Kent

Looking for a Jabiru engine mount for a KitFox III or IV and any other firewall forward parts 

I have my welder set at 35 amps, usually go full pedal until I get a nice puddle established and get moving then I back off and just try to maintain a weld puddle that wets into the two parts I’m welding. I don’t know if that’s right or not it’s just what works for me. I’m using a 1/16 tungsten because I read somewhere that’s what I should use, but in all honesty I like the 3/32 better.

Yah that’s rough, winter really takes it out of a guy. By the time I get home from my day job it hard to muster the ambition to go preheat a plane in a cold drafty hanger.

I would say good prep, clean your metal up and make sure your joints are tight with minimal gap. A welding table that you can set up on and get comfortable and some spare tungsten. I really enjoy tig welding, it’s kinda peaceful until you dip your tungsten for the hundredth time and throw your torch across the shop. Don’t do that by the way because it breaks the back cap and it’s back to the welding supply store .

It’s been kinda quiet on here lately so I thought I would post what I have been working on. I know I could have bought rudder pedals but I like building things and I need more practice with the tig.

You do nice Work! If it flies as good as it looks your gonna have a winner.

Thanks for doing that Jim, are the flapperon rods the same length left and right? I imagine it will be evident when I get to that point but I’m just curious. No need to make a special trip to the garage 

OK that makes sense, I think that would be a good alternative if you didn't want to weld on a fuselage. Would it be possible for you to measure and list the control rod lengths? It can be a bit confusing to figure out what goes were when your building old kits that the labels have fallen off of. To add to the confusion I have a model IV kit and a model III and a model III to IV conversion kit. Maybe it could even be posted in the files and forms section.

Have a good day! 

Its looking good! I don't see any landing gear reinforcement on this one, are you trying to keep your weight down?I'm always impressed by how much progress you make, even more now knowing your 70.

I wondered where IKEA ended up, it used to visit Winter’s frequently when I was flying out of there. It’s a nice plane I’m glad to see went to a good home.

Thanks for the replies, So it sounds like I was letting my ocd take over. This is my first build and I am trying to avoid doing anything that would result in a poor flying aircraft. 

TJay that is pretty much what the KitFox manual  says to do, nlappos that is exactly what i was saying and your math is correct that's what i'm seeing. I was really nervous about drilling the holes in my spars because I know how much work and expense goes into getting the wings to this point. I feel better now Thanks guys!

Congrats! That has to feel good 

Well that really sucks! I was hoping to log on and read your first flight report. I feel for you that can be really frustrating. Will it idle long enough that you can turn the fuel valve off and let it run out of fuel? If it smooths out for a few seconds before it dies that tells you conclusively that your dealing with a rich condition vs a electrical one. Just a thought that’s easy to try.

Hi Jim

I’m glad to hear that helped, as far as why it helps I have no idea. I have wondered the same thing and would by interested to know why. A interesting side note is that I have the same bouncy vacuum gauge on the left carb on our engine, not nearly as much on the right. As far as the worn valve guide theory goes our engine only had 40 hours on it when we bought it and had the rough idle issue so I kind of doubt it but I guess anything is possible. We have just under 90 hours on it now and it’s running great.

Hi Jim 

I chased that exact same problem on the 912 in our Zenair 601 for a year. Changed fuel lines, fuel pump, had the carbs rebuilt by rotax, balanced them multiple times.new throttle cables, checked the ignition system multiple times. Nothing seemed to help until I dropped the idle jets down one size. It has run like a top with a smooth idle for 40 hours now.

That looks really good Jim, I think that’s a good idea

I wore myself and my shop floor out last weekend trying to get my wings rigged to the fuselage, I didn’t have any trouble with the dihedral or the washout but when I string lined the leading edge I noticed that the left front spar was not as far onto the spar carry through. I measured from the rudder post to the end of each wing and sure enough the left one was one inch shorter than the right. After checking and rechecking every thing multiple times I think that my fuselage is not straight. I measured from the rear spar bushings to the rudder post and the left one measured 1/4 inch less than the right. Any one have any words of wisdom on how to fix that?

Very nice! 

I don’t know anything about this, just saw the ad and am passing it on.

I had the same idea rattling around in my head a couple years ago. My plan was to use the engine and transmission from a zero turn lawn mower to drive the tracks. I'm sure it would work just not sure how well and it would probably be too heavy. I never made it past the thinking part, would sure like to see someone try it though. There is nothing but fear and common sense holding you back.

There are some things I missed mentioning, you need to do a little math to determine what size of bolt to use. For example you could use a larger bolt and only one bearing.

https://youtu.be/eMA5CW-DlEU

It should work now, 

This is my home brew version. Pretty easy to make out of scrap I had laying around. https://youtu.be/YtxCW6GG6fY