Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. cliff added a post in a topic engine and prop advice   

    I am not sure of the make and model. It looks like a tooth pick next to this three blade we have. It does turn up the correct rpm. Next time I am at the airport I will get the prop info off it. I do have another 2 blade in my shed that is the same kind if I can find it.
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  2. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic engine and prop advice   

    You could just change the gearbox and prop fairly quickly to see the performance difference.  Sometimes it's hard to get the B box gear off the crankshaft especially without the factory puller though.  What prop are you using now?  Jim Chuk
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  3. cliff added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    engine and prop advice
    We got this old 1985 Avid back in the air a little over a week ago. It flys well but doesn't perform like the other Avid that I have flown. It takes a lot longer to get off the ground and climb rate is far less. They both have a 582 with a B box on them, only difference is he has a three blade prop, we have a very thin 2 blade. It is still fun to fly and we have enjoyed 3 hours of flight time in it so far. I am over weight and weigh in at 240, my brother is 150, With both of us on board and 10 gallons of fuel we are close to gross weight. Any how, the engine on our plane has minimal history of  it in the log books. . It is a gray head with a b box and a very thin 2 blade prop. The local airport 2 stroke guys have it set up and running fine. We just don't know the history of the engine. We have another 582 gray head that was overhauled and updated by rotax Rick about 3 years ago. It has 1 hr of test run time on it by Rick. It has a C box (3 to 1) and we have an all but new 3 blade powerfin prop, it all came off a KF IV that went 4 stroke. We were saving this engine for a Mark IV project that won't be completed anytime soon. Do you guys think we will see improved performance with the C box and big 3 blade prop? I know we will have more peace of mind with a zero time engine on the front, but with it running perfectly with this engine should we steal the engine from the other project? How long can an overhauled 582 be stored before the seals and gaskets start to get brittle? We only plan to fly local and my brother wants to finish his LS training in this plane. Any thoughts.
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  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Looking for information on Kitfox wheel hubs   

    Trouble with trailer hubs would be the weight I think.  I believe they are always made of steel.  Also, axels are usually tapered not same diameter all the way through like the Avid axels.  Jim Chuk
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  5. Trackwelder added a post in a topic Looking for information on Kitfox wheel hubs   

    Polaris ATVs use a 4 on 4 inch bolt pattern so trailer hubs are a possibility, I believe that the Kitfox used the 3 on 90 mm and doubled them up, but I am not positive.
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  6. Ronny added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    WANTED KITFOX 4-1200
    Looking to purchase a kitfox 4-1200 on wheels. Have cash for best plane must be rotax 912 ..ronflys701@hotmail.com
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  7. Ronny added a post in a topic Kitfox IV-1200   

    Give me a call and it is then sold...647-9219771
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  8. EDMO added a post in a topic Looking for information on Kitfox wheel hubs   

    Jim,
          I think you came up with the $100 best idea, and it don't cost near that much to do - sleeving the axle to fit the larger bearing is a winning idea - changing bearing size could be a worm-hole you don't want to get into - been there and failed to even get close!
          I may be wrong on the hubs being still available - I wonder if you could buy trailer hubs from some place like Harbor Freight and adapt them to fit the Douglas wheels?   I believe that Grove made a hub too - maybe not???
    EdMO
          I think I saw a drawing of the hubs on some site - that could give the bearing info and dimensions?
    EDMO
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  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Looking for information on Kitfox wheel hubs   

    Just reading your post, and when I read that the wheels were available for 1 1/4" axels, I right away thought: replace the existing bearings with same size outside, 3/4" inside.  Then I thought, maybe put a 1 1/4" OD tube on the axel with 1/4" wall thickness.  Just a few thoughts after only 1/2 a cup of coffee.  If I remember and can get to it, I'll try to get some dimentions for the kitfox hubs.  If one can weld aluminum, it shouldn't be hard to make them.  Weld an aluminum plate to an aluminum thick walled pipe, put it in the lathe and turn it down.  Might have to use solid aluminum rod if you can't find the right size aluminum pipe.  Like I said though, only 1/2 a cup of coffee so far..... Jim Chuk
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  10. Trackwelder added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    I made my own patterns for ribs and tails for the Avid Stohl profile, and used a router with a bearing what they call a laminate trimmer to cut them out , no need to use a fancy CNC program. Anymore all plywood interior or exterior plywood will pass the water and heat tests, they are using better glues today. Aircraft plywood was mainly special due to the lack of defects, as a trial run I cut up a sheet of underlayment and as thin as the wood that is left is if there was  void I would have found it, No voids, Gorilla glue will tear the wood apart before the joint so it is useable newer materials are out doing the strength and quality of the old.
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  11. Trackwelder added a post in a topic Looking for information on Kitfox wheel hubs   

    I have not been able to find the hubs, but the Matco discs and mounts are available and in stock, Matco now makes wheels in the 8 and 10 inch size but for 1 1/4" and 1 1/2 inch axles only, I was looking at my ATV disc brakes and thinking of mounting a caliper to the hub and use matco calipers, but like you said the kitfox community seems to be looking for them all the time.
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  12. dholly added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    Great workmanship Tree top pilot!

    Jim - As far as I know, KF Lite and Lite Squared both used flaperons. I think those are Ridge Runner ribs which begs the question... does Dan plan on using RR wings with flaps on his KF Lite Squared?
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  13. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Looking for information on Kitfox wheel hubs   

    If you have a source for the hubs, please share it.  
     
    The Kitfox community has been looking for these ever since the OEM supply dried up.
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  14. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    Kitfox Lite Squared was intended to go hand in hand with the Kitfox Lite (103 legal ultralight) as the trainer.  
     
    The Lite Squared was a Model IV-1200 sold with lightweight fabric and stripped down panel and fixtures.  I believe it was sold with a Rotax 503 as the recommended motor.
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  15. EDMO added a post in a topic Looking for information on Kitfox wheel hubs   

    Let me know when your lathe comes in - I have a set of what you want measured - but real busy this week.
    I think you can still buy these hubs and the Douglas wheels - just have to weld in the mounts for the Matco disks.
    EdMO
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  16. Trackwelder added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Looking for information on Kitfox wheel hubs
         I just ordered my Birthday present a new small lathe, and am trying to come up with some items to make with it. I am hoping that someone would have a few pictures of the old kitfox wheel hubs that they could share with me with a few of the measurements thrown in. I realize that with Matco coming out with the new 10 inch wheel that there is less need for them, but I wish they would have built them for 3/4" axles. thank you in  advance for any help you can give me.
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  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    I wondered about the shape of the ribs myself, glanced at the earlier posts, and thought they were for a Kitfox single seat (UL like).  Now I reread a bit closer and he says they are for a Kitfox lite 2.  Wasn't that a two seater that was supposed to be an ultralight trainer?  If my memory is right, it was like a 1050 gross weight Kitfox 4.   I thought those used the flaperons just like the other Kitfoxes, I wasn't sure about that for the single seater.  Looks like a lot more wing behind the rear spar than the regular Kitfox wings.  Wonder how that effects the CG??  I guess now I have more questions...  Any answers???  )  Jim Chuk
     
    They do look nice though!
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  18. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Hirth 3203   

     
     
    …and when people get irrationally angry they make irrational decisions.
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  19. akflyer added a post in a topic Hirth 3203   

    I looked at the hirth engines and considered them.  but in the end, I am just going to put my money into the 800 engine conversion (when ever I get off my ass and get back on the conversion that is).
     
    I would bet Larry is right.. many people have gotten pissed at Rotax, the prices they rape us on for replacement parts etc. 
     

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  20. akflyer added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    I would love to see the control system you have for that.  It looks like your not going to use flaperons?  I would seriously dig a set of ribs that use the USA35B airfoil and separate flaps and ailerons.  I can put the cap strips on myself, but having the ribs CNC cut would be worth some money to me.
     

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  21. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    Looks good.  Maybe you want to make up some ribs for Avids, especially the ones with the long tails for flaperon attachment.  Might find a bit of a market for them... Maybe even just the part of the rib that's behind the rear spar with cap strip running about 1' forward of that top and bottom.   Seems that it's not at all unusual to break the rib tails off in a crash that doesn't damage the rest of the wing very much.   Jim Chuk
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  22. Tree top pilot added a post in a topic Material for making ribs ?   

    OK I decided to start all over from square one with the wings. Making enough stuff for 4 wings is easier than just 2 helping another. So we got up an order for AS and went router bit shopping. A Local Klingspor wood shop had a nice selection of bits- we picked up the solid carbide downward chip ejection with roller bearings. Ply wood came in- 5 ply for capstrips and 10 ply for ribs. Dust flew....and piled up outside.....reminded me of snow. Now we are set. I have a full set of new ribs and falsies for the aileron and flaps. All new steel parts are also in the works....everything new. Now that I have been getting a little better health wise....I now have to find another place of employment. Guess I was "downsized" or just plain phased out. Never the less I will tinker with this as I can and share results. I made all the master templates and metal fixtures for the parts being made. At this rate I may want to start building airplanes....It's not like I don't have the equipment to. That's just fine . Something else to cloud my thoughts.


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  23. Av8r3400 added a post in a topic Hirth 3203   

    IMO - They sell a lot of engines from being "not Rotax".
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  24. 959 added a post in a topic Hirth 3203   

    I keep hearing story's like this.
    Makes me wonder how they stay in business or are we doing something wrong with the engine.
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  25. C5Engineer added a post in a topic Hirth 3203   

    Flew with a guy who had a hirth one time and fished his plane out of a field after it quit.
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