1avidflyer

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  1. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 2 project start   

    If you use a bungee or cabane style landing gear, it's a good idea to infill the seat truss to the extent possible.  The bungee gear pulls down on the center of the seat truss, the cabane style pushes in on the bottom of the seat truss.   I think I have somewhat beaten that by connecting the seat truss to the cabane on my Avid.  On my cabane, there is an additional tube that runs across at the top of the cabane to help keep it from buckling in  If that tube hadn't been there, I would have run the strap  right up to the seat truss.   As far as the baggage compartment, Avid MK IV has a door on the left side to access the baggage compartment which is just under the back of the turtle deck.  


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  2. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Rudder Pedal Bearing F-50   

    I'm just looking at the online manual, and in section II chapter 4, the rudder pedals are discussed.  Looks like that nylon bushing is 11/16" diameter with 1/4" hole, probably about 1/2" long.  If you don't have the paper manual, you can look in the forms and files section on this forum.  That's what I just  did cause I'm not close to my paper manual.  The index for what section refers to what part of the plane you want to look at is section XII.   JImChuk
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  3. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Avid MK IV build manual   

    Hi Nick or Leni,  I do like the manual uploaded, but if there was any way to label each section to say what was covered in it, that would be great.  If I had my manual handy, I could see what section I'm looking for without having to download one after the other till I get to the section I need to look at.  Of course, then I'd just look in the manual...     Thanks,  JimChuk
    PS,  I found that section XII is the index for the manual.  Download it first, and then you will know which section you want.
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  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Getting ready to start fabric   

    Good point Chris.  This is what I did to get access to the tailwheel spring bolt.  Also makes it easier to inspect for corrosion or damage.  I epoxied in an aluminum cross tube to terminate the fabric on.  An aluminum cover screwed in place will cover it up when finished.  

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  5. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Getting ready to start fabric   

    You have the Kitfox 4 don't you.  I like a wider fuselage, and also infilled under the doors.  If one was to infill the seat truss somewhat, that would help a know weak area as well.  I used .040" steel on mine.   Here is a picture of my fuselage, and then the door latches I made with rods going front and back.  




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  6. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Wanted, Kitfox III 912 engine mount and smooth cowling.   

    I think the regular motor mount would work just fine if you mount the oil tank into the firewall.  That is what I did on my Kitfox 4.  I ended up cutting the brackets off the mount that hold the oil tank in place.  The problem is the tank sits way to high for the smooth cowl using the regular mount location.  JImChuk
    PS   the same Kitfox mount fits the models 3, and 4.  Later models are wider,

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  7. 1avidflyer added a topic in Rotax and other engines   

    Suzuki GB13BB engine
    Hi all, yesterday someone contacted me for some info and mentioned that they are going with this Suzuki engine for their plane. (A highlander, but similar size to our Kitfoxes....) I am very much a 912 Rotax fan, and suggested he go in that direction. Does anyone know of any Kitfox, Avid or Highlander that is using this Suzuki engine successfully? I don't know much about them, other than the guy in Canada who promotes them for use on trikes. Thanks all. JImChuk

    PS, I already have a 912 for my next Kitfox project and fully intend to use it :-)
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  8. 1avidflyer added a topic in Rotax and other engines   

    Suzuki GB13BB engine
    Hi all, yesterday someone contacted me for some info and mentioned that they are going with this Suzuki engine for their plane. (A highlander, but similar size to our Kitfoxes....) I am very much a 912 Rotax fan, and suggested he go in that direction. Does anyone know of any Kitfox, Avid or Highlander that is using this Suzuki engine successfully? I don't know much about them, other than the guy in Canada who promotes them for use on trikes. Thanks all. JImChuk

    PS, I already have a 912 for my next Kitfox project and fully intend to use it :-)
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  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Speed wing mods?   

    Kitfox 4 and later models use the same ribs.  STi wing is different though.  Nice thing about the Kitfox 4 is it's lighter than later models.  They are bigger, and have higher gross weights however.  
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  10. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic "WANTED" Avid / Fox   

    Not available currently.  Should have jumped on it when it was.  :-)  
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  11. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic "WANTED" Avid / Fox   

    I see a Kitfox 4 on barnstormers with a Jabiru engine for $54,000 if I remember correctly....  and an Avid MK IV with a Subaru engine in it for $35,000.  Wow, nothing cheap out there. 
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  12. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Could someone check something for me please?   

    TJ,  I see you have a different dimension on the Kitfox 1 strut, but noticed that yours is the rear tube of the lift strut, mine was the front tube at 98".  The more info he can get the better, to try to figure out what he has.  (why isn't there a thumbs up in the emoticons?)  
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  13. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Speed wing mods?   

    About 6 yrs ago, I was going to get a spar tube from Just Aircraft to repair a Kitfox 1 wing I had.  It was .065"wall, and they said they would install the aluminum stiffener in it for me to avoid extra shipping.  Based on that, I thought Just used the .065" material.  Maybe they went to the .083" stuff later on???  I ended up finding another complete wing that needed some repairs and used it instead.  Made quite a sight driving it back from New York state to Mn.  

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  14. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Speed wing mods?   

    Kitfox 4 and later style ribs may be a better option, they perform good at slow and higher speeds.  Also, it may be hard to find .83" tube for spars.  Kitfox uses .065" and a good stiffener with gross weights of 1550 lbs.  120 is pretty fast for these planes...
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  15. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Could someone check something for me please?   

    Here is a post where I show a bunch of my ski build pictures.  Making a new set of skis - Forum How-to's - AvidFoxFlyers Forums
    Back to the current topic, can you measure the front of your lift struts, and post the measurement?  I can't get a measurement just now, but maybe some one else can.  If you have a different length, that would explain why the 80" measurement isn't working for you locating your lift strut bracket.  
    PS  Just rethinking things, and remembered you said the plane is scratch built.  There never were any plans for Avids that I'm aware of, but someone did copy the Kitfox 1 and made plans from it.  Called a Raven I believe.  Maybe you would find that the measurements for a Kitfox 1 might match up better with what you have.  I know there is also a Kitfox 1 manual in the files and forms section.  I had a Kitfox 1 and have the measurement for the lift strut on it, and that is 98" from center to center of the front lift strut bolt to attach point bolt on the fuselage.  
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  16. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Could someone check something for me please?   

    I got to thinking after I went to bed last night, and remembered  pulling a string from wing tip to wing tip and as I remember, I had 3 or 4" to the skylight.   Went looking for pictures of my Avid MK IV, and found this.  I'll see if I can find pics of my other Avids, but I don't think this one has more dihedral than the others.   
    PS Last night I posted some figures on what one degree at 80" would add up to. Today, I got to thinking, and realized I was mistaken in my figures. The lift strut attachment bolt is 80" from the end of the spar according to the Avid wing build manual. But if one was going to figure out how high the bracket should be at a certain degree, you need to double that 80" figure to get to the diameter and then multiply that by pie (3.1416) The figures I posted last night used the 80" length, so they were off by 1/2. Therefore, (unless I'm wrong again) 1 degree at the liftstrut bracket (80" from the butt end of the spar) should be 1.396". At 4' that should be .837" Hope this helps and no one read my previous incorrect posts.   So,  80' X 2 = 160"  X 3.1416 =  502.65  (circumference of the circle)  divide by 360   (number of degrees in a circle)  = 1.396"

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  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Could someone check something for me please?   

    The figures I gave in this post were incorrect and so I deleted them and corrected them in my next post. 
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  18. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Could someone check something for me please?   

    If you have your manual, you should be able to find the dimension for locating the lift strut brackets on the wing spars.  I'm not close to my manual right now.  Now that I think about it though, the manual is in the files and forms section.  
    PS  I just looked in the online manual, and found the info you maybe need.  It's in section III,  chapter 2,  drawing # FW-1B.  There is shows that the dimension from fuselage end of spar to center of liftstrut attachment bolt should be 80"
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  19. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Rotax 582 muffler bracket   

    Rubber has been used for many yrs for muffler mounts without real problems I think, but there is more than one way to skin a cat.  
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  20. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic New Rotax 670 Install   

    Worst case, maybe drilling it out.  
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  21. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Running lean   

    What does your plane weigh empty?  An HKS would put out at least as much power as the 503.  Jabiru would do a lot more than the HKS.  Both would need a different motor mount though.  But a 582 might as well.  JImChuk
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  22. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic AVID ENGINE COWL   

    It didn't last long.  Good price as well.  
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  23. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Looking for a Kitfox nose wheel kit   

    Doug, I sent you a private message.  Did you get it?  JImChuk
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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Avid 4 or newer model plans   

    While I imagine the factory had drawings, they never sold plans to the public for any of the Avids.  There was/is a set of plans for a plane called a Raven, that was a copy of the Kitfox 1.  That is a long way from an Avid MK IV however, and from what I have heard, those plans are not very complete.  JImChuk
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  25. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Tiny Tach   

    If it's not the type that you can set for different type engines, it would be the one for a points type 2 stroke engine.  Rotax fires twice for each revolution, it has a wasted spark at BDC. JImChuk
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