Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. Buckchop added a post in a topic Whoa... $50k for a FWB KF7 STi ?!!   

    I have a friend he lives about 125 miles from me in BFE, that has a brand new unstarted FWB model 4 kit he bought new in the day had it shipped to Alaska, he is sellin for what he has init, $15,000 last i heard. 
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  2. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic MK4 engine choice?   

    Try and fix the Jabiru?
    Go to a 912?
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  3. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic Kitfox 8 wheel hubs for 1 1/4" axel   

    Very nice! 
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  4. LCB added a topic in Avid Model IV   

    MK4 engine choice?
    I’m new to the group. Sorry if this is redundant. I’m buying an Avid Flyer Mk4. It has a Jabiru engine that is bad. Looking for options. Can the airframe handle 115 hp? Having built an RV-9A, I’m aware of common sense limitations. 
    thank you!
    • 12 replies
    • 1,525 views


  5. whizzers added a post in a topic Wanted, Dyna smooth motor mount hat shaped brackets   

    Google "Lord Mount 100 PL4
     
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  6. fusionfab added a post in a topic Subaru EA81 engine and accessories   

    it has been sold
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  7. SS NEV added a post in a topic Subaru EA81 engine and accessories   

    Do you have the EA81 yet ?
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  8. sioux201 added a post in a topic Whoa... $50k for a FWB KF7 STi ?!!   

    You’re missing something Doug, the market doesn’t want to buy Avid. (They don’t know what f—- there missing)
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  9. dholly added a post in a topic Whoa... $50k for a FWB KF7 STi ?!!   

    My A+ kit was $13,500 in 2005.

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  10. dholly added a post in a topic Whoa... $50k for a FWB KF7 STi ?!!   

    More than 100%

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  11. 1avidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Kitfox 8 wheel hubs for 1 1/4" axel
    Hi all,  recently I got a Kitfox built cabane style landing gear.  It has the 1 1/4" aluminum axels.  I could buy the 3/4" axels from grove and then my regular kitfox hubs and 8" wheels would work.  A while back I saw someone with 3/4" axels on their kitfox break an axel, and it wasn't good.  So I got to thinking, why not build hubs that can use 1 1/4" bearings so I can use the larger axels I have.  I also didn't want to go buy expensive 6" wheels that fit the larger axels as well.  I bought two pieces of  4" long 3" OD, 2" ID aluminum tube and some 4" x 1/2 thick aluminum cutoffs.   So far, about $45 invested.  Had some fun on the lathe, and now I'll take them to the welder, true them up on the lathe, press in the bearings, and drill the bolt holes for the wheel bolts.  They should then be ready to go.  Think it will work?  JImChuk





    • 2 replies
    • 266 views


  12. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Matco tailwheel issue   

    The bearings push up against a smaller opening in the wheel hub (shoulder) so they can only go so far in.  There is only enough room  between the bearings and original washer and tailwheel arm on the other side so the bearings and wheel spin freely.  My washer has a 1/2" hole, so it goes up tight against the end of the 5/8" tube, so the wheel still spins freely.  
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  13. saskavid added a post in a topic Matco tailwheel issue   

    Ok then that idea is shot. didn't realize the bearings sit on a tube independent of the bolt and nut influence to side loading. In terms of bearing life I do know some of the chinese manufacture bearings that I've used to replace worn ones on my combine have demonstrated fractional service life compared to the ones they replaced. 
     
    Jim: just out of curiosity how much play is there between the pipe and the bearings laterally when everything is assembled?
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  14. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Matco tailwheel issue   

    Not sure I can agree with the over torqued axle bolt theory,  The bolt is 1/2" diameter.  There is a 5/8" diameter bushing/tube that sits on the bolt and that the nut tightens up against.  The bearings sit on the tube, and are not pushed in by the nut.  The inside diameter of the bearings is 5/8".  JImChuk
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  15. saskavid added a post in a topic Matco tailwheel issue   

    Just at a glance I'd say/guess over torqued axle bolt and created an excessive side load on the bearings. looks like there is a grease type wetness in the wheel and the race covers.In terms of matco using any of our ideas...I know with the original matco front wheels on the avid where the inner race wants to spin on the axle because of excessive seal drag the best answer is some kind of plastic spacer between the inner races to moderately pressurize the bearing and overcome the drag. Matco's best answer is to just add unnessicary drag by tightening up the wheel nut until stops spinning on the axle and that the added drag of doing this inconsequental to the energy profile of the aircraft. They don't consider that the added nut torque with added vibration and conditions of side load will slowly over time with use lead to base metal compression of the alloy wheel with the super hard bearing cup pushing into the magnesium alloy or whatever it is.. Of course this is all just theoretical observation on my part.  
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  16. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Matco tailwheel issue   

     
    Good solution for a safer installation, I wonder if Matco will use the knowledge you imparted. 
    If bought in bulk, those washers would cost all of maybe $.25 each.  I don't see a downside for the safety added.  JImChuk
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  17. wypaul added a post in a topic Matco tailwheel issue   

    Hard to imagine that those bearings went bad so quickly.  Makes me wonder if the Chinese didn’t get them packed with grease during manufacturing. I have been running the dual fork model with no issues for over 1000 hours. Fortunately with the dual the wheel cannot depart but I will pay better attention during walk around, thanks for the heads up Jim.
    Good solution for a safer installation, I wonder if Matco will use the knowledge you imparted. 
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  18. sioux201 added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Wanted, Dyna smooth motor mount hat shaped brackets
    Need the 2 hat shaped bottom brackets

    • 1 reply
    • 405 views


  19. sioux201 added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Wanted, Dyna smooth motor mount hat shaped brackets
    Need the 2 hat shaped bottom brackets

    • 0 replies
    • 161 views


  20. nlappos added a post in a topic Matco tailwheel issue   

    Great Idea, Jim!
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  21. 1avidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Matco tailwheel issue
    Hi all,  I was flying the Kitfox 4 this evening and after I landed the second time and was taxiing back to take off again, something didn't feel right with the plane.  Thought it was a bump first of all, then it wallowed real good and I stopped and checked what was going on.  Here is what I found.  Bearings blew out in the Matco 8" tailwheel.  I have 150 hrs on the plane, and some of those are ski time, so maybe 125 hrs on this tailwheel.  I think all I need is new bearings and that isn't to expensive.  But here is what I'm going to do to avoid having a wheel fall off in the future.  I will install a thin washer underneath the nut, so that even if the bearing balls all fall out like they did here, the washer will keep the wheel on the axel.  Having the wheel come off at full landing speed could make for a bad day.  I had a spare wheel so it was pretty easy to get it back in flying condition, but it could have been worse.  Just figured I would give a heads up to you all.  I'm including a picture of the spare wheel where you can see how much smaller the nut is than the bearing and why the wheel was able to come off.   JImChuk
     
    PS.  I had some large thin washers, 1/4" hole, and 1 1/2" diameter.  I drilled out the hole to 1/2" and put them on the Kitfox and Avid.  Wont loose a tailwheel now.  I left the small diameter washer in place as a spacer between the bearing and the large washer so the large washer wouldn't rub on the wheel.
    PS   PS  I did call matco and talk to their tech guy.  He didn't think it would hurt anything as long as the washer doesn't rub on the wheel.  I was sort of suggesting that this may be something they might consider doing as well.  I know if the wheel had flown off right as I touched down, things could have got ugly pretty quick.  
     







    • 7 replies
    • 376 views


  22. sioux201 added a post in a topic WANTED! spar tubes for wing extensions   

    Call Troy at Just Aircraft or if you’re at Oshkosh, you’ll be over in a booth, tell him SNAPS said give you a discount
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  23. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic WANTED! spar tubes for wing extensions   

    I see it on online metals for about $17 something a foot.  I have some spars from a Kitfox 1 and 2 but they have a full length stiffener in them.  That could be worked around though.  JImChuk
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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 4 build # 2   

    Chris,  the Kitfox 4 wing is a faster wing at higher speeds than the Avid wing as I understand it.  I know it's hard to push my Avid over 100 with the 80 HP Jabiru.  But I was flying in the Avid at 2880 RPM tonight at 84 MPH.  Verified that with the GPS flying two ways on the same stretch of road.   
    Jack,  I have the standard old Kitfox radiator.  That is what I have in the other Kitfox 4 with the 80 HP and it does fine.  I never fly when it's very hot though.  When I took of this evening it was 78, but it had been up to 85 and I didn't feel like going in that.  I do have a new larger Kitfox aluminum radiator but it wont go on unless I need it.  You might end up with a radiator in the cowl, and one on the belly.  Better a bit of drag than overheating I would say.   JImChuk
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  25. Wike added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    WANTED! spar tubes for wing extensions
    I need qty 4 spar tube 3 ft in length each. If anyone has some old spar tubes laying arround I will gladly pay you to cut me four and ship them to me.
    Thanks,
    Bill
    919-417-8080
    • 2 replies
    • 348 views