox Model 1- 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

Steve what is the gross weight of your model 1 and what is the empty weight now ?

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

Jose,  email me this weekend to remind me to send you  pics.



I will get out  and snap some for you

SkySteve

Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Location: Huntsville, UT

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

My Model I (85DD) Gross Weight 1050#, Empty weight 625#.

_________________
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox Model 1- 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:28 am Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

Steve, how did you increase the gross weight of the model 1 to 1050 ? 

I thought they were 850 lbs ? 



 	  Quote: 	
		  My Model I (85DD) Gross Weight 1050#, Empty weight 625#.

SkySteve

Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Location: Huntsville, UT

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:41 am Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

This was Dan Denney's personal plane. He increased it before I bought it.

_________________
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox Model 1- 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:05 am Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

 	  Quote: 	
		  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This was Dan Denney's personal plane. He increased it before I bought it 

	




Interesting, What mods were done toaccommodatee this?  Likely others would be able to do this as well ?

SkySteve

Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Location: Huntsville, UT

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:15 am Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

Dave,

I have no idea what mods Dan Denney made.  I'm not a builder and do not understand much about the building process.  I have attached the Weight & Balance sheet I received with the plane when I purchased it.  I would think that Dan Denney could give us the info you desire and it would seem logical that other Model I's & II's could also have the gross weight increased UNLESS Dan did the increase when he originally built this plane, or during a rebuild.  Remember, it was HIS plane and he could have done things to it that were not done to others.  Just my guess.

85DD W&B at purchase 6-6-2006.pdf

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85DD W&B at purchase 6/6/2006

Download

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85DD W&B at purchase 6-6-2006.pdf

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139 KB

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_________________
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox Model 1- 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel

Rex Hefferan

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 147
Location: Olney Springs, Colorado USA "NOT a Kitpig"

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:19 am Post subject: Tricycle Kitfox II

Steve,

 I had also read that the Grove grear was not made to fit earlier 

models. I have a model II which I bought with the Grove gear already 

installed. I have not contacted Grove to confirm suitability for early 

models. Have you talked to Grove about this?



-- 

Rex Hefferan

SE Colorado / K-II / 582-C / still waiting repairs



SkySteve wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



Jose,

I have just completed a Model I conversion to tri gear.  Glad to help if I can.  I used the Grove gear.  Many people said it would only fit the Model IV and newer, but it bolted right onto my Model I.  Got the nose gear from John McBean.  When I did mine, I made certain the Grove gear could be repositioned to the forward position so I could later convert the plane back to taildragger if I wanted to.  Make certain to keep the tail wheel if you do this.



--------

Steve Wilson

Huntsville, UT

Kitfox I-IV 85DD

912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive 

Convertable Nosewheel &amp; Tailwheel

_________________
Rex
N740GP - M2/582
Colorado

SkySteve

Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Location: Huntsville, UT

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:40 am Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

Rex,

No, I have not told Grove their gear fits the earlier models.  In fact, it never even crossed my mind.  I did tell them I have a model I and they told me there is no main gear made for my plane.  I just bought the gear anyway and it fit right on.  Good idea though.  It may help them and some other airplane owner out there.  I will call them today.  



I have really felt like a "pioneer" with this mod thing.  I haven't been able to get informational help on any of my mods.  It's been like I have the only old Kitfox out there and everyone thinks nothing will fit them and that there is no way to upgrade these planes.  It has been very frustrating to say the least.

_________________
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox Model 1- 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel

SkySteve

Joined: 16 Dec 2007
Posts: 94
Location: Huntsville, UT

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

I'm reporting back on the Model 1 increase in gross weight to 1050#.  I just got off the phone with Dan Denney.  We had a good discussion regarding 85DD increase in gross weight from 850# to 1050#.  Dan told me that he replaced the model 1 wings with model III wings & flaperons which he took off 89DD.  I have verified this from my airframe logbook.  Dan told me the gross weight of 85DD is indeed 1050#.  Following this and the addition of the 912A Rotax, the Airworthiness Certificate was amended.

_________________
Steve Wilson
Huntsville, UT
Kitfox Model 1- 85DD
912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive
Convertible Nosewheel & Tailwheel

dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: Tricycle Kitfox II

 	  Quote: 	
		  Dan told me that he replaced the model 1 wings with model III wings & flaperons which he took off 89DD 	




Steve , Excellent !! 



What is your Wing strut diamters ?

Rex Hefferan

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 147
Location: Olney Springs, Colorado USA "NOT a Kitpig"

Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject: Tricycle Kitfox II

I wonder what the gross weight would be if  Model 4 wings were used? I 

seem to remember someone on this list who has done something like this.



-- 

Rex Hefferan

SE Colorado / K-II / 582-C / still waiting repairs

SkySteve wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



I'm reporting back on the Model 1 increase in gross weight to 1050#.  I just got off the phone with Dan Denney.  We had a good discussion regarding 85DD increase in gross weight from 850# to 1050#.  Dan told me that he replaced the model 1 wings with model III wings & flaperons which he took off 89DD.  I have verified this from my airframe logbook.  Dan told me the gross weight of 85DD is indeed 1050#.  Following this and the addition of the 912A Rotax, the Airworthiness Certificate was amended.



--------

Steve Wilson

Huntsville, UT

Kitfox I-IV 85DD

912A / 3 Blade Warp Drive 

Convertable Nosewheel &amp; Tailwheel

_________________
Rex
N740GP - M2/582
Colorado

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