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We were kinda given a permanent vacation from TKF

Speak for yourself Mr... I still got a log on over there that works   I just dont frequent it too much.  I dont wanna get into any pissing contests, I just dont like getting my pee pee slapped for speaking the truth about a product or supplier, or an individual who perhaps ate too many paint chips off the crib when he was a child

I am interested to on the conversion do  you have any info posted on the conversion?

thanks Bob

http://www.avidfoxflyers.com/index.php?/topic/77-my-new-power-plant/?hl=800

That was where the dream started   Just talked to Dave a couple days ago and it sounds like the plate has been machined, now its just getting the flywheel machined to fit my crank then I can bolt it to the test stand and see how she likes having a gear box and prop on it.  I am hoping for the ultra smooth running that is does in the sled!  Still working out the kinks on the mounting.  I will mount it upright like a KF, but I think I can get away with perhaps one small bump in the cowl to clear the plugs and pipe.  I may have to drop the thrust line down 1-1.5" but I don't see that as a huge issue.

Haha I honestly don't think that is possible.  I'm thinking 600lbs will be the bare minumum my plane could weigh with the Grove Gear/Wheel/Brakes.

That's still 43 lbs though.  I've accounted for about 20-25lbs now.

I need more fuel capacity though.  I'm not going to ditch the header tanks at this point until I come up with a viable solution.   I would have to stop (literally) 4 times to make it to the beach.  That's 8 fuel stops round trip and 100LL ain't cheap, oil is not cheap either and I'm making $8 an hour at the moment.  In my buddies RV he can make the round trip and still have plenty of fuel left.  Wish I had done my homework before buying a 2-stroke!  I never would have imagined they burned 6GPH

If I can fit a fuel tank in the left wing storage compartment that holds atleast 4 gallons I will ditch those header tanks in a heartbeat!

Yes,

1983 T-2 almost done with a complete rebuild. It will be on the market soon. New everything!

I am interested to on the conversion do  you have any info posted on the conversion?

thanks Bob

Sweet only about 100 more lbs to go

Well I accounted for 3+ lbs of the weight.  The fire extinguisher.  It's above the pilots seat.

The RadioShack Speaker behind the pilots seat can go.  It's only good for getting METAR's without headsets.

I COULD eliminate the header tanks but I would only have 1.4 Hours usable fuel w/ day VFR reserve.

I could remove the fuel flow totalizer, but it's probably only 2 lbs or so total and its nice knowing fuel flow all the time.

The cabin heat and air system could go.  I honestly have no idea what they weigh.

The battery weighs 14lbs in the box.  I'm sure a much lighter battery could be installed.  If I had a big budget I would go with a Braille.  $$$<2lbs

I already removed the Cordura cover from behind the seats and the kick panel carpets.

I propped the tail up to flight level position using a 55 gallon trash can w/ lid, then I placed a piece of 1" thick plywood on top of that.  I set the scale on top of the plywood and then set the tail on top of the scale.  It worked out nicely.  I may rig up a plumb bob and meaure the arms for reassurance.  I believe its measured from the leading edge of the wing root, correct? 

I just ran into another problem.  I drained the tanks, replaced all the filters, refilled the tanks and I cannot get fuel to flow to the 2 header tanks.  It's like its vapor locked or I have a blockage in my wing tank lines.  If I put a little air pressure into the wing tanks they will slowly trickle down but they will not do it on their own..  I was looking at Kitfox Service Bulletins and I know this was a problem on the older header tank systems.  Guess I need to drain the tanks and remove the lines, see if there is a blockage first.  This annual is turning into a pain in the ass, haha

Did you put a stand on the scale to raise the tail to level?  if so did you subtract tha weight from the tail wheel weight?

I would carefully remeasure all 3 wheel arms.  I seem to remember some 4s with grove gear having a negative main wheel arm.  For what its worth, my classic 4 tail wheel arm is 158.5 inches.

If you still have an aft cg problem then start removing items unnecessary for flight one by one.  Throw them up in the air and if they come back down, dot not put them back on the plane.  Seriously, there has to be one heavy kitfox. 

On my previous weight and balance the tail only weighed 43.10 lbs.  I have no idea what would have added the extra weight back there.  I have looked and looked and just do not see anything out of the ordinary.

the only things behind my seat are the twing header tanks and lines, the elt and the strobe controller box.  That's IT!   I have no idea what added 13lbs to the tail.

We confirmed the weights 6 times on 2 different sets of scales and took the averages of all 6 readings.  All were within a pound of each other.

The official published w&b information for a standard Kitfox IV - 1200 from Skystart is 157.10" Aft.

In 2007 it is logged in my logbook that the tailwheel springs were updated to a newer style from Kitfox Aircraft Company.  This included one extra leaf spring and new cables.  After this date the W&B shows the tailwheel at 160.75 but no new W&B was configured.  Perhaps there is a mistake somewhere in my book because no where does it state that the newer style tailwheel springs are any longer or shorter then the originals.  At least I cannot find it.

One major change is the gove gear moved the main gear Arm from 3.20/3.30 Left/Right to .25/.25 Left/Right.  That did change the weight and balance

My WB sheet shows my tail 40 lbs at  146 inches. Unless a IV is quite a bit longer 160 seems pretty far. Also curious how come your tail is 13lbs heavier. My empty CG is only 11 inches.

I did not measure the arms and yes the empty weight includes absolutely everything except for fuel.  I simply used the Arms from the previous W&B.  Also, I was just reading through the Purple SkyStar Kitfox POH that came with my airplane and it specifically says that the small 6 Gallon wing tank is completely compatible with the wing storage area.  Does this mean that the small 6 gallon wing tank will drop into the wing storage area?  It got me a bit confused.  I'm also curious what the Kitfox Alunimum Header Tank fuel capacity is?  It does not have it listed on their website.

Just plugging in the weights that you provided in your W/B with the Arms for my Avid I get an empty CG range of 12.89 and it seems strange to me with nothing heavy to the rear that you are having aft CG problems. Will you please provide the arms for your aircraft. Did you measure the Arms yourself? Weights are without fuel I assume.

Avatar is the little picture that shows up when you post. It just helps to personalize your postings.

Avid super stol in the take off competition was an old 532 which I put over 830hr on before the crank broke at osh durning the show, that's another story.

Your right about weight,and technique

A model, 390lbs with floats!!! Some of the tricks,manual start,1 coat of paint,no dual controls( 3" more leg room,lighter) floats only weigh 28 lbs each,etc

Technique , secrets

VERY INTERESTED IN HOW THE 800 works out, keep me posted

What's avatar?

Good thoughts. I have so much fun with my "sportscar", I dont want to talk anyone into a pick-up truck!

Very different missions for these planes....  ?  4 vs 2 seats?  Certified vs Experimental?  10+ GPH vs 4 GPH?  Insurance?

...and I doubt the M5 would perform in the same class as the Kitfox.

Fuel injected Arctic Cat engine made by Suzuki

The Maule will cost about to 10x more to feed, insure, and maintain. If thats already worked into the equation I'd buy the Maule!

800 conversion

What is this? a rotax?

thanks Bob

Chase sometimes being right is not a popular place to be...... I know been there and done that I read the post that you are talking about and you were spot on with your info.... sometimes people has the mind set that close is alright and sometimes close is alright but not in this case The info that you gave you were right on the money had the guy done the way the other people were telling him he would have had a plane that he probley would not have been happy with.... by the way the guy that took your advice is happy that he did

Bob

Maule is 55k, KF is 55k. Both birds listed on BS.

Which bird? My friend wants to come play with me. Lots of grass, short strips, sand bars etc...

Thanks.

Good to know, I still need to lose weight though. So does my airplane, haha

interesting considering the published cg is 10.7-16".  I'll have to play around.

 

Where do you live and how do I get there?  Sounds like a party!  Steak, Seagrams and 7up, haha!

That is the same published CG range for the avids... it is VERY conservative.  I dont know how many hours you have, or how much TD time you have, but I would start out slowing adding some pounds by strapping divers weights on the tail spring.  When I am on wheels I run 8-12 pounds of weight on my tail spring.  But I am starting off at an empty CG of 12" too.

add some weight, go to altitude and play around with slow flight and stalls.. add a few more pounds and repeat.  You can tell when the plane starts to act tail heavy and not "normal" .  do all said slow work at altitude!  and get those flaps to where you can use them, your leaving alot of take off and landing performance on the table by not using them.

Well I was going to go with my Model III but vibration issues (still unresolved) caused me to scrub a week before the event.  Looks like I would have been weathered out anyway due to the crap weather that nailed Colorado.  One of the East coast guys made is as far as Cheyenne, WY before he had to call it quits and fly commercial back home.