1avidflyer

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Everything posted by 1avidflyer



  1. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic 1st flt Avid - impressions   

    I would get the feel for the plane before I worry to much about flaperons.  If the plane wants to climb, you can add just a bit of flaperons and that will push the nose down.  For some reason that I don't understand, it might even lift a heavy wing.   A light bungee tied to the seat truss and going around the joystick works good for nose up trim.  All the way down, it does nothing, higher up you set it, the more it pulls back on the stick.  For the heavy left stick, check the wash out in the wings with a 4' level.  Front spar to trailing edge near the wing tip, same place on both sides to see if there is a bunch of difference.  That could account for one wing being "heavy".  Something is wrong that you have that much vibration.  Be carefull it could shake a carb loose.  Not good! What rpm was it shaking the worst?  JImChuk
    PS  pictures also show the aluminum angel that stops the elevator control tube end from being rolled around the joystick cross tube.  


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  2. 1avidflyer added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Kitfox 4 on Barnstormers....
    Seems like there is always someone looking for one of these.  JImChuk
    KITFOX-4-1200 • ACCEPTING OFFERS • AK bush wheels, BRS, Rotax 912, 700 hrs call for all other details. Lots of extras 4438073377 • Contact David D. Belt, Owner - located White Hall, MD USA • Telephone: 443-807-3377 • Posted May 7, 2018
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  3. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Wing tank for Avid MK4   

    Aluminum tanks were tried in both Avids, and Kitfoxes.  The flexing of the wings would often  eventually cause them to leak.  I think there is a guy in Idaho who can make the tanks.  Maybe do a search in the archives here.  I know it's been talked about a year or two ago.  Have you thought about trying to seal them?  I've used KBS coatings before.  If the sealing would work, it would be much easier, and cheaper than changing out the old tanks.  JImChuk
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  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic 1st flt Avid - impressions   

    Glad you got it in the air (and back down)safely :-)  Never had a clutch, so I can't address that.  Leni has used one, if I remember right, he said it acts like a big airbrake when it goes to freewheel mode.  If your ASI is accurate, get slowed up to about 55 or maybe just a bit less on final, it will come down.   Grass is very nice to fly off of.   Way better than pavement.   I usually cruised at 5000-5200 rpm to just put around.  What model do you have?  What is the empty weight.  For noise, get a good headset.  Oh, and wipe that grin off yer face!    JImChuk
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  5. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic So. Oregon   

    Welcome to the group.  MK IV HH is a nice plane.  I just spent an hour in one this evening.....And oh yes!  Pictures.  JImChuk
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  6. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Trim tab on a Kitfox 4???   

    Thanks for the info Ed.  I'll have a look at my manual.  I was thinking about welding in hinges like are used on the elevator.  One near each end of the trim tab with 1/8" pins.  I should have looked at my manual before I posted this question.  I see that the trim tab feature was an option on the 4.  JImChuk
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  7. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Trim tab on a Kitfox 4???   

    I have the trim tab on my Avid MK IV.  Got it locked solid now though with a 3/16"  bolt and fender washers top and bottom.  Last summer right after I started flying the plane after the rebuild, the cable broke and had just a bit of flutter with the tab flapping up and down.  I had bought the heavier sized piano wire and couldn't get it around the bends the outer cable went through.  Ended up reusing the old cable and it only lasted for a few flights.  Have to add that to the next order.   Usually, I just had the trim set so it would fly hands off, never used trim for landing.  JImChuk
    PS  Don't think I will find anything in the Kitfox 4 manual (I have 2 of them) as the Kitfox 4 didn't have a trim tab.  Thanks though for the offer Ed
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  8. 1avidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Trim tab on a Kitfox 4???
    Working a little bit on the Kitfox 4 I'm rebuilding. Basically I have to sandblast the tailfeathers and controls, repaint them and then start reassembly. I peeled off the fabric on the trailfeathers a couple of days ago. There was an add on adjustable trim tab on the elevator. The hinges were pop riveted in place on both ends of the tab. Now get this... 3/16" aluminum rivets were used, and to top it off, when the guy drilled the holes, he went through both sides of the 3/8" tube. Took half the material away even though the rivets didn't go through the inner hole. Makes you wonder what goes through some people's minds at times. Anyway, got to get some welding done to patch it up. I got thinking, why not add a built in trim tab while I'm at it. Those of you who are flying Kitfox 4s, would you do it? If you don't have a trim tab, do your wish you did? Any body got any pics of theirs when they did? Thanks, JImChuk
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  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Just picked up this Model 1 kitfox   

    The angle gives it lots more strength.... the little bit of bend you need could be made with these.   Just make your flat part, and let it go up about 3/8" higher.  Then bend that extra 3/8" over 90 degrees.    JImChuk
    http://www.toolup.com/Vise-Grip-8r-8-Sheet-Metal-Clamp-8R?CAWELAID=120204890000062340&catargetid=120204890000444943&CADEVICE=c
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  10. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 2   

    Find a DAR in your area, and ask his opinion.  Maybe he would help you to register it and get it legal.  If it's never been registered before, then maybe he can approach it as if you are finishing up the very last part of the build.  Not sure if it's possible that way, but it doesn't hurt to ask.  Pretty plane.  JImChuk
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  11. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 2   

    First thing I would do is if the plane has an N #, I would go here   https://www.faa.gov/     and look it up.  Look on the right side of the page  below the light blue color near the top.  See a box there where you can type in the N #.   Unclear what exactly you mean by "owner has no paperwork"  No logs? or no airworthiness certificate?   Tell us more about the plane maybe...  JImChuk
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  12. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic BlackHawk PPG Fly-in pics   

    I guess I wasn't interested in it for myself, got to many projects and toys already.  Was just passing on what I saw.  I think you're right about trying to get it legal if it's not already.  JImChuk
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  13. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic BlackHawk PPG Fly-in pics   

    I just saw one on Barnstormers yesterday or the day before for that same price.  Helmets, 582, and all.  Can't remember where it was, maybe Ohio or near there??  JImChuk 
    PS  just went and looked.  $5000.  Here is the add.  At least I remembered it was in Ohio
    BUCKEYE POWERED PARACHUTE • $5,000 • GONE WEST • Buckeye powerchute dream machine 582 blue head low hrs ele start radio helmets text for pictures • Contact Roger L. Phillips, Friend of Owner - located Damascus, OH USA • Telephone: 330 501 7104 . 330 537 3875 • Posted May 2, 2018
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  14. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Converting airstream trailer into hauler   

    I'm trying to get her to sell the plane without the engine to lessen the liability issue.  Not deregistered yet..... JImChuk
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  15. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic my wing mod: hybrid speed stol   

    If I was going to make the brackets you need, I would either use some angle, or bend some up, (maybe 3/8" x 1" x .040")   then make a slice in the bottom of the trailing edge aluminum along the side of the rib tail, just wide enough to slide the bracket into that slot.  Then just remove the top 1/8" of the part of the bracket that will be inside of the fabric.   That would position that part of the bracket up against the bottom of the top cap strip.  Epoxy everything back together and you should be good to go.   YMMV, suggestion worth what you paid for it.   JImChuk
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  16. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Just picked up this Model 1 kitfox   

    The center piece in the spar is a nice thing to see.  Before they started using that type of spar, the gross weight was 850.   With that type of spar, you have a 950 gross weight.  I think that type of extrusion was pretty expensive, more than a regular aluminum tube at any rate, and they went back to just a round tube with a stiffener that was inserted into the tube, centered on the lift strut attachment bracket.   As far at the brackets, I would do trial and error, until you get one that fits good, and then copy it.   JImChuk
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  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Compression numbers ?   

    A number of years ago, there was a guy from Oregon or Washington who had a 503 on his plane.  He flew it a lot, and he said he had 1250 hrs on that engine and it had never been apart.  He was going to fly the plane from his place to Oshkosh.  He post was about, should he trust the engine.   Lots of guys said that was to many hours, and they wouldn't do it.  At any rate, he started east, and the engine quit on him close to Yellowstone park (or maybe over it) At any rate, he was able to land on a small road with no damage.  He caught the bus to Oshkosh where he bought a new 503 and brought it back with him.  Installed it in the plane and flew back home.  Maybe some here remember that story.  He flew a lot with a little gal from Oregon who flew a Drifter from Oregon to Sun and Fun in Florida a few years back.  I think he flew the SnF trip also.  I guess the point of this whole post is these engines maybe can go a bit longer than Rotax's 300 hrs before they are worn out.  No doubt, four times longer is stretching it a bit though.  JImChuk
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  18. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Compression numbers ?   

    Probably way more likely to seize a 2 stroke engine and stop it then wear it out.   Cold seizures, to high of EGTs,  rings getting stuck with to much carbon build up which allows exhaust gasses to go down the side of the piston causing a hot spot.  Improper cooling will also cause problems.  JImChuk
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  19. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic removal of adhesive from fabric   

    A soft large erasure for pencils seemed to help to roll the glue up and give it something to stick to as well.  JImChuk
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  20. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Interesting Kitfox sales brochure   

    Bit more progress, almost ready to hang the wing.  Need another roll of pinstriping tape to finish the bottom.  I do have a bit of a problem though.  When I pealed off the blue masking tape, it left a bunch of tape residue.  Any suggestions on how to get rid of it?  I've tried alcohol (maybe I should rephrase that) denatured alcohol, paint thinner, and oops cleaner which is supposed to get most things off without hurting what's underneath.   I read today on the roll of tape that it says don't use with lacquer, I did use lacquer thinner with the poly fiber products instead of their thinner.  It was about the same price for 5 gallons of the lacquer thinner as one gallon of the poly thinner.  I saved some money, but this paint residue kindof bit me though.  I'm afraid to use the lacquer thinner on the tape and then start removing the paint.  It's way worse on the gray, but that tape was on a day longer than the blue side of the yellow stripe.  I had laid the gray on fairly heavy, and taped it the next day, maybe this would not have been as much a  problem if it had more time to cure out??? Jim Chuk
    PS  ended up using 3M general purpose adhesive cleaner # 08984.  Took a bit of elbow grease, but it worked.  What I should have used for tape is the 3M green masking tape.  And don't leave it on any longer than you need to.  


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  21. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic removal of adhesive from fabric   

    That's the stuff.  I had used lacquer thinner to thin the poly fiber coats, and used blue painter's masking tape for the trim colors.  Found out later you need to use the green 3M masking tape if going over lacquer, and even then, don't leave it on any longer than you have to.  JImChuk
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  22. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic removal of adhesive from fabric   

    I tried all kinds of different things to get some masking tape glue residue off my Kitfox 1 wing,  this is what finally worked.  3M general adhesive cleaner #08984.  Still had to put some elbow grease into it, but it did work when many others failed.  JImChuk
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  23. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Cut down an ivo prop   

    I would give IVO a call and ask them what they think.  JImChuk
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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Cut down an ivo prop   

    Judging from that length, it must be a 72" diameter prop.  IVO says they can be cut down to a minimum of 48"  I've cut down oneonce, put a stop on my power miter saw, and cut the same amount off each blade by holding each blade against the stop and cutting that same amount off each blade.  Being as how the ends are buggered up, you cant' do that.  If it was me, I would put a 5/16" bolt sticking up in a length of wood that I could drop each blade onto and a stop the piece of wood bumps against on the saw.  Cut each blade without cutting the board off and you should then have all the blades the same length.  I would cut at least 1 1/2" off the blades.  Maybe do the worst one first, and inspect it real well to make sure there are no cracks or weak areas left in the prop blade, then cut the others.  Advice worth what you paid for it.... JImChuk
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  25. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Cyl head   

    I may have some from a 377 snowmobile engine. I wonder if they are the same?  Can you post a picture of one?  JImChuk
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