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Wing strut

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Graeme Toft

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 123

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:24 pm Post subject: Wing strut

Hi Guys, I need some help with info about the welded threaded bolt attached to the wing strut end. I need to replace them and Im not sure how to go about it. As there such a critical part Im not prepared to just weld a bolt on and hope for the best. Can anyone share their thoughts as to how to do this please.



Thanks

Graeme

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Ceashman(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:59 am Post subject: Wing strut

Hi Guys, I need some help with info about the welded threaded bolt attached 

to the wing strut end. I need to replace them and Im not sure how to go about 

it. As there such a critical part Im not prepared to just weld a bolt on and 

hope for the best. Can anyone share their thoughts as to how to do this please.



Thanks

Graeme



My thought is; as this is one of your two sky hooks, I would make sure that 

it is hooked firmly.



1/ maybe contact the new Kitfox and find out what the waiting time is for a 

new strut. Do not worry about the cost, your life depends on it!

2/ find a licensed weldor, someone who knows the fine art of welding and 

understands metals. But then again, if he asks what this triangular thing is for 

and you answer "it holds my plane to the wing in the sky" He could be reluctant 

to do the job unless he is a darn good qualified licensed professional or an 

idiot.

The good thing is, if you ask him for his qualifications, there is no diploma 

that shows him as an idiot.



Cheers Eric.

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clemwehner(at)sbcglobal.n
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:42 am Post subject: Wing strut

Graeme,



My answer won't help you much, but I had new bolts welded into my lift

struts. I discovered two of them bent during the construction of the

airplane. I sent the struts back to Skystar and they welded new bolts

in. The welded job was beautiful and barely even damaged the wooden

fairing around it. I've showed the welded repair to my son who races pro

race cars and is also a welder. He says the racing community use many

similar parts with welded rod ends. He said he has never seen them fail

and that they are extremely strong if welded properly. He was impressed

by the welding of the Skystar guy. 



I haven't flown with them yet, so I have no actual data to offer you. I

thought about new lift struts but realized that rod ends would be welded

into the tubes on a new one also, no different from the repaired one.



If I were you, I'd get an aircraft welder to do it and get a second

opinion about the finished work. That's really about all you can do. I

don't think it's any different than new lift struts with welded rod

ends. 



Like with everything else in the airplane you have to weigh the risk vs.

the benefit. 



Clem

KF-IV

Lawton, OK





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roncarolnikko(at)hotmail.
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:56 am Post subject: Wing strut

Hi Graeme.  The threaded portion is factory welded so I'm sure it can be 

replaced.  To avoid a lot of headache I would buy the end from the 

manufacurer and have it welded according to their proccess.  John Mcbean 

should have the parts available under sportplane llc or whatever the new 

Kitfox will be called.      Ron NB Ore

 	  Quote: 	
		  From: "QSS" <msm(at)byterocky.net>

Reply-To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Wing strut

Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 14:19:18 +1000






Hi Guys, I need some help with info about the welded threaded bolt attached 

to the wing strut end. I need to replace them and Im not sure how to go 

about it. As there such a critical part Im not prepared to just weld a bolt 

on and hope for the best. Can anyone share their thoughts as to how to do 

this please.



Thanks

Graeme

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Richard Rabbers

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 114
Location: Benton Harbor, MI - USA

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Wing strut

 	  Quote: 	
		  such a critical part 	




I don't know the 'exact process of attachement beyond rosette weld... If I was to design this critical part, I might consider mechanical AND weld connection.  If it is possible maybe a combination of 'thread' and weld or 'pin' and weld.



My factory welds look good - I believe this topic has come up before. If I recall correctly.... there is no major history of failure. I hope that's correct.

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_________________
Richard in SW Michigan
Model 1 / 618 - full-lotus floats (restoration)

FLIER(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:35 am Post subject: Wing strut

Those 'bolts' are actually AN fittings that slide 

into the end of the liftstrut and are rosette welded.



The rosette weld allows the load to be properly 

transmitted to the strut tube as opposed to the weld 

alone.



My advice would be to find out the AN part number of 

the fitting, have the old one carefully removed 

(which may require shortening the strut), have the 

new one competently welded, then do a die penetrant 

test to the end of the strut.



Regards,



Ted



--- Original Message ---

From: "clemwehner" <clemwehner(at)sbcglobal.net>

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: RE: Wing strut



 	  Quote: 	
		  

<clemwehner(at)sbcglobal.net>
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  

Graeme,



My answer won't help you much, but I had new bolts 

welded into my lift
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  struts. I discovered two of them bent during the 

construction of the
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  airplane. I sent the struts back to Skystar and they 

welded new bolts
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  in. The welded job was beautiful and barely even 

damaged the wooden
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  fairing around it. I've showed the welded repair to 

my son who races pro
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  race cars and is also a welder. He says the racing 

community use many
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  similar parts with welded rod ends. He said he has 

never seen them fail
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  and that they are extremely strong if welded 

properly. He was impressed
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  by the welding of the Skystar guy. 



I haven't flown with them yet, so I have no actual 

data to offer you. I
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  thought about new lift struts but realized that rod 

ends would be welded
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  into the tubes on a new one also, no different from 

the repaired one.
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  

If I were you, I'd get an aircraft welder to do it 

and get a second
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  opinion about the finished work. That's really about 

all you can do. I
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  don't think it's any different than new lift struts 

with welded rod
	


 	  Quote: 	
		  ends. 



Like with everything else in the airplane you have 

to weigh the risk vs.
	


[quote]the benefit. 



Clem

KF-IV

Lawton, OK





--

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Graeme Toft

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 123

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 10:42 pm Post subject: Wing strut

Thanks for everyones help AGAIN. I have contacted John and he seems 

optamistic about a repair so after advice from his welder he is going to 

contact me again.



Cheers Guys

Regards

Graeme

---

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