1avidflyer

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  1. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic avid flyer C with 912   

    The Avid factory made them, but I suppose it's the old law of supply and demand.  Not much demand, so not much supply.  But I'm guessing that if a small shop made up a jig, they could sell a few pretty easily.  
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  2. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic avid flyer C with 912   

    The seat truss was a weak point on the Avids, and early Kitfoxes for that matter.  If it was me, I would infill the triangles in the seat truss with .040" thick steel.  Under the doors may not hurt either.  This is what I did on my Kitfox 4 and I think it was a good idea for me.  JImChuk

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  3. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic avid flyer C with 912   

    Most likely the hardest part would be finding a 912 motor mount.  Not many of them floating around.  Kitfox mounts are not the same.  10 or more lbs of weight in the tail to offset the extra weight on the nose from the heavier engine.   And ditto on what Doug said...  JImChuk
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  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Bush gear failures   

    Dusty,  Am I talking with you on facebook kitfox.  Paul Godfrey ring a bell?  I started that post about getting rid of weight on my Kitfox landing gear.  (JimAvidFlyer)  JImChuk
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  5. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Catalina with Hirth 2706   

    Several points.  I don't think the Jabiru would be a good match for such a draggy airplane.  I don't think you need the fuel injected 912, the straight 100 ULS should do just fine.  And there are lots of used ones on the market for $10,000 or maybe a bit less.  Talk to Hal Stockman, he is the 912 expert, and usually has something available.  JImChuk
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  6. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Catalina with Hirth 2706   

    Some guys have put 912 Rotax on them.  100 HP will really make them perform I would think.  JImChuk
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  7. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MK4 engine choice?   

    912 has lots of power for an Avid.  Harder to find an engine mount for it though.  Also, requires about 10 lbs of weight in the tail for CG purposes.  Those that have them like them.   JImChuk
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  8. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MK4 engine choice?   

    The very early Jabiru engine had cooling issues.  Rotec in Australia (not Rotax)  makes liquid cooled heads for the Jabiru engine and that seems to be a good remedy.  Not cheap though, about $3000 for the 4 cylinder engine.  Are you sure what is causing the loss of compression?  
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  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MK4 engine choice?   

    What is the issue with the Jabiru engine?  I put about 600 hrs on a Jabiru engine in my Avid MK IV.  What serial number is your engine?  I've seen these engines used on sale for $4000-5000 occasionally lately.  The Jabiru would be the simplest fix most likely.  912 will give better performance, but hard to find a mount, and it does move the CG forward on an already nose heavy design.
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  10. 1avidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Kitfox 8 wheel hubs for 1 1/4" axel
    Hi all,  recently I got a Kitfox built cabane style landing gear.  It has the 1 1/4" aluminum axels.  I could buy the 3/4" axels from grove and then my regular kitfox hubs and 8" wheels would work.  A while back I saw someone with 3/4" axels on their kitfox break an axel, and it wasn't good.  So I got to thinking, why not build hubs that can use 1 1/4" bearings so I can use the larger axels I have.  I also didn't want to go buy expensive 6" wheels that fit the larger axels as well.  I bought two pieces of  4" long 3" OD, 2" ID aluminum tube and some 4" x 1/2 thick aluminum cutoffs.   So far, about $45 invested.  Had some fun on the lathe, and now I'll take them to the welder, true them up on the lathe, press in the bearings, and drill the bolt holes for the wheel bolts.  They should then be ready to go.  Think it will work?  JImChuk





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  11. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Matco tailwheel issue   

    The bearings push up against a smaller opening in the wheel hub (shoulder) so they can only go so far in.  There is only enough room  between the bearings and original washer and tailwheel arm on the other side so the bearings and wheel spin freely.  My washer has a 1/2" hole, so it goes up tight against the end of the 5/8" tube, so the wheel still spins freely.  
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  12. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Matco tailwheel issue   

    Not sure I can agree with the over torqued axle bolt theory,  The bolt is 1/2" diameter.  There is a 5/8" diameter bushing/tube that sits on the bolt and that the nut tightens up against.  The bearings sit on the tube, and are not pushed in by the nut.  The inside diameter of the bearings is 5/8".  JImChuk
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  13. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Matco tailwheel issue   

     
    Good solution for a safer installation, I wonder if Matco will use the knowledge you imparted. 
    If bought in bulk, those washers would cost all of maybe $.25 each.  I don't see a downside for the safety added.  JImChuk
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  14. 1avidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Matco tailwheel issue
    Hi all,  I was flying the Kitfox 4 this evening and after I landed the second time and was taxiing back to take off again, something didn't feel right with the plane.  Thought it was a bump first of all, then it wallowed real good and I stopped and checked what was going on.  Here is what I found.  Bearings blew out in the Matco 8" tailwheel.  I have 150 hrs on the plane, and some of those are ski time, so maybe 125 hrs on this tailwheel.  I think all I need is new bearings and that isn't to expensive.  But here is what I'm going to do to avoid having a wheel fall off in the future.  I will install a thin washer underneath the nut, so that even if the bearing balls all fall out like they did here, the washer will keep the wheel on the axel.  Having the wheel come off at full landing speed could make for a bad day.  I had a spare wheel so it was pretty easy to get it back in flying condition, but it could have been worse.  Just figured I would give a heads up to you all.  I'm including a picture of the spare wheel where you can see how much smaller the nut is than the bearing and why the wheel was able to come off.   JImChuk
     
    PS.  I had some large thin washers, 1/4" hole, and 1 1/2" diameter.  I drilled out the hole to 1/2" and put them on the Kitfox and Avid.  Wont loose a tailwheel now.  I left the small diameter washer in place as a spacer between the bearing and the large washer so the large washer wouldn't rub on the wheel.
    PS   PS  I did call matco and talk to their tech guy.  He didn't think it would hurt anything as long as the washer doesn't rub on the wheel.  I was sort of suggesting that this may be something they might consider doing as well.  I know if the wheel had flown off right as I touched down, things could have got ugly pretty quick.  
     







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  15. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic WANTED! spar tubes for wing extensions   

    I see it on online metals for about $17 something a foot.  I have some spars from a Kitfox 1 and 2 but they have a full length stiffener in them.  That could be worked around though.  JImChuk
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  16. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 4 build # 2   

    Chris,  the Kitfox 4 wing is a faster wing at higher speeds than the Avid wing as I understand it.  I know it's hard to push my Avid over 100 with the 80 HP Jabiru.  But I was flying in the Avid at 2880 RPM tonight at 84 MPH.  Verified that with the GPS flying two ways on the same stretch of road.   
    Jack,  I have the standard old Kitfox radiator.  That is what I have in the other Kitfox 4 with the 80 HP and it does fine.  I never fly when it's very hot though.  When I took of this evening it was 78, but it had been up to 85 and I didn't feel like going in that.  I do have a new larger Kitfox aluminum radiator but it wont go on unless I need it.  You might end up with a radiator in the cowl, and one on the belly.  Better a bit of drag than overheating I would say.   JImChuk
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  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 4 build # 2   

    Thanks Chris.  It should do pretty good.  I was flying my 80 HP Kitfox 4 this evening, and I was doing right at 95 mph at about 5150 rpm.  Verified that with the GPS flying both ways down a road.  I imagine the 100 HP should pick up 10-15 mph more at the same rpm.  JImChuk
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  18. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 4 build # 2   

    Well it's been quite a while since I posted anything about the Kitfox 4 build. I have been working on it a little.  Started the engine for the first time a couple of days ago.  Did it more for motivation, I was pretty sure it was going to run.  Maybe the boost of adrenaline will take me to the finish line.  JImChuk
    New Kitfox 4 first engine start - YouTube
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  19. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Propeller protection tape   

    I never got much interest in it, so never got the roll of tape.  JImChuk
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  20. 1avidflyer added a topic in Kitfox II   

    Kitfox 2 wings
    Hi all,  the last Kitfox 1s, and the Kitfox 2 model were built with a wing spar that was not a tube but rather an extrusion.  It was the same diameter as the tubes, used in other models but it had a full length center piece that stiffened the tube.  I'm guessing they were more expensive than the tube and stiffener that Kitfox stayed with on the model 3 and since.  But likely they were stiffer, and may not have flexed as much.  All this is leading up to the question.  Has anyone rebuilt a Kitfox 2 wing and replaced the front spar with a standard tube and stiffener while retaining the older style extrusion spar in the rear of the wing?  Here is a view of those spars as was used in the Kitfox 2.  Thanks,  JImChuk

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  21. 1avidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    NR prop bolt holes to tight
    Hi all,  I remember someone posted here or on TK about having this same issue.  I looked in the archives but couldn't find that topic though.  I'm sending NR an email also, but sometimes they are slow to reply.  On my new Kitfox 4 build, I was going to hang my NR prop on it yesterday so I could do the oil purge.  The holes in the prop hub for the drive lugs are too tight.  I could push one drive lug in about 1/16" with my thumb, If I had forced the prop on with the bolts, it would take a big hammer to ever get it off.  I didn't have this issue on my first NR prop that I'm running on my other Kitfox, I got this one two years ago, and it's been hanging on the wall ever since.  I got my first NR about 6 months before this one.  Thanks for any comments.  (I've installed lots of props over the last 23 yrs, so I don't think I'm doing anything wrong on it)  Anyone else have to deal with this?  JImChuk
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  22. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Eastern Pa. Here!   

    Welcome to the group.  There are Catalinas popping up occasionally.    Keep an eye on barnstormers for one place.  From time to time one shows up on here.   JImChuk
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  23. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Getting the film off of (old) flaperons?   

    I tried a lot of things, being careful not to get any of the various chemicals into the hinge openings and maybe melting the foam.  One paint stripper worked kind of halfways.  It bubbled the plastic up somewhat so I could pick it off.  That was about 10 yrs ago, so memory is scetchy.  Did you look in the search box?  Also search TeamKitfox forum cause I'm sure this question has come up many times.  JImChuk
    PS  here is a post from TK   Protective coating removal (teamkitfox.com)
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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic A project with limited time - setting realistic expectations?   

    I've gotten the best deal from Avemco on my Kitfox and Avid.  
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  25. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic A project with limited time - setting realistic expectations?   

    I would find a trailer somehow myself.  Of course I have several trailers so it's not a question for me.  Another issue that comes up is what will your insurance company demand of you or your CFI before they will cover you.  Have you looked into that?
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