Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. akflyer added a post in a topic NEXT QUESTION - WHAT'S A 670?   

    Boy do I know that feeling.. I have spent 73% of the year at work.. My time at home has not seen me doing the mods I wanted to get done, just playing as much as I can with the plane the way it is
     
    Hope you get some time in the near future to get it up and flying.
     

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  2. Orphan added a post in a topic NEXT QUESTION - WHAT'S A 670?   

    I have stalled on the installation because work has me away from home this year. Hope that this fall eases up on me and I can get it completed. I do know the exhaust system is going to be a challenge being a much bigger pipe than the 582 was. I am also going real experimental by working on a front canard similar to the Peterson Katamei. I hope to be able to decrease the angle of attack on approaches and decrease the stall speed considerably. I have the drawing done and trying to find some with a cnc router to cut out the ribs from carbon fiber and slim plywood composite. I have the wide gear from Airdale and will be putting on Airstreak and Grove wheels and brakes. Just can't get away from work long enough to get anything done. Oilfield has me hostage.
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  3. Av8r_Sed added a post in a topic I need a new EMS... GRT2000EIS... MGL Velocity E1 or... ???   

    My vote is for the E-1.  It's been ultra reliable for me.
     
    BTW, EGT's are almost certainly K-type thermocouples.
     
    If you need a little hand holding on the electrical stuff, hit me up.  My install went smoothly.
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  4. akflyer added a post in a topic Introducing C-FSXT   

    I have beat the crap out of the Airdale heavy/wide gear with no issues, but it is the old bungee style.  Some swear by the grove gear.. All I know is, there are lots of guys that have folded up the spring gear you have and messed up their planes pretty good.  The geometry of the gear is such that even on a not so hard landing the springs bottom out and then your going metal to metal and something has to give.  It is about 50/50 on what gives, the fuse sides or the gear legs.
     
    Av8r (larry) has put up some pics of his buddy that went through a couple of the spring gear that you have before he got tired of doing repairs and went to the Grove gear.
     
    Randy Tyler has 31" airstreaks on his and LOVES them... and he was running 26" AK bushwheels for a couple years before he made the swap.  As with most mods to a plane, your intended mission will dictate what your best tires would be.  I am thinking that if you run 26" or 29" tires at 2-2.5 PSI you may get away with the gear legs that you have now.
     

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  5. Av8r_Sed added a post in a topic Anyone have a 912ul VDO oil pressure sender failure?   

    I had bad luck with my quad gauge and switched over to a MGL E-1.  I've been very happy with it.  It's a solid performer.
     
    http://www.mglavionics.com/html/velocity_singles.html
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  6. Deejayel added a post in a topic Mdl C, HH For Sale   

    Interested for a friend, but we need to be educated on the airplane and its differences from my kfiv.
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  7. AlbertaPilot added a post in a topic Introducing C-FSXT   

    Hi Ed,
     
    Yeah some 29" Airstreaks are definitely on my wishlist for some day, but I need to brush up on my piloting skills first.
     
    To get the decals off I used this:
     
    http://www.schaefferoil.com/citrol-cleaner-degreaser.html
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  8. EDMO added a post in a topic Introducing C-FSXT   

    I cant answer about the gear - I know that some members are trying to find a better modification for it - Hope you will get some good answers on that, and I'm sure that some of them will tell you to get some bigger tires, Like Joey C5Engineer, or maybe Leni AkFlyer, or Randy SuberAvid, to name a few.Nice Bird - Congratulations and Welcome.
    Got to ask - How did you get the KittyFox decals off?
    EDMO
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  9. EDMO added a post in a topic Weighing Bondo?   

    Thanks for the info Leni,Wish I had known about this before buying Lite Bondo - Guess you use the Lite Kitty?
    2nd wing leading edge is finished - added new Riblett mod web strips to old ribs, now need to cut trailing edge and put new capstrips on - Then, I can get the other wing, that I thought was finished, off of the wall, and start the rib mod on it.
    EDMO
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  10. AlbertaPilot added a post in a topic Introducing C-FSXT   

    Thanks for the heads up on the gear, what is the preferred gear for rough/off-strip operation?
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  11. akflyer added a post in a topic Weighing Bondo?   

    http://www.azautobodysupply.com/fievkihagasi.html
     
    Not an Alaska thing Ed, just an automotive thing   It is basically a bondo type filler with strands of fiberglass to hold it together and give it some strength.  It does not shrink up and pull apart like bondo does over time.  I have used it for final fill on cowlings and nose bowls as well as cars and boats.  The stuff works good and has some decent strength to it.
     

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  12. akflyer added a post in a topic Introducing C-FSXT   

    good looking bird!  I would be very wary of the landing gear... the majority of people who installed that gear ended up with bent planes and busted gear.. But the plane looks nice and should be a blast to fly!  Congrats on actually getting to fly it! 
     

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  13. akflyer added a post in a topic Anyone have a 912ul VDO oil pressure sender failure?   

    http://www.amazon.com/Sunpro-CP8202-StyleLine-Electrical-Pressure/dp/B000CPINK2/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1379007846&sr=1-4
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  14. wypaul added a post in a topic I need a new EMS... GRT2000EIS... MGL Velocity E1 or... ???   

    I bought the E3 which is a smaller 2 1/4" unit which I like but I do wish that I had bought the E1.  The E3 is hard for me to read due not only to size but lighting also.
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  15. horsepower added a post in a topic Introducing C-FSXT   

    Great looking bird and welcome to the forum.You will get a lot of useful info from this bunch and have a laugh or two.Randy
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  16. dholly added a post in a topic Introducing C-FSXT   

    Looks great Randy, Congratulations!
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  17. AlbertaPilot added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Introducing C-FSXT
    Hi guys,
     
    Just wanted to post a few pics of my new plane... it's been a long process getting it imported into Canada but I finally received my Certificate of Airworthiness and took her up for the first flight earlier this week.
     
    The plane is a 1995 Kitfox Model IV with a Speedster tail powered by an 80 HP Rotax 912. I bought the plane from a Team Kitfox forum member in Massachussetts. I went on a massive road trip across the continent to pick it up in May. Since then I have been going through the import/MDRA inspection process.
     
    The previous owner had some nice vinyl "Kitfox" graphics on the side, but I had to remove them to install the Canadian registration letters.
     
    Now my goal is to learn to fly it well. I took it up on Tuesday and flew it from Red Deer, AB down to Innisfail to practice some landings on the grass before attempting to land on pavement. The landings were passable but I definitely was a little rusty. It flew great though, and I plan on doing a lot of flying in this little airplane.
     
    Thanks,
    Randy
    (Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada)
     







    • 22 replies
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  18. dholly added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    I need a new EMS... GRT2000EIS... MGL Velocity E1 or... ???
    I am about to replace my old Westach Quad gauge with a new Engine Information/Management System.
     
    What helpful suggestions, comments and support can you offer in my time of need?
     
    Not the only options I'm sure, but here are some of the options I have already researched:
     
    1.) I have an existing 912ul software compatible GRT Model 2000 EIS in my current bag of tricks that I could install BUT, a) I don't really want to cut my panel up and would have to infringe into my planned transponder space unless I added an fugly plate to cover the old gauge hole; b) I have no probes or senders which will require at a minimum (2) new CHT probes (CHT-10-01) for ~$14/ea., (2) new EGT probes (EGT-HCS-01) for ~$36/ea., oil temp sender (FT-1827-02) ~$18; the new VDO oil pressure sender I bot at OSH (390-905) ~$50 and a new (6') pin connector wire harness ~$35. If I wanted to go all out, I could add the OAT probe ~$25. Total cost for this option $193+S&H plus the hassle of cutting the panel to fit a square box to a round hole.
     
    2.) Buy a new MGL Velocity E1 Universal Engine Monitor. This instrument would fit the existing cutout and I believe the EGT band clamp probes used with the Quad gauge are J-Style thermocouples which  appear to be compatible. According to the user manual this EMS has a Special Rotax 912/914 engine monitor mode which would allow utilizing the existing built-in Rotax NTC-style (screw-in) CHT probes vs. new under plug ring probes (I prefer the Rotax location), existing oil temp probe and the VDO oil pressure sender. I have a call into MGL to confirm, if true cost of instrument only $315+S&H, plus ease and convenience of reusing existing cutout, senders and probes.
     
    (Update: MGL manual is a bit difficult to interpret for non-electric guys IMHO, suffice to say that for desired gauge functions all my senders and probes except the current Rotax CHT will work. Need (2) CHT912 probes, M10x1.5 thread to replace the existing NTC probes ~$35/ea. so $385+S&H total cost, plus easy probe swap.)
     
    3.) Send the gauge back to Westberg for modification to new-style sender and re-calibration for $400.
     
    4.) Try to source a NOS (impossible) or used (next to impossible) Westberg oil pressure sender for $
     
    5.) Put a mechanical electric* automotive oil pressure gauge in, tape the Quad gauge function and be done with it.
     
    6) Your Suggestion(s) Here
     
    thnx for playing!
     
    [edit] *Leni
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  19. dholly added a post in a topic Anyone have a 912ul VDO oil pressure sender failure?   

    Well this thread is useless without pictures!
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  20. akflyer added a post in a topic Westach Quad (and other Westberg) Gauge - Info Source   

    good info on the site!
     

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  21. akflyer added a post in a topic Anyone have a 912ul VDO oil pressure sender failure?   

    well you could just as easily use an electric automotive gauge and sender   and keep the nasty oil out of the cockpit
     

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  22. dholly added a post in a topic Anyone have a 912ul VDO oil pressure sender failure?   

    The thought has crossed my mind, and I may well do that as a temp solution. Somewhat of a silly issue with gallons of gas by your head or in your lap but I prefer to keep the oil out of the cockpit longer term.
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  23. dholly added a topic in Avid and Kitfox parts Suppliers   

    Westach Quad (and other Westberg) Gauge - Info Source
    Here's a great resource if you need info or are troubleshooting a Westach Quad problem:
     
    http://www.acro.co.uk/html/westach_general_information.htm
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  24. akflyer added a post in a topic Anyone have a 912ul VDO oil pressure sender failure?   

    for your peace of mind, could you not just put in an automotive type mechanical gauge   Seems to me that for around 20 bucks you could have a gauge that works all the time
     
    Before I grounded myself, I would install one even if its just a quick temp install while I was figuring out what new gauge stack to go with.

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  25. dholly added a post in a topic Anyone have a 912ul VDO oil pressure sender failure?   

    Just to update/close this thread, the saga continues...
     
    After reading so much about the ever-so-common 912 w/ VDO pressure sender failure issues, I assumed (yeah, yeah) that I had joined the club. While at OSH, I stopped by a couple vendors to price a new sender and, in every instance, I told them I had a Westach Quad gauge and let them look up the proper sender. In every instance, the VDO sender they produced sure didn't look like what I remembered. (Note to self: your memory isn't what it used to be, phone pics priceless!).
     
    Turns out the Quad gauge does not use the VDO sender. More specifically, it does use a sender that has been discontinued by the manufacturer. Westberg will be happy to take your gauge and convert circuitry for $300 +S&H and sell you a new (proprietary) sender for $50. So, $350-$400 +downtime to update the Quad gauge. And you got another non off the shelf sender. Great.
     
    I remain 99% certain the sender is my problem. I have removed and reinstalled it twice and I have opened wire bundles, traced, inspected and manipulated every connection multiple times now. The gauge will still work intermittently. Nothing above creates any repeatable pattern. I can start one time, no gauge. Restart, gauge maybe. When it works, it can shut off anytime but vibration or bouncing down the runway has no bearing on when it chooses to work.
     
    Can't pinpoint the problem directly so now I am grounded and looking at alternatives to the Quad gauge. I'll start a new thread for soliciting suggestions...
     
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