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Pushing back a 601XL

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fderfler(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 1:59 pm Post subject: Pushing back a 601XL

I'm considering buying an AMD-manufactured Zodiak 601XL.  (Yes, I know the Continental isn't as light as the Rotax or as smooth as the Jabaru, but my local A&Ps don't acknowledge the legitimacy of either one  --Hey, it's what I've got to work with!)   I went for a ride yesterday and enjoyed it, but now the simple "questions that I should have asked" come up..  

  

 1. Tow bar?  The two of us pushed the Zodiak back into the hanger by hand without a tow bar.  The owner "steered" by pushing down the tail.  I will always have to push my airplane back and usually by myself.  Is there an appropriate tow bar for pushing back and where does it attach? 

  

 2. Tie down?  Any hard-earned pieces of 601 XL tie-down wisdom out there?  Aileron locks?  Any extra places to grab onto?  The tail tie-down doesn't look too strong, is it possible to "tow" the airplane into a hangar using the tail tie-down?   

  

 3. Canopy opening..  is there a pattern somewhere for a block of wood or PVC or something that holds the canopy open while taxiing?   Somebody must have designed a nice "clamp on" holder-opener!  

  

 Thanks!  -- FJD 

-- 

Frank Derfler 

See my views and reviews at www.derfler.biz 

See my information for pilots at  www.flyinflorida.com

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larry(at)macsmachine.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject: Pushing back a 601XL

Frank,

I've made a tow bar attachment for the front fork that doubles as a stop 

limit if the bungee gives way.  There's a drawing of it on my site

if you'd like to make it yourself.  I've also got several of them if 

you're interested for $35.00.  See link below,

http://www.macsmachine.com/images/gear/full/travelstop.gif

http://www.macsmachine.com/images/gear/full/travel-stop-&-ground-handli.gif

http://www.macsmachine.com/images/gear/full/travel-stop-and-stear-link.gif



I think the tie downs are fine if you anchor them well.  I'd use 4 point 

tie downs if you were expecting winds in excess of 40-mph.



I used a block of foam when I first began taxi testing in 90-degree 

heat.  Could have been more imaginative as it blew away when the

canopy was opened further a week later.



Larry McFarland - 601HDS at www.macsmachine.com



Frank Derfler wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   I'm considering buying an AMD-manufactured Zodiak 601XL.  (Yes, I know 

 the Continental isn't as light as the Rotax or as smooth as the 

 Jabaru, but my local A&Ps don't acknowledge the legitimacy of either 

 one  --Hey, it's what I've got to work with!)   I went for a ride 

 yesterday and enjoyed it, but now the simple "questions that I should 

 have asked" come up..

  

 1. Tow bar?  The two of us pushed the Zodiak back into the hanger by 

 hand without a tow bar.  The owner "steered" by pushing down the 

 tail.  I will always have to push my airplane back and usually by 

 myself.  Is there an appropriate tow bar for pushing back and where 

 does it attach?

  

 2. Tie down?  Any hard-earned pieces of 601 XL tie-down wisdom out 

 there?  Aileron locks?  Any extra places to grab onto?  The tail 

 tie-down doesn't look too strong, is it possible to "tow" the airplane 

 into a hangar using the tail tie-down? 

  

 3. Canopy opening..  is there a pattern somewhere for a block of wood 

 or PVC or something that holds the canopy open while taxiing?   

 Somebody must have designed a nice "clamp on" holder-opener! 

  

 Thanks!  -- FJD



 -- 

 Frank Derfler

 See my views and reviews at www.derfler.biz <http://www.derfler.biz>

 See my information for pilots at www.flyinflorida.com 

 <http://www.flyinflorida.com>

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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bryanmmartin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 5:10 pm Post subject: Pushing back a 601XL

1. It's not too difficult to push back a Zodiac alone. You grab hold of the prop and push sideways on the nose in the direction you want the tail to go as you push it back.



3. At first I made a canopy prop out of a piece of 1 by 2 by cutting a notch on one end that fit over the latch pin and carving down the other end to fit into the latch mechanism in the canopy frame. this worked well enough to keep the canopy partway open during taxi but every once in a while a gust of wind from behind would try to flip the canopy open and my prop stick would do nothing to prevent this. Recently, I went to an auto parts store to the "Help" products section and bought a latch pin the same size as the one on my plane and bought a piece of galvanized strap steel from the hardware store (about 1 1/4 inches wide and 1/8 inch thick). I drilled a hole in one end of the strap to bolt the latch pin through and   drilled a hole in the other end that would fit over the latch pin on the canopy rail. Now I just insert the pin on my canopy prop into the canopy latch and put the pin on the canopy rail through the hole in the other end and it stays put.

 -------------- Original message ----------------------

 	  Quote: 	
		   I'm considering buying an AMD-manufactured Zodiak 601XL.  (Yes, I know the

 Continental isn't as light as the Rotax or as smooth as the Jabaru, but my

 local A&Ps don't acknowledge the legitimacy of either one  --Hey, it's what

 I've got to work with!)   I went for a ride yesterday and enjoyed it, but

 now the simple "questions that I should have asked" come up..

 

 1. Tow bar?  The two of us pushed the Zodiak back into the hanger by hand

 without a tow bar.  The owner "steered" by pushing down the tail.  I will

 always have to push my airplane back and usually by myself.  Is there an

 appropriate tow bar for pushing back and where does it attach?

 

 2. Tie down?  Any hard-earned pieces of 601 XL tie-down wisdom out there?

 Aileron locks?  Any extra places to grab onto?  The tail tie-down doesn't

 look too strong, is it possible to "tow" the airplane into a hangar using

 the tail tie-down?

 

 3. Canopy opening..  is there a pattern somewhere for a block of wood or PVC

 or something that holds the canopy open while taxiing?   Somebody must have

 designed a nice "clamp on" holder-opener!

 

 Thanks!  -- FJD

 

 -- 

 Frank Derfler

 See my views and reviews at www.derfler.biz

 See my information for pilots at www.flyinflorida.com


	




--

Bryan Martin

N61BM, CH 601 XL, 

RAM Subaru, Stratus redrive

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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

_________________
--
Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
do not archive.

jpellien

Joined: 24 Jun 2006
Posts: 21
Location: Basye, Virginia

Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 5:16 pm Post subject: Pushing back a 601XL

My answers are below in CAPITAL LETTERS  

   

Jim  

       

Jim  Pellien  

Mid-Atlantic Sports Planes  

Sky Bryce Airport (VG18)  

Basye, VA  

www.MASPL.com  

703-313-4818  

  

  

         

  

From: owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-zenith-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Frank Derfler

 Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 5:58 PM

 To: zenith-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Pushing back a 601XL  

  

     

I'm considering buying an AMD-manufactured Zodiak 601XL.  (Yes, I know the Continental isn't as light as the Rotax or as smooth as the Jabaru, but my local A&Ps don't acknowledge the legitimacy of either one  --Hey, it's what I've got to work with!)   I went for a ride yesterday and enjoyed it, but now the simple "questions that I should have asked" come up..   

    

   

    

1. Tow bar?  The two of us pushed the Zodiak back into the hanger by hand without a tow bar.  The owner "steered" by pushing down the tail.  I will always have to push my airplane back and usually by myself.  Is there an appropriate tow bar for pushing back and where does it attach? WE JUST PUSH IT BACK USING THE HUB.  THE AIRCRAFT IS SO LIGHT, IT IS EASY TO DO.  

    

   

    

2. Tie down?  Any hard-earned pieces of 601 XL tie-down wisdom out there?  Aileron locks?  IF YOU HAVE DUAL STICKS, YOU CAN TIE THE SEAT BELT AROUND ONE OR BOTH OF THE STICKS  TO ACT AS AN AILERON AND ELEVATOR LOCK  Any extra places to grab onto?  The tail tie-down doesn't look too strong, is it possible to "tow" the airplane into a hangar using the tail tie-down?    

    

   

    

3. Canopy opening..  is there a pattern somewhere for a block of wood or PVC or something that holds the canopy open while taxiing?   Somebody must have designed a nice "clamp on" holder-opener!  MY ELBOW WORKS FINE.  

    

   

    

Thanks!  -- FJD  

 -- 

 Frank Derfler 

 See my views and reviews at www.derfler.biz 

 See my information for pilots at www.flyinflorida.com

- The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

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

_________________
Jim Pellien
Mid-Atlantic Sports Planes
703-313-4818
703-851-9375
www.MASPL.com
"Learn-2-Fly-in-1-Week"

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