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Leaf spring

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Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 1:35 pm Post subject: Leaf spring

Sorry to insist, guys, but my holidays start in a few days and I was 

hoping to fly.

Do anyone know what kind of leaf spring I can order from Aircraft 

Spruce? I just called them by phone but ... not much info to get there, 

I am afraid.



If you look at:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/lgpages/leafsprings.php



Set no. 6 (part No. 06-14700) is the right width (1 1/4") and length 

between holes but ... there is no info about the angle and the angle is 

most important so that my homebuilder tailwheel is just slightly 

bending forward of the vertical axis. Otherwise, it is impossible to 

have it to free-castor or, if the angle is too much, it will too easily 

go in "reverse" position.



Any comment would be highly appreciated. Thanks.



Cheers,

Michel

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

roncarolnikko(at)hotmail.
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:13 pm Post subject: Leaf spring

Hi Michel   I'm sure to get flamed for this one, but my spring set the 

tailwheel at an unacceptable angle so I took it to the anvil/vice and bent 

it cold.  I have done this many times on other applications with no ill 

affect.  Ron NB Or

 	  Quote: 	
		  From: Michel Verheughe <michel(at)online.no>

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

To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Leaf spring

Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2006 23:34:39 +0200






Sorry to insist, guys, but my holidays start in a few days and I was hoping 

to fly.

Do anyone know what kind of leaf spring I can order from Aircraft Spruce? I 

just called them by phone but ... not much info to get there, I am afraid.



If you look at:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/lgpages/leafsprings.php



Set no. 6 (part No. 06-14700) is the right width (1 1/4") and length 

between holes but ... there is no info about the angle and the angle is 

most important so that my homebuilder tailwheel is just slightly bending 

forward of the vertical axis. Otherwise, it is impossible to have it to 

free-castor or, if the angle is too much, it will too easily go in 

"reverse" position.



Any comment would be highly appreciated. Thanks.



Cheers,

Michel





http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

http://wiki.matronics.com




	


_________________________________________________________________

Don’t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! 

http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/

geir_olav(at)c2i.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:18 pm Post subject: Leaf spring

Hei. Ser at du er på jakt etter halehjul-fjær. Jeg har en 3 år gammel 

aircraft-spruce katalog. Der har de en fjær til kitfox (retro-fit) p/n på 

denne er 06-15105. du kan jo høre om de har liggende en, for jeg ser at de 

har det ikke i sortemanget nå.

Geir Olav.



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Graeme Toft

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 123

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:21 pm Post subject: Leaf spring

Hi Michel, I had the same issue several years back and what I did was take a 

template of the spring and go up to the local spring foundary. They made one 

for me in 2 days and it only cost about $20. It still was working fine when 

I sold the plane last year. I have since had the same company make several 

others with varying angles and lengths so I can experiment a bit with angle 

of attach and softness in ride. Hope this helps. It was an easy option for 

me.

Regards

Graeme



---

Graeme Toft

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 123

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:24 pm Post subject: Leaf spring

I just remembered that one of the guys with a skyfox purchased the steel 

himself and bent it to shape. He took that in to the same place for 

tempering for the same but quicker result.

Regards

Graeme ----- 

Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 7:34 AM

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Sorry to insist, guys, but my holidays start in a few days and I was 

 hoping to fly.

 Do anyone know what kind of leaf spring I can order from Aircraft Spruce? 

 I just called them by phone but ... not much info to get there, I am 

 afraid.



 If you look at:

 http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/lgpages/leafsprings.php



 Set no. 6 (part No. 06-14700) is the right width (1 1/4") and length 

 between holes but ... there is no info about the angle and the angle is 

 most important so that my homebuilder tailwheel is just slightly bending 

 forward of the vertical axis. Otherwise, it is impossible to have it to 

 free-castor or, if the angle is too much, it will too easily go in 

 "reverse" position.



 Any comment would be highly appreciated. Thanks.



 Cheers,

 Michel





 http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kitfox-List

 http://wiki.matronics.com



 -- 

 No virus found in this incoming message.

msm_9949(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject: Leaf spring

I don't know about the angle Michel but maybe you can find a local spring shop who will either "adjust" the angle on the AS spring or build you a new one from scratch to your specifications. 

   

  Also, couldn't you remove the free-castoring cam from your Maule tailwheel (assuming that's what you have) to eliminate the criticality of the spring angle? You won't miss the free-castoring feature.Who needs to turn 360 degrees "on a dime" anyway?



  I don't claim any expertise other than living without free-castoring, but you asked for ideas and there you have mine.

   

   

   

  

Michel Verheughe <michel(at)online.no> wrote:

  [quote]--> Kitfox-List message posted by: Michel Verheughe 



Sorry to insist, guys, but my holidays start in a

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:31 pm Post subject: Leaf spring

Same suggestion from me Michel,



You should be able to get a spring locally for the

cost of shipping and taxes alone from Aircraft Spruce.

 And it should only take you a few days too.



Kurt S.



--- QSS <msm(at)byterocky.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   Hi Michel, I had the same issue several years back

 and what I did was take a 

 template of the spring and go up to the local spring

 foundary. They made one 

 for me in 2 days and it only cost about $20. It

 still was working fine when 

 I sold the plane last year. I have since had the

 same company make several 

 others with varying angles and lengths so I can

 experiment a bit with angle 

 of attach and softness in ride. Hope this helps. It

 was an easy option for me.

 Regards

 Graeme


	


__________________________________________________

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:41 pm Post subject: Leaf spring

Michel,



Sorry I didn' respond earlier with more helpful information.  I called my 

friend, Mark.  He used this spring on his Mod IV after an identical mishap. 

He discribed it as seeing too much sky after landing and this is the scoop. 

He used the J-3 cub spring from Aircraft Spruce.  Part  # 06-14200. The hole 

drilled for tha fusealge attachment will be oversized and will have to be 

bushed.  The spring is1-1/4" wide and is composed of three leaves.  Mark 

says you can use all three, but should need only two.



You may be able to find a local supplier with Piper J-3 Cub parts



Again sorry for not responding sooner.



Lowell

---

Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 3:51 am Post subject: Leaf spring

Thanks everyone. Here is some additional stuff:



Ron and Graeme, I'd hammer it if ... I had something to hammer! 

Graeme and Kurt, I try to find a "local" shop. It's harder than you 

think. Nowadays no one makes custom springs. I still wait from an 

answer from Oslo. Maybe.

Geir, takk skal du ha. Today is the 4th of July (Congrats, American 

friends!) but tomorrow, I'll call again AS to see if they still have 

that old model.

Marco, removing the free-castoring also crossed my mind but ... since 

last year, I trade my Maule for a Homebuilder. There is nothing to 

remove on that model. ;-(

Lowell, I was also looking at the J-3, thinking that, if my spring 

broke now, maybe I need two blades. Bushing the bolt is no problem but 

.. I think it will be to short for two 1/4" blades. So, I should 

replace the bolt. But how do I do that, it looks like it is welded to 

the fuselage? Sorry, I don't know my plane from the "inside," I didn't 

built it myself behind the firewall.



Everyone: Can you confirm that the correct angle of the leaf spring is 

45 degrees?



Cheers,

Michel

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 6:14 am Post subject: Leaf spring

Michel,



As I recall, the manual suggested gluing the bolt with the 3M structural 

adhesive.  I wonder if some heat would help ap the bolt out.  I hate to 

sugget this, but if you were to grind on the bolt it would heat it nicely 

and you could tap it out.  Unfortunately if the builder did weld it in 

place, that would only compound the problem - even shorter bolt.



Interesting, as I write this, I remember I do have one of the old style 

single leaf springs in my spare parts bin.  What is your time frame and an 

address that I can send it to?  I could get into the mail or FedX tomorrow. 

My wife gets a discount on FedX but the last time we tried it we felt it was 

prohibitively expensive - $40 for "How to Fly a Kitfox" to NZ.  If you are 

interested drop a note.



Lowell

---

Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:42 am Post subject: Leaf spring

On Jul 4, 2006, at 4:12 PM, Lowell Fitt wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   As I recall, the manual suggested gluing the bolt with the 3M 

 structural adhesive.


	


Thanks, Lowell, that's probably how the builder did it because the rest 

of the plane is built "by the book." Actually it was his second Kitfox.



 	  Quote: 	
		   What is your time frame and an address that I can send it to?


	


Gosh! I can't believe my luck! I am already receiving new bungees from 

Dee, now a spring! What would I be without you guys! This list is the 

greatest thing on earth ... and even more if you own a Kitfox! 



If you do that (I'll send my address by private email) I'll kiss you 

feet (after a shower, of course!  and burn two candles to Saint 

Lowell. I am extremely grateful.

The thing is: I used the day to find someone here who could make me a 

new spring. Finally, I found the only place in Norway (near Oslo) but 

they want about USD 700 for this custom-made job, and the delivery is 

.. end of August. Yes, they also go on holidays, those #/$%"%*!  



Once I have a new spring for the summer, I'll think about a double 

spring, like the J-3, something I can do next winter, when there is 

hardly any daylight and the cold northern wind blows through your 

bones. Brrrr! 



Cheers,

Michel

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

dave(at)cfisher.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:28 am Post subject: Leaf spring

Michel ,



Most springs shops here start with a 1  3/4" wide Springs.

I made one for a guy last year and drilled to pit his kitfox and bent to fit 

as well.



He took the liberty of grinding off the extra 1/2 " width with a 5 inch 

handheld grinder  slowly. He also used a helper leaf.



Leaf springs are bendable and drillable  and appear to be somewhat 

grindable.



1  1/4 "inch wide springs I could never find but I understand that old 

Mennonite buggies use them and if you have any Mennonites around  that you 

maybe in luck.



I guarantee you that mine will not break anytime 

soon...............................................



.....



as it on Floats for summer   

but if mine does break I would not hesitate to use the method above.

Dave



---

noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca
Guest

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:55 am Post subject: Leaf spring

32mm is as close as dimmit is to d**** 



Noel



[quote] --

jdmcbean(at)cableone.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:59 pm Post subject: Leaf spring

You could also get one from us... We have them in stock...



Fly Safe !!

John & Debra McBean

208.337.5111

www.kitfoxaircraft.com   www.sportplanellc.com

"The Sky is not the Limit...  It's a Playground"



--

jimmieblackwell(at)sbcglo
Guest

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 4:08 pm Post subject: Leaf spring

I just installed one of John's springs on my Model IV.  Works great.

   

  Jimmie



jdmcbean <jdmcbean(at)cableone.net> wrote:

  [quote]--> Kitfox-List message posted by: "jdmcbean" 



You could also get one from us... We have them in stock...



Fly Safe !!

John & Debra McBean

208.337.5111

www.kitfoxaircraft.com www.sportplanellc.com

"The Sky is not the Limit... It's a Playground"



--

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