ybfcsqs

Here is some more info on the brake mod to read up on.

Thanks Mike, I'm fileing all this good stuff for when I can get my ship righted. It's taking me a little time to sort things out right now, but I'll be back swinging ASAP. You guys are the best and I am very appreciative. Thanks so much for your interest. Be well .. Jim

I am sorry for your loss, but as far as theft goes, you start looking at those closest to you, It is a shame that your family won't let you purchase your fathers tools, but I wouldn't be surprised if they get borrowed by one of the loudest against you paying a fair price. You can choose your friends but you can't chose your family.

Trackwelder, it's really funny how certain things really grow in importance over the years. Guess what, just wrecked my truck, no tools. Life goes on but sometimes it seems to be a little 'much'. Take care good man ... Jim

Here is an informational pic I'll add to this thread, showing the 2 piece brake pedal and mc-4d brake ram being pressure tested on a test stand. Basically just a rudder bar bolted to a piece of osb. the guage in the pic reads to 600 psi and the guage needle is more or less pinned, using only single hand/thumb pressure.According to their website Matco brakes achieve rated torque at 450 psi with 600 psi being more or less an upper limit due to caliper and guide pin deflection and flexing at pressures above that value.

So in short the brakes on Joey's plane work because the 2 piece brake pedals and mc-4d brake rams deliver gobs of pressure to the calipers on demand whenever/where ever the pilot needs it.

Mike

Thanks Mikesk, I can't believe the info I get off this site. Mike I'm caught between rocks and hard places right now, but I would really like to get back to you. I was just involved in a trafic accident and haven't been as normal as I would prefer. Thanks so much for your reply, hope I'll be a little more normal soon. Good tidings to you guy. Would like to correspond in more detail on this. Thanks ... Jim

Chris it's a 4ply 9x3.5 Carlisle tire. They sell it as an 8" though. It's mounted on one of their 4" front wheels. The only thing I see that may be an issue is the valve stem is near impossible to get to.

Jim glad you liked the videos. Were leaving June 21st to make that Idaho Backcountry trip again I can't wait!!

Joey, that was some of the most spectaclar big sky scenery I have ever witness. I as tried to get my motorcycle ridding buddy to make a run up there but on several different occasions he talked me into sailing out into the Bahamas. Had many wild adventures and 'boo coo' fun. We acted as our own crew (bare boat), he was the captain (licensed) and I was the mechanic and 1st mate. Really got into some hairy incidents with the Bahamian customs, police, and good old mother nature. Made a night crossing (usually due to the Gulf Stream) which gave us good landfall somewhere around mid two late afternon with about seven to eight of us aboard. We had a roster so who did the cooking and the dishwashing and guess who's last name started with an "A"? Yours truly which ment that I had to sail and keep a 60000 lb Morgan twin masted sloop ('stay on those whiches, trim the Genoa, look to the 'missin mast', whatch the wind, trim the sail tufts - loooved to sail, scuba dive [have two open water certifications] and very often get carried away when airplanes and boats come up.

Where were we - oh yeah, when I get my shop back in order I'm comming out to see some of you guys so don,t be mean when I began solicitiing invitations.Don't care what uou drive, where you live, what you eat or how many kids you have. Used to take trips on my Kawasaki, had duffle bags and a rear seat back , raided the convience stores and had a blast. Me and some of my EAA chapter buddies (I was co-chair sometimes and seeing you film Joey made me what tho get stocked up- my AVID MK VI loaded with some jeans and emergency gear and head to some fly-ins and mountain scenery with a light weight tent and pop some pork&beans. I've watched your video and some day, good buddy, you going to teach me some editing Not 'Gone With the Wind' but just a few little tricks. I love to show people the abolute wonders of flyin [some people call it flyinG(had it since about four years, stared at the rudder pedals and looved it) - nailing pieces of wood together banging on them with pieces of rock [had to bang on the rusty nails to rtraightened them with rocks (no hammer). For quite a while just couldn't figure out why my airplnes (didn,t wouldn't, sail through the air like birds and to glide in the air like the noisy things over which I was always suffering neck injuries try to keep in sight long after they hsd srunk to the size of less that a dot.

Be well Joey, you seem lie nice gus and my best to you relatives ... Jim

BTW am i getting priced out of the market? Seems that I noticed diferent wings an planformes of the supper looking KITFXOXES' and AVIDS? My GOd watch over you and yours ... Jim

Joey, got your videos. Outstanding, am going to watch them again. Saved the web sites, they're great. Thanks loads man ... Jim

C5E, forgot to tell you your photos of your ship are clear and concise. I may have just found a lead on a tailwheel mounting spring, gotta check it out. Belongs to the guy I sold my Pegasus Super Sport to (really great flying 'trike'.) Whish I could get him to the airport and trim his wing so I could take her for a few flights. He decided to rig her up himself, left of the washout tubes, and proceeded to wrestle her back to the strip with full left muscle power on the control bar. I had made the statement that the bird was incapable of controlled flight under these circumstances, but he brought her back (he's a really big guy and works out constantly.) Said he thought he could have held her for another 15 min. but admitted he, personally, was totally out of gas. Been trying to get him to bring her back up to the strip, let me trim the wings and take a few test flights. Think he might have gotten his 'wannabe' scared just a tad. Don't blame him.

Cheers to all, smooth air - blue skies ... Jim

I know how it feels to have tools stolen, I left on vacation a few years ago, the first in a long time and came home to find my garage cleaned out, rollaway welders torch they got it all, my brothers all said how sorry they were that I got robbed. 2 years later I walked into my brothers garage, the one who doesn't turn a wrench on anything, his idea is charge up the credit cards until he can't get anymore credit and then file bankruptcy. Guess what I found, my rollaway my welders my torches my compressor with serial numbers removed and his name written on them, shined up like they were art I still can't get him to admit he took them but I have been collecting plenty of his security cameras it would have been cheaper for him if he had just given me back my stuff.

Trackwelder, I'm seriously dumbfounded by your experience! If that had of been me I just might be one brother short of a full set. As I've written, I'm pretty much banished from my own kin as I write this. From vibes I get I don't think anyone wants to get within striking distance of me, presently. Our father passed on a few months ago and I just wanted to make a fair and respectable offer for his tools (as you know I received the devil's hand with my tools being absconded with also). There must be something about tools or tainted water that has driven mankind totally crazy. Be well good man ... Jim

Jim thanks for the kind words! Sorry to hear of your misfortunes. I had my race ready dirt bike stolen a few years back and that's the worst feeling of violation I have ever had! I passed my 20x7s off to another guy who was trying to get a second hand fox flying while going through a divorce. Hopefully you will stick around it's a great group of folks on here!!

Joey

I will shoot you an email so you have my offline contact

C5E, you're a straight up dude. Email me anytime, I'll get right back ASAP. I've followed your posts and have been impressed. I certainly unerstand about the tires. We fly much smaller tires down in my neck of the woods as a general rule. I was building a Burt Rutan design years ago (much cheaper then but it cost me a wife) and I had a pretty good indoctrination into glass layups. I'm thinking I'll probably go with wheel pants at some point. Not so good for tundra tires anyway. The burglary thing had me stumping mad for quite a while, but I would imagine most of those guys are doing time on my tax dollar about now. My tools and a few other things are no doubt scattered over the continental US by now.

BTW, another mod I plan to make involves the stiffness of my trim cable. According to what I've read, I should have about 41 degrees of travel measured at the trim tab. I'm half that or less. Too long on the cable with not enough secure points, and too many bends with too little radius in some of them. My idea is a straight run from the trim handle to the empenage, then a bellcrank right angle pivot to the trim tab. Another item on the 'to do' list. Be well good man ... Jim

Jim I damn sure know that feeling.. it's been 10 yrs and we still have good squabbles over Dads "stuff" I kinda like it keeping the rest of the family 4000 miles away from me. We seem to get along much better if we dont talk to or see eachother

Sucks on the little bastages liberating what you worked hard for. My kid had a party one night a few years ago and my brand new GLP starter for the plane and a bunch of tools, electronics and cash went missing among various other house hold stuff. Lesson 1 to the kid.. NEVER NEVER have a party at Dads house when he is gone. Lesson 2. If you are stupid enough to have one, then you better be tough enough to outdrink everyone else at the party so you dont pass out and leave 50 kids to steal all your dads stuff. Lesson 3, when it all hits the fan, you can bet your sweet ass that dad will make you pay for every damn thing that was stolen... with interest that would make a loan shark proud!

AKF, ain't it strange that everyone seems to get along reasonably well until SCARCE AND DIVISIBLE resources bring the whole rotten house tumbling down? I would have paid my 'gonads' to each and every one of my family just to BUY dad's tools. They carry their assundery tangible goods to other people to get them serviced/repaired. First time I've been attacked by hornets who want real blood in a while. To be fair, everyone wasn't involved. Just the two I suspected would be.

Oh well, live and learn, I'll find my own tools, have found a small amount already. Hopefully I'll be able to contribute more than just idle words. Be well, and thanks again ... Jim

Jim,

Have you checked the ttracking on the main gear? Alot of guys have had major issues with it. I would think that I would too if I was flying off pavement as the tracking is a bit out on mine. Insead of fixing it right (cause I spend 99% of my time on floats) I just keep my landings to the gravel runway or the beaches etc.

When I first flew my brothers kitfox with the narrow gear it was a real ass kicker for me as I was flying off the pavement. I switched to the gravel runway till I got used to the little beast and then I didnt have any issues on the pavement after that.

The scott is a great tailwheel but if the inner workings of it are hosed up she can be a bear! Do you have compression springs or standard springs on it?

AKF,

I hope some day I can meet up with some of you fellows. Your a prime bunch of humanity. I never thought of the track being off, another possible complication for sure. As soon as I can get turned loose, (told you about our part-time guest from next door cleaning me out in the dead of night), I'm going over this bird with a fine tooth comb. Have built new shop facilities but don't even have work benches at this time. Just a big old empty building! I have compression springs on my SCOTT and feel like there's just something missing from the formula. Guys it really and truly helps to have had the interest you great examples of the best there is to offer have shown. I don't believe I've had a bad sugestion of possible causes among the whole lot of you. I feel like you guys really know your stuff.

I'm burning the candle at both ends presently. I've owned this present property for several ions now and still haven't gotten moved! Been sleeping on a sectional sofa and eating sandwiches and opening cans. It will all work out but I'd rather be flying. If anyone ever says a disparageing word about what kind of people AVID flyers are, I'll take care of business big-time, remembering how each and every one of you has treated this complete stranger whom you've never met and possibly never will. My very best to you and your's ... Jim

it could also be that the masters are not releasing all the way and are not self adjusting (refilling themselves with fluid) I had that issue when I first cut my masters down and the rod was not short enough. I had to get a couple more threads cut on it to get them to work right.

'akflyer' you've been right there whenever I've had a question or problem. You don't know how much I appreciate any tidbit of advice I can get and you give it by the pound. You've given me more detective work and it is very much appreciated. Be well ... Jim

Finally got my seat back today so I could go out and go test this thing. It's SCHWEET! On the pavement it slowed the tail way down so it's not nearly as squirrely. Off airport it's like a cushion back there...sooooo smooth! I did a really slow approach and I touched TW first so I did lose some height but I will more than make it up with my new main gear. Till then I just have to adjust my sight picture and pitch and power combo a little bit. The dual fork shifts the entire TW back a few inches also. It puts a longer arm on the TW spring and makes it a little softer. I'm going to keep a close eye on my fuse to make sure it's not bending stuff back there. It also shifted my CG back some which is good. I noticed in cruise today it took a little less nose up trim than it used to. Overall I'm super happy with the new set up.

'C5' you're a real resource. Every time I mention a mod (as in the tailwheel strut length), I get verbally mauled. Makes sense to me that a little wheelbase increase should give a little better track and landing attitude on touchdown. As I mentioned previously, I'm using a SCOTT steerable. My buddies (one of them is the original builder), keep telling me to just learn to handle the little beast. I have lots of tail dragging time but this little guy with the EA81 is trying to eat my lunch. I've torn down one fence and ground looped three times, one purposefully. These are the same guys that are telling me I don't really need the brakes - just drive and act your age (three yrs old next week).

I truly do thank you 'C5', I like your style fellow. You're explanations along with the well-lite photos are first rate ... Jim

Hey dude, I'll take the 20x7's if you don't want them, we'll have to figure out what the shipping is. I'm down here outside Birmingham, Alabama. Thanks tons for the info and photo of the master cylinder mount point. This is very very interesting and looks as if it makes logical sense. I've wondered if maybe I haven't had the mechnical advantage I needed for better pressure to the calipers. Very interesting. I don't even know if I'm running MATCO's or not - but I'm going to do a little detective work. The concept sure looks better than my present geometry.

You guys are a gold mine. You, in particular (as well as others) have responded with timely and treasured advice. 'May you run long' dude. My best ... Jim

ybfcsqs@att.net

BTW, I've stated before that I have quite a few irons in the fire. I've ordered some stuff but haven't had time to do much in the way of modification/fabricating. On top of this, some of our bretheren from way down south figured out that I had way too many tools. They equalized this inequity big time, one midnight moon. Ain't life a big box of chocolates? I now have the privilege of ostensibly restocking my entire garage. Tried to buy my presently deceased father's many tools, THAT WENT OVER LIKE LED ZEPPELIN ON A BAD CONCERT NIGHT! I'm really tottering on banishment from the clan (no joke). You guys keep cheering me up - I need it ... Jim

Got blown out on my reply. I TOO HATE MY BRAKES. Got a MKIV Heavy Hauler with an EA81 and it takes me forty acres to manuever the thing. I was told by the builder that it's never had any brakes (I suspect this is an understatement) and I should only be using the SCOTT steerable for handling the pointy end. I'm thinking of visiting a salvage yard and looking for a good pair of FREIGHTLINER assemblys. Another idea was to attach five foot handles to each master cylinder.

Any help or ideas would be appreciated. BTW has anyone ever thought of TWO calipers on one backing plate?

Open to all, not open to 747 mod suggestions. Be well ... Jim

Brett at Airdale carries the double tailwheel spring. It's a very worthwhile investment especially if you have the old original single spring.

Hey guys, gonna check out AIRDALE on the spring situation. I've gaot an AVID Heavy Hauler with a NSI Subaru EA81 engine. Gets touchy on takeoff. Original length fuselage and standard gear. Have custom built trailer and would like to increase my tailwheel length for a little more stability on takeoff and landing. Have Scott steerable tailwheel with original strut length and mounting. Would like to increase the length but keep the Scott. Nothing major desired here just a little more tailwheel strut length. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks .. Jim

Randy,

You're a like-minded guy, always feel like we would be buddies of the first order. Thanks for inquiring about my dad. He is sitting up on the side of his bed at times now. This is positive ground compared to the potential. He has had a tracheotimy (sic) but has responded well, all things considered. He is lucid and smiles when something funny is said. Get you loud and clear on not letting the wings get totally placed on the back burner. Right now that particular garage is full of building materials, AND I'M READY FOR THAT SITUATION TO GET REMEDIED. I've put out the word that this room addition deal is not going to be someone's welfare ticket. It doesn't really bother me to get nose to nose with someone when the circumstances call for it. I've been watching airplanes about as long as I care to. Want to wrack the bird around a bit and see what she's got. Appreciate the comeback on AIRDALE, have heard good things from you and two others (have I ever mentioned I love this website?) Some of my 'birds of a feather' buds are meeting at our local grass strip today for lunch (right across the road), and I've been asked to set up the video equipment to show vids of assundry flying activities. Should be fun. Got to go, thanks Randy (and all you other guys [Leni, Av8r, etc]) you guys warm my heart. Have to answer the other email when I get back ... Jim

Hey guys, if any of you want to post some video/s of the event, those of us presently afflicted with 'ground pounder' disease would love to view them. I'm a disenchanted spectator presently, but after I get rolling I'll be back with a vengeance. In the meantime, you guys who are doing it right, don't forget those of us who are restless to re-join the flock. Be careful and have fun ... Jim

BTW akflyer, I think I have mentioned what a cool website this is. Look forward to every email notification that something else has been posted. Unfortunately I'm not watching all the forums. If I get time I'll try to include more of them. As I said, I LOVE this site. Keep up the good work ... Jim

I have a buddy that was doing in cockpit video with his clipped wing T crate. Loops, spins etc.. Got a great one of him spinning all the way in. He got to watch it over an over while he was in the hospital recovering from the wreck.

I use big words every once in awhile to throw the hounds off the trail. Better than running through the cold ass water up here!

I will have to see if I can edit mine and get the sound back on. I think if I edit it and upload it again, it will end up breaking all the links that folks have on other sites though. I spose I could re-send the new link to full lotus so they can update their site though..

Av8r

Love the side slip video and the music. I save all of those. The guy in the clipped wing, what a thing to have to be reminded about over and over with evidence up close and personal. I had a buddy who corkscrewed himself in while circleing over some of his relatives. He evidently was intent on the kinspeople below and didn't realize he had dropped his nose. Spiralled right in with family and friends watching. He is the fourth friend/acquaintance who paid the ultimate price while doing unusual attitudes for the entertainment of those watching from the ground. My dad (a man of few words) once asked me if I was a little low on one of my simulated cropduster passes over their house in the Stinson L-5 I had rebuilt after the fine folks in the TN. CAP had reduced it to scrap. Guess he must have noticed my wing tip below the bottom of the tree limbs where he was standing. It's easy to get distracted sometimes. Glad the T-man was able to look back on his deal. When I was a student pilot, I used to practice side slip landings in my Cessna 150. Always fantasized that the flap motor might go out. Thanks for keeping me in the loop guys ... Jim

No doubt - BTW did I mention I always keep one foot on the ground. Anyone who would make Sun n' Fun from Wisconsin gets a vote from me. Must have been a great flight with all the others. Half the fun is going somewhere with your buddies. See ya ... Jim

Hey AKFLYER, did you guys switch up on me? Can't keep up with all this fast-paced yakking. Come one, come all, love talking with you dudes. Only learned how to write yesterday, or so it seems. Blue skies, (skys, you know what I mean). Ain't never learned them big words. Jim

Hmm, that is frowned on around here.. Straight and level gets pretty boring real quick!

No doubt - BTW did I mention I always keep one foot on the ground. Anyone who would make Sun n' Fun from Wisconsin gets a vote from me. Must have been a great flight with all the others. Half the fun is going somewhere with your buddies. See ya ... Jim

I think that is why Greg Swingle puts all his videos on VIMEO. not as much of a pain as utube. Utube pissed me off when they dissabled the music (and all sound) on mine yet there are 10 bazzilion videos on there with music that I can promise the guys didn't take the time to get permission from the original artist to use the music..

Yeah man, I've got one or two on FACEBOOK, one on FLIKR, nothing really. FACEBOOK wont let you upload but so much, FLIKR is better but a little more complicated. I haven't really done anything in a while, FACEBOOK drives me wild with the say nothing - do nothing crowd. Need to get my ship back up and learn a few editing techniques. See you ... Jim

Hey guy, It's your video and a good one it is. I don't know how I interposed the deal of seeing the ICOM A6 on your instrument panel, however. I did watch the video again and liked it just as much the second time. Wish more people would do more informative stuff like that. I have a friend down here who has an in-cockpit of a four turn spin in his Aronca Champ. He and I were going to do another one using a two ship view from one plane looking at the other. Haven't done it yet. Got to get my wayward ducks in a row and get my AVID airworthy. Take care ... Jim

Jim, you must have me confused with someone else. I have a Terra 760 panel mount comm radio in my plane. My iCom IC-A6 stays in my pocket as a backup...

Sorry good buddy. I saw a video approach to 2010 'Sun and FUN' in which the A6 showed up on some guy's instrument panel. I know it was an ICOM A6, don't know exactly how I got it confused with you. My bad. This is what happens when you get old, slow, with just a little bit too much altitude. Promise to keep her straight and level from now on. Good tidings ... Jim

Leni, it means a lot to hear a socond opinion which coroborates a first opinion. One thing I really like about this website is that the people I've talked to seem to be square shooters. This is hands down one of the best sources of info of any site I've been on. I feel like I'm always communicating with people who've been there and done it. Kudos to admin on this site for really putting together something useful (unlike some of the social networking sites where really important topics such as which goes better with the color yellow, blue or royal purple seem to become the topics of the day). BTW, Av8r if you could clue me in on how you hooked up your ICOM A6 I would be all ears. I have an older A21 model (love it) which I plan on using with the two plug headphones, [David Clarks], and the already installed intercom in my ship. I have a schematic which seems to indicate that my PTT should place ground on the tip of each xmit I want to use to xmit through the A21. One pilot I've googled states that he lost his primary navcom out in the Bahamas and still was able to work communications and nav people 70 mi. out by just connected his A21 to his comm antennae or his nav antennae through switching his BNC cables. I think our little ICOM handhelds are pretty potent. Guys, may you all prosper and live long lives ... Jim