Logan

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Posts posted by Logan

  1. Posted

    If your plane is level sideways at the doors, is the verticle stabilizer then exactly plumb?  (Incase you aren't familiar with that term, in carpentry lingo, level is for horizontal, plumb is for verticle.)  I'm wondering if the fuselage is at all twisted???  Probably not, but something to check anyway. 

    I checked with a digital level today and found the vertical stab out a little less than 2 degrees when compared to the vertical stab, so it's not perfect. How close did they build them?

  2. Posted

    I suppose you tried reversing the struts as well??  JImChuk

    Yeah. I tried that--put the left side on the right side. They are exactly the same length and bring the exact same results, unfortunately. If you flip them front to back, they don't even come close to lining up to the holes.

  3. Posted

    Now I'm going to have to climb up on a ladder and have a look at mine.   If your plane is level sideways at the doors, is the verticle stabilizer then exactly plumb?  (Incase you aren't familiar with that term, in carpentry lingo, level is for horizontal, plumb is for verticle.)  I'm wondering if the fuselage is at all twisted???  Probably not, but something to check anyway.  Kitfoxes do have  heim joints on those struts but Avids never did. And for that matter, if my memory is correct, just one heim joint on each side, not both, cause it was just for adjusting the incidence of the horizontal stabilizer.  I suppose you have compared the distances between the holes and such on the two different stabilizers.   JImChuk

    Thanks for the help! I'll have to take the digital level to the hangar and see what I can figure out about this. I presumed there wasn't any twisting in the fuselage since the original stab is pretty close, but who knows? I did compare the distance to the holes on the to stabilizers--they look so close to identical by placing them on top of one another. I might have to measure really accurately to see for sure. They're obviously out a little bit otherwise it would mount the exact same as the original.

    Does the replacement horizontal stab sit level without the struts installed? If it does, I would say the strut is too long. Did you get struts with the replacement stab? If you did, might try them.

    Yeah, you can have it sit any which way without the struts since it is just pivoting on the front and rear mounting bolts. If one strut is too long, then the other strut is identically too short as the holes all line up perfectly--and I mean perfect.

  4. Posted

    Sorry for the delay everyone! Thanks for all your help! I finally made it to the hangar to get some pictures. The first picture is of the original stab which is corroded internally. The second is of the replacement (currently green). The original is fairly close to level, but still slightly out in comparison with the top cross member of the fuselage. The new one is significantly more askew. Again, the holes all line up perfectly with the struts and everything. Thoughts?

    I have access to a machine shop and was thinking about cutting off the ends of the stab struts, machining an internally threaded 10-32 insert that would be welded inside the strut tube and accept a AN-42 eyelet which would allow me to adjust the rigging. Would that be a good idea or is there some other underlying issue?

    2019-11-01 Avid Original Stab.jpg

    2019-11-01 Avid New Stab.JPG

  5. Posted

    On my KF1 I found that the v braces were interchangeable between right and left and the stab would be properly aligned either way but there is a front and back to the v braces if that makes sense. If you have the leading tube of the v brace on the trailing tube of the stab then the whole stab will be cockeyed.

    We checked this first thing and if we had them forward to backwards nothing lined up at all. We did try swapping the braces side to side without any change!

    Thanks for the help!

  6. Posted

    Hey Everyone!

    We have a B model and we found a horizontal stabilizer to replace our old one which was corroded badly. The bolts and everything for the stab braces line up perfectly, but compared to the cross members of the fuselage the new stab sits at a pretty good angle with the right side significantly lower than the left. Is that normal?

    Unlike most other birds I’ve worked on, there does not seem to be a way to adjust it, nor does the build manual seem to help.

    Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

  8. Posted

    Hey Everyone!

    I'm looking to replace the mechanical brake cables on our B model Avid. I've been trying to find a good source for a new bowden tube and the cable itself, but I haven't had much luck. I'll likely need raw materials I can cut to length. Any suggestions? I searched the forums, but couldn't find any details. I looked through Aircraft Spruce, but didn't find anything I thought would work. Maybe a go kart brake cable?

    Thanks,

    Logan

  10. Posted

    Hey just thinking here hope someone will set it straight,

    But i think that Kitfox and Avid have different axel center locations from the front of the wing. Think Avid is straight down from wing leadin edge, and Kitfox is like 1 7/8” forward of wing leading edge?

     That will messup ur CG if it ends up different than what u have now. Mayb someone thats knows them better can help us out with that info. 

    Avid gear axle is 1 7/8 ahead of the top forward gear mount. Changing this will not affect the C.G. as that is a flight function. (The weight will change, but so will the arm) The CG will remain the same. What may change is the point/speed at which the tail comes up on take off, or comes down on wheel landings.  A further aft axle means the tail comes up sooner. (More weight on the mains, less on the tail). I have been building "tall" cabane style main gear for the Avids for several years and have the dimensions down pretty good.

    Stabs are the same except that the front mounting tab on the earlier Avids is off- center because of the rudder offset. Avid changed that when guys started putting Right-turning engines on. I ran into that when I tried to put a "B" model tail on a "C" model fuselage.

    Thanks for all the help! If we have mismatched gear legs, this is probably what we are noticing is all wonky.

  11. Posted

    The two stroke Rotax with a gearbox turns to the left in tractor configuration, so looking from the cockpit it would be counterclockwise.  Just the opposite of a Continental or Lycoming.  JImChuk

    PS  answered your PM

    That explains a lot! I didn't even notice the different rotation when we started it on the ground before buying.

    Logan, the silver covered KF 4 gearlegs sold to Dale in canada, the ones i have i "may" sell r the bluefox off my KF model 1,  but they the same measurements, My new extended landing gear is shippin out on Monday, so id guess by end of the following week id have a decision made. 

    Sounds like a plan! Let me know when you make your decision! Thanks Bucky!

  12. Posted

    Id sell my complete KF5 bungee type landing gear, brakes and new tires.

    I think it measures the same as the KF4?

    Just pulled it off for float install and I'll go with a full gear and tire upgrade if I switch it back.

    I would have definitely been interested, but from my research I found that only up to the KF4 would fit on the B model. Thanks for the offer though!

    Logan, yes its me u been textin about gear and tail feathers. And i was sayin that i tried Avid tail feathers on a Kitfox and it Did not work, hindges dont lineup, ud have to cut them off and reweld them backon in my experience.  And the 22” long gear leg is same as all the stock Kitfox gear i have. Hope this helps  hahahaaaa

    Yeah, we're definitely interested in your KF4 gear legs Bucky. Let me know when you have them off and we'll see where we are with the project at that point.

    I did some measuring this evening, and found that the Avid and Kitfox tube that the bungee wraps around measures 16" from the end of that tube to the forward mounting hole of the landing gear.  Also from that hole down  to the center of the axel, the Kitfox 4 measures 22" and the Avid MK IV measures 25"  JImChuk

    Thanks for measuring this for us! It makes sense that the slightly longer leg is from a Kitfox as I noticed now that the weld on the lug for the old mechanical brakes was clearly added by someone who didn't know how to weld. I'm definitely going to call you when I find time when it isn't crazy late in the evening out your way. Thank you!

    I have had a number of Avids and Kitfox parts. Used some to build a "FRankenplane" Something to consider.

    1. The Kitfox Horiz stab I had was about 1 1/2" shorter front to back than the Avid equivalent You would have to make mounting brackets. Spanwise they were equal. Also, you would have to make "V" struts, as neither model would line up.

    2. On the earlier Avids, the Leading edge of the Vertical Stab is offset to the right about a  inch. This puts the front mounting tab on the Horiz stab about an inch to the right of center, so to use an "A" or  "B" model stab on a "C" or later fuse, you have to move the front mounting tab or the stab will be skewed.

    3. Using a Kitfox Horiz stab with an Avid Elevator or vice-versa would be problematic. You would have to move hinges on something.

       Same with rudders

    4. The whole gear assembly was compatible, but you can't use half of one and half of the other together. The top crossmember of the Avid gear where the bungees go  was about an inch longer than the Kitfox gear.

    5. Doors don't fit, neither does the turtle deck. Kitfox round cowl will fit an Avid if you use KF engine mounts and turn the engine upright. You have to do some welding.  Bad idea! Looks neat but the forward visibility on the ground sucks. Hard to land.

    It sounds like I should just stick with sourcing an Avid horizontal stab and elevator! Thanks so much for all your help! I feel like we need a comprehensive guide of what was changed as the models progressed--anybody know of something someone has compiled? Maybe that would be a good forum project?

    I haven't looked closely enough at our fuselage to see if the vertical stab is offset, but looking in the build manual that came with it it sure looks like it is offset--to the left though. That doesn't make any sense to me unless the prop was to turn counterclockwise looking from the cockpit. I'll have to look at the bird closely the next time I'm in the hangar.

  13. Posted

    I have a horizontal stabilizer for an A model and a C model.  I think they are both the same size.  MK IV is probably bigger, but I'm just guessing on that.  (I know the elevator is bigger on the 4.  I don't have an elevator though.  Both of mine are covered, A model one has white aerothane paint, the C  is fabric, and finish tapes.  No gear legs for sale either.  How much different in length are the gear if you measure the front tube, top to bottom on each?  If you  have one MK IV gear, I might be able to match you up with one of those.  Not sure if Kitfox el and hor. stab are interchangeable.  I'm guessing they aren't.   JImChuk

    Thank you! This helps a bunch! I'll probably contact you directly to talk about those stabilizers. I wouldn't be afraid of finding the bigger Mk IV stab if it mounts the same way and has the same braces. As for the gear legs, the one is 22" and the other 21 1/2". The previous owner mentioned that the one gear leg is from a Kitfox, but I didn't think anything of it at the time. According to the logs it is the longer one. The bird was on a trailer when we bought it and I didn't bother to unfold the wings. Getting it to the hangar and unfolding the wings showed us that the one wing sits distinctly low--out came the measure tape. The shorter of the two is the one that toes in a ridiculous amount, but nothing looks bent at all. How much should they toe in on a stock Avid? My Citabria has just a very slight toe in--not even noticeable without measuring. 

    Dont know if this helps, but when i started the build on my model one kitfox, i bought an A model Avid, and tried to use the horizontal on the kitfox and it would fit but every hinge location would have to b moved to lineup with eachother. 

    Thanks Bucky! So my understanding from your experience is that if we get a matching elevator and stabilizer from an early Kitfox, it would work. Is that correct?

  14. Posted

    We recently acquired an Avid B Model. There is an uncomfortable amount of corrosion on the tubes of the horizontal stabilizer and elevator, presumably because drain holes were never installed in the fabric--the rest of the tubes look perfect. We're looking for a replacement set. What tail feathers will fit on a B model? Up to the Kitfox 4/Avid 4? Does anyone have anything for sale or know where to find a set?

    We could also use a set of stock gear legs for the B Model as we're pretty sure ours are mismatched--one toes in a lot more than the other and one is slightly shorter. Anyone have any kicking around?

    Thanks in advance for the help!