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Door Struts

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kitfox(at)bulldog.itgo.co
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:12 am Post subject: Door Struts

My KF III does not have gas struts on the doors.  I've

thought of adding them and can see several different

options.  I am curious how others have installed

struts on their doors.

On the front or back of the frame ?

Did you weld the attach points on the frame and door

or bolt on ?

How long are your struts ?

Any "gotcha's", caveats, or "I would do this

different"?



Thanks,



Bruce

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:53 am Post subject: Door Struts

My IV came with the attach points welded to the windshield "A" post 

(car term), but I had to locate the door frame attach point and rivet 

them in place.

The instructions have you close up the lift strut to within an 

eight-inch of fully closed, then wire it secure in that almost-closed 

position, then use that to locate the door attachment point. This 

allows for the "over-center" which happens when the door is nearly 

closed, and keeps the door against the fuse just before the door is 

latched closed.



Lynn

Kitfox IV...Jabiru 2200



On Friday, August 11, 2006, at 07:11  AM, kitfox wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 My KF III does not have gas struts on the doors.  I've

 thought of adding them and can see several different

 options.  I am curious how others have installed

 struts on their doors.

 On the front or back of the frame ?

 Did you weld the attach points on the frame and door

 or bolt on ?

 How long are your struts ?

 Any "gotcha's", caveats, or "I would do this

 different"?



 Thanks,



 Bruce

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:39 am Post subject: Door Struts

I set mine up so the centre occurred when the door is open about five inches

it gives plenty of push to keep the door closed and more than enough to keep

the door open.  If I can find another one of those struts I'll put it on the

passenger side being careful to install it so the open position won't hit

the sump drain on that side.



Noel



 	  Quote: 	
		   My IV came with the attach points welded to the windshield "A" post 

 (car term), but I had to locate the door frame attach point and rivet 

 them in place.

 The instructions have you close up the lift strut to within an 

 eight-inch of fully closed, then wire it secure in that almost-closed 

 position, then use that to locate the door attachment point. This 

 allows for the "over-center" which happens when the door is nearly 

 closed, and keeps the door against the fuse just before the door is 

 latched closed.

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:48 am Post subject: Door Struts

I made mounting brackets which I attached to the rear of the door frame with

automotive worm type hose clamps.  I decided on this approach because it

isn't a structural part of the aircraft.  If one of the worm clamps loosens

there is no safety issue.  They are easy to use.  They are very easy to

inspect.



The strut itself (only one on the left side) is an automotive style with

ball ends so they may be disconnected at either end with a simple screw

driver to facilitate removing the doors.



I was considering replacing the nuts and bolts and zip pins that hold the

doors on with clevis pins just to make the removal of the doors that much

easier.  The truth to be known I don't think I'll get into a situation where

I'll ever remove the doors.  This part of the world just isn't warm enough

for that.

Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Glenn Horne

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 96

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:46 am Post subject: Door Struts

Hi Bruce,

Glenn Horne here.

Got mine from Advance Auto. # 4420. They had to order mine.

Put them on the front. One bracket on the edge of the instrument panel

and one on the door with the cylinder extended. Make the brackets 

and rivet them on. Need picture let me know. 

Works for me.

Glenn Horne

Model II 582

---

Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:29 am Post subject: Door Struts

On Aug 11, 2006, at 6:45 PM, Glenn Horne wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   Got mine from Advance Auto. # 4420. They had to order mine.


	


Advance Auto is a nice web shop, Glenn. But when the ask you your zip 

code and you live in Norway  ...

Do you have a direct link?

My left door strut has lost much of its compression and it is about 

time to replace it.

Thanks in advance,



Michel



do not archive

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

Glenn Horne

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 96

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject: Door Struts

No Michel I don't.

They don't ship out of the country. Sorry.

If you can't get one in the near feature,maybe we can

work out something to get one to you.

Glenn

---

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:42 pm Post subject: Door Struts

The struts are usually installed on the front, but

some have put them in back.  This allows for easier

entry and exit, but in back is almost certain to

flutter, if opened in flight.  I kept mine in front on

the factory mounts.  S-5 model



Kurt S.



--- kitfox <kitfox(at)bulldog.itgo.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   My KF III does not have gas struts on the doors. 

 I've

 thought of adding them and can see several different

 options.  I am curious how others have installed

 struts on their doors.

 On the front or back of the frame ?


	


__________________________________________________

Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:35 pm Post subject: Door Struts

On Aug 12, 2006, at 4:10 AM, Glenn Horne wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   If you can't get one in the near feature,maybe we can

 work out something to get one to you.


	


Thank you very much, Glenn, but Lowell has sent me, privately, the 

manufacturer of the original struts and it is http://www.suspa-inc.com/

Incidentally, I'll be touring in the US in September and Lowell has 

even kindly invited me at his home in Northern California, something I 

really look forward to.

I am not in a hurry to replace my door strut, I have only the left one 

that is getting worn, lifting the door about half way, only. Of course, 

it is the most used door, it makes sense. The original struts are from 

1992 and since then, the plane has been flying about 500 times (not all 

by me) so it can be considered as normal wear.



Cheers,

Michel

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:29 am Post subject: Door Struts

My strut (1) is mounted on the back.  It doesn't flutter at all in flight.

Airspeed may be a factor... The asi reads around 85mph in still air.  The

gps says closer to 105. 



Photography with the door open is exceptional.  There is nothing to vibrate

the lens of the camera and of course nothing to diffuse the image.  I tend

to use wider angle lenses and point and press then crop the image on the

ground.  If you use a digital camera ( usually I do ) try to get one with

the most pixels possible and don't use the digital zoom.  For 35MM I stick

with the slowest film to do the job and a 1A(very light salmon colour)

filter on a UV filter.  The 2 1/4 Sq allows more flexibility with film but I

use the same filter pac.  Leave the lenses at infinity and set the exposure

before leaving the ground.  



I use the neck strap until the door is closed and the camera is stowed.



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

dave(at)cfisher.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 6:52 am Post subject: Door Struts

Hi Noel,

I don't have gas strut on doors and my doors will stay open without a 

problem.



Also I saw your picture the other day and you have a nice looking Kitfox.



What are your true airspeeds on floats in MPH  ? you must be joking about 

the 105 comment ?

582 Kitfox 3 is likely to be close to low 80s at very best.



Dave

---

MichaelGibbs(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:50 am Post subject: Door Struts

Kurt sez:



 	  Quote: 	
		  This allows for easier entry and exit, but in back is almost certain 

to flutter, if opened in flight.


	


I installed mine on the back of the door to keep them out of the way 

and never had any trouble with flutter.  I flew with them open quite 

often.



Mike G.

N728KF

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:47 pm Post subject: Door Struts

Noel and Mike,



Guess I am wrong then if it works for you 2.  I

thought about moving mine there while building because

it makes entry and exit easier, but figured SS only

put them in the front for a reason.  Usually you need

the support on the forward end or things go divergent.

 Now I wish I tried it on the back too.



Kurt S.



--- Noel Loveys <noelloveys(at)yahoo.ca> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   My strut (1) is mounted on the back.  It doesn't

 flutter at all in flight.

 Airspeed may be a factor... The asi reads around

 85mph in still air.  The gps says closer to 105.


	


__________________________________________________

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 6:55 am Post subject: Door Struts

No joke.  In some ways I wish it were.



My ASI usually reads below 80. Just what I'd expect.  The gps was reading

around 100-105 in dead calm air with the Aerocets slung underneath.  I did a

double check to make sure that I didn't have the GPS set to Km as I also use

the unit in the car and we have to use metric on the highways here.  I

usually reset it to MPH when I put it in my flight bag and to metric after I

download my flight to the computer.



There is an island 19.8 miles distance from my house on the day I took the

GPS readings I flew from the island over my house in just under 12 minutes.

The reason I timed the trip has to do with all the locals here who rate

their boats on how long it takes to get to Exploits Island and how much fuel

they use in doing the trip.  I always grin an tell them 12 minutes and less

than a gallon of gas ( Imperial gallon )  That makes my speed out to be 99

mph.  Right around that time they mention that I won't drop in because of

the salt water...



A couple of long time pilots of Merlins and Avids have commented to me on

how fast my plane seems to be.  That is probably the most subjective

assessment that can be made.  But at least it makes me feel pretty good.



Like your self I'm sceptical of that amount of speed.  My GPS is relatively

new but they have been known to have errors ... More the further north you

go.  On that day I flew 246 miles according to the track on the GPS.  My

total air time from the time I turned the unit on was almost exactly 3

hours.  Considering that I did a 7 minute engine warm up/taxi and 4 practice

circuits as well as the taxi back to the beach (much shorter) my airspeed

must have been close to the 100 point... go figure.



The greatest thrill of flying this plane is its ability to get in and out of

some pretty small ponds.



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:29 pm Post subject: Door Struts

Michel-

Does this mean that you'll be flying your 'fox over here?

Lynn

On Saturday, August 12, 2006, at 03:33  AM, Michel Verheughe wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 On Aug 12, 2006, at 4:10 AM, Glenn Horne wrote:

> If you can't get one in the near feature,maybe we can

> work out something to get one to you.

 Thank you very much, Glenn, but Lowell has sent me, privately, the 

 manufacturer of the original struts and it is > http://www.suspa-inc.com/

 Incidentally, I'll be touring in the US in September and Lowell has 

 even kindly invited me at his home in Northern California, something I 

 really look forward to.

 I am not in a hurry to replace my door strut, I have only the left one 

 that is getting worn, lifting the door about half way, only. Of 

 course, it is the most used door, it makes sense. The original struts 

 are from 1992 and since then, the plane has been flying about 500 

 times (not all by me) so it can be considered as normal wear.

 Cheers,

 Michel

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

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