Airdale wide gear.

7 posts in this topic

Posted

Thoughts on going this route on my Mark 4.

Lighter than the Grove gear?

Doe's it stand up to off runway landings?

Thx Marv

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Posted

I have it on my plane and have beat the crap out of it.  One thing I did do.. My plane was on its back twice before I got it do to the stock gear folding up.  I got to take that trip in my brothers kitfox as well (he was flying I was just along for the ride).  I will dig up the thread on how I reinforced the gear leg to get away from the cracking issues (I hope).  I would not hesitate to go with the wide gear, but I thought it was standard on the MK IV..

 

:BC:

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Posted

http://www.avidfoxflyers.com/index.php?/topic/1153-gear-leg-safety-cable/?p=6853

 

This shows where the gear legs tend to break right at the toe of the weld where the diagonal comes in and the bungees are wrapped around it.  I ground off the tab on the end of the cross tube the bungees wrap around and slid another tube inside a couple inches past that weld zone, then welded the tab back on. 

 

I looked at both the failed gear legs that were on mine, and at the one on my brothers kitfox and they all broke at this same point.  I make it  part of my pre-flight to look at this area to make sure there are no visible signs of cracking.  I also moved the safety cable as shown on the drawing to assure that if / when it does break, the cable will still be useful.  The cable at the stock location does nothing for you when the gear breaks at that weld.

 

:BC:

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Posted

I see your PDF drawing of the weld that tends to fail.  A picture of that location would clarify things a ton. Could I bother you for a picture with a finger pointing to the trouble location. 

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Posted

I wonder if a gusset at the intersection of the diagonal brace and the horizontal gear member would make that less likely to crack?  Not that an over sleeve doesn't accomplish it.  I would seem to me that a break there would just cause the open angle between the main gear leg and the horizontal member just to open up and collapse.  

gear leg.pdf

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Posted

Gusset was my plan as well

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Posted

I wonder if a gusset at the intersection of the diagonal brace and the horizontal gear member would make that less likely to crack?  Not that an over sleeve doesn't accomplish it.  I would seem to me that a break there would just cause the open angle between the main gear leg and the horizontal member just to open up and collapse.  

gear leg.pdf

I believe Leni said he used an INSERT tube and not an over tube.

EDMO

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