LSaupe

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Posts posted by LSaupe

  3. Posted

    Another resource for you would be to communicate with a member on the Teamkitfox.com site.  His name is "Mnflyer".  He has a Model III with an HKS and loves it.  There is also a Yahoo HKS user group that may be of assistance.  Might be a touch low on power for the Model IV but hopefully sufficient.  Take a real good look at your engine mount and frame.  We had a local conversion up this way (582 to an HKS) and the engine mount failed early on (might have been a production bad weld, but worth a look). 

  4. Posted · Edited by LSaupe

    I know this is old, but did it ever get sorted out?  If so, what was the culprit?  Chris, any chance you can post a pic of what you are talking about?

  7. Posted

    Thought I would pass this along. This is the option we went with.  Works real nice plus the added bonus of an automatic sensor at the hose outlet which prevents an overfill.

    The pump will actually raise the fuel 3 feet. So.. we just walk a 5 gallon can to the top of our small ladder/stool. Drop the end of the hose in the wing tank and shuts off when the tank is full.  

     

    http://www.amazon.com/Second-Gen-TERAPUMP-TRFA01-Auto-Stop/dp/B00SBZRKEU/ref=pd_sim_263_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41XlnUXn8bL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=196SQN81BN2HBKXQR2S1

     

    1 person likes this

  9. Posted

    Oh and as far as flying a trike with the 912uls and the RX1, You can feel the acceleration and take off performance increase but trike's can not use that much power unless you have a really fast wing. So you end up not holding the throttle very long because you end up heading straight up in the air. Its a lot of fun but I look forward to seeing how fast it will launch a kitfox off the ground.

    Teal, wont this be way over powered for a Kitfox IV?  Seems like 80 HP provides very spirited performance.  Maybe a Model 5-7 would make better use of all that power (with regard to feeling out the engine).

    Not sure if it has been mentioned yet, but I assume the cold weather (cold start) capabilities are retained for this use.  Sure beats all the warming rituals for standard 4 strokes.  I was amazed at how well my Vector fired up in Northern Ontario during bitter cold mornings. Fuel mileage was very impressive as well.

     

  10. Posted

    There's about 15 of them on Craigslist in my neighborhood right now.  (I had to look)  Great motor, terrible heavy pig of a sled...

    Looked here as well.  5 on Craigslist.  Shouldn't be too hard to find.  Especially after this terrible winter (snow wise).

  12. Posted

     

    My wife just treated me to a great weekend getaway, which included some flight time at Shelburne Flight School (VT8).  The key part of this was that the instructor, Paul Potter (he is a full time instructor), instructs in a fairly new factory built Kitfox Model 7 (non-experimental Light Sport).  912 100 HP Rotax with a Whirlwind prop and glass cockpit.  You may recognize this bird as it was featured in the Feb 2015 issue of Kitplanes magazine and was also at Sun-n-Fun and Oshkosh.  He flew it home from a flight school in Idaho last year. Build quality was exceptional.  It now has 1300 hours on the clock (mostly in instruction mode).  Can't tell it from a new plane. Very impressive performance.  Glass cockpit  takes some getting used to but makes for a very clean panel. 
     
    If you ever get back up that way, don't hesitate to stop in and say hi (then drop over to the VT Teddy Bear Factory and also Shelburne Farms). 
     
     
    DSC_0181_zpsdstzgzym.jpg
     
    DSCN4414_zps5yimg0z1.jpg
     
    DSCN4410_zpsyqhbkujw.jpg
     
    2 people like this

  13. Posted

    I used Adel clamps on mine (though did need to extend one of the tabs).  Never did fit real well behind the seat so actually put it behind the tubes vice between the seat and tubes.  Just a bit too tight for some reason where I wanted it.  However, in this scenario you would need to disconnect the flaperon control tubes prior to folding.  Will grab some pics the next time I go to the airport if interested.

  15. Posted

    It wont matter in the air, I run my chains loose so I am always on the rudder when taxing and have to use a lot of brake as well.  If you like the way it taxi's now, I would leave it rigged the way you have it.

    Does the KF have the offset vert fin like the Avids do?  If so, that is why when the rudder is straight wit the fin its pulling.

    :BC:

    Thanks all.   Vertical stab is straight, no offset.

    1 person likes this

  16. Posted · Edited by LSaupe

    I have a Kitfox III with an 8" Matco single arm tailwheel.

    My wife is training on the bird now, for her tailwheel endorsement, and commented on why there is some left pedal required for it to track straight.  I just never noticed it before.  With the pedals even (rudder is then true to the vert stab) the plane will drift off right.  When raising the tail (by hand) the rudder and tailwheel all line up well, however, during taxi (even on coast with idle) you need to add some left pedal (rudder and tailwheel now slightly misaligned).  Anyone experienced this before?

    I added a link to my right chain and it now taxis perfect (with regard to pedal position).  Right chain now has zero tension and left the original 1/2" (unsprung length is 2.75").  Right side spring length is 2.75" and left side compressed to 2.25" (with everything aligned - Rudder to tailwheel straight ahead).  Not sure I want to fly like that, but just for a point of reference.  Prior to the change both were at 2.25"

    Gear alignment is perfect.  Kinda odd that the Matco tailweel is offset to the right of the centerline though (maybe due to the single arm?).

    Do any of you run different tensions on your chains?

    If so, anyone know what the recommended tension is for the Matco?  The supplied chains are rather crude (each link worth 1/2" of distance).

     

     

  17. Posted

    I have the same, mounted in the same place and they work great.  Plus nothing hanging on the outside.

  22. Posted · Edited by LSaupe

    Or maybe something like this "if" you can hold the end in the tank and crank at the same time.

    http://www.amazon.com/HMC-Gasoline-Caddy-20-Gallon-GC-20R/dp/B00BJ2ELPS/ref=pd_sim_sbs_263_4?ie=UTF8&dpID=31-3Yf%2BkCAL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR86%2C160_&refRID=050SN5Y4GHEMEM3ABW9D

    or

    http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200484467_200484467?utm_campaign=bazaarvoice&utm_medium=SearchVoice&utm_source=RatingsAndReviews&utm_content=Default

     

  24. Posted · Edited by LSaupe

    Yep, actually went by the 40 hr mark this morning.  A very patient wife was waiting at the hanger for a well deserved first ride and some stick time (she should have her tailwheel endorsement soon).  We were trailed by one of the guys in our EAA chapter, and with any luck he will have some video of the flight. I will post if it comes out well.

    The BIG 4-0!  Luckily the weather was conducive this year to keep flying.  For me, that's like a years worth of flying in 4 months!

    DSCN4370_zpstqwbxmut.jpg

    2 people like this

  25. Posted

    Hello, everyone I am new to this forum. I would like to let everyone know about a really good engine option. I have been using the RX-1 engines now to power my last 3 aircraft which have been trikes. I am a machinist by trade so I made a adapter that will allow the use of a rotax C gearbox with this engine. I recently bought a Kitfox model 4 that is currently being powered by a 912. I will be removing the engine and replacing it with the RX1. The engine weigh 128 lbs bare. they are 140 lbs with carbs gearbox and adapter. They up to 140 HP stock. 4 cylinder double overhead cams 5 valves per cylinder. They are super reliable with the snowmobile community. See my you tube video of me installing a adapter on a RX1 under  SKYTRAX YAMAHA. Steve Henry of wild west aircraft is currently installing one in his new highlander. 

    IMG_3171_3 (1).jpg

    20151031_101013.jpg

    Very clean installation.  Impressed with your workmanship and attention to detail.  What kind of trike is that?  I used to fly a Northwing a while back.