Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: John_Duprey(at)vmed.org
Subject: Pietenpol-List: large lift strutsD.J., Would 1" sq. aluminum bar be strong enough to take a 3/8 drilledand taped hole? It would be so much lighter than steel bar.Has any one checked with Chad Willie to see if his plans are justrip-off of BHP's plans, or did he redraw them with all of the errors,mistakes, grey areas, black areas, vague areas, confusing areas, etccleaned up? If so his plans ( or anyone who cleaned up and redrew theplans ) would be the way to go. Leon S. with a 55 gal. barrelof scrap caused by my misinterpreting the grey areas of the plans.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "DJ Vegh"
07/03/2003 10:12:36 AMLeon: Many years ago when I first became interested in the Pietenpol Ibought a set of Chad Willies plans, The were photocopied from the old F&GManual, Very hard to read. A complete set of plans as advertised and Chadis not violating any copyrights. He may be offering cleaned up plans now,I don't know. I can only tell you that the plans I bought from thePietenpol's are far superior to the ones I bought first.Best WishesJohnlshutks(at)webtv.net (Leon Stefan)(at)matronics.com on 07/03/2003 09:30:27 AMPlease respond to pietenpol-list(at)matronics.comSent by: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.comcc:Subject: Pietenpol-List: large lift strutsD.J., Would 1" sq. aluminum bar be strong enough to take a 3/8 drilledand taped hole? It would be so much lighter than steel bar.Has any one checked with Chad Willie to see if his plans are justrip-off of BHP's plans, or did he redraw them with all of the errors,mistakes, grey areas, black areas, vague areas, confusing areas, etccleaned up? If so his plans ( or anyone who cleaned up and redrew theplans ) would be the way to go. Leon S. with a 55 gal. barrelof scrap caused by my misinterpreting the grey areas of the plans.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Leon Stefan"
I'm not sure if a 1" sq. aluminum would be strong enough.... I guess itwould, but my thought process was I don't want to be up in the air in aturbulent day wondering if it is strong enough.You are right though.... it'd probably be abuot 5 lb lighter to go withaluminum. Maybe I ought to do one and then test it to destruction. Allit needs to hold is about 2,500lb. If it holds that much that's likepulling 5 G's.DJ VeghN74DVMesa, AZwww.imagedv.com/aircamper----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Gary Gower

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy

Original Posted By: "Sam Marinucci"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: large lift strutsDJ,I think I'd be concerned about the difference in thermal expansion, between steel and aluminum. They expand and contract at very different rates. Chuck________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "DJ Vegh"
I would also be concerned about dissimilar corrosion between the steeland aluminum. It would be very difficult to inspect that area withoutremoving the lift struts and taking the steel bar out to check forcorrosion. Sam NX115SM>DJ,>I think I'd be concerned about the difference in thermal expansion, between>steel and aluminum. They expand and contract at very different rates.>>Chuck>>________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Sam Marinucci"
I would have the steel bars cadmium plated like AN bolts. and then Iwould paint them with Zinc Chromate primer. That should take care of thecorrosion issue. As for thermal expansion.... I'm not sure it would reallybe a big enough problem to worry about..... but it is a good pointsomething to look intoDJ VeghN74DVMesa, AZwww.imagedv.com/aircamper----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Arthur Johnson

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy

Original Posted By: "clif"
Clif,great post but..... the bolt I am talking about is the fork that threadsinto the end of the lift strut. It has 7/16-20 threads. My concern is itwould not be wise to use aluminum that has "homemade" cut threads into it.If those threads fail then so does the strut and from there it's all over.I'd feel much safer with a 4130 steel bar and have a machine shop thread it.Although 7075 aluminum would be alot stronger than 6061 or 2024 andcertainly lighter than steel bar....I dunno .... I guess I'll worry about this when I get to it.DJ VeghN74DVMesa, AZwww.imagedv.com/aircamper----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Steve Eldredge"

Original Posted By: DJ Vegh
7075 has a propensity to crack unless you ream the holes and dress the sawmarks. You have to be careful using it as it is not as forgiving as otheraluminum alloys.Chris Bobka----- Original Message -----