Original Posted By: "Ed Grentzer"
Hi Chris...I know what you mean about shortening the spring and the chances of breakage.....I know I'm going to have to go with two leaves or is it leafs???? I just hate to admit it to myself. The homebuilders special is 15" long by 1/4" X 1 1/2" and has a about a 40 degree bend right in the middle. It would be really easy to copy following Tony B's book and mine looks like it belongs on a Piet just the way it came from ACS. Several years ago at one of Sun & Fun's booths I saw several small used aluminum tailwheel forks that would be perfect for a Piet if they were strong enough. I have no Idea what they came off of but I wish I had bought one just to try, They were really light.... I'm going to seriously look for one this year. Anyone out there know what they might have come off of ? Ed G.>From: "" >Reply-To: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.com>To: "" >Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Fuselage Weight>Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 09:53:41 -0500>>>Ed, For my tail wheel spring I am planing on going to the auto junk yard >and>find two leaf springs about 1 1/2 inches wide by 1/4 inch thick then >follow>the instructions in Tony Bengalis book to build my own. Would you mind >telling>me how long the Homebuilt special is and approximate angle of the bend. I >may>even try to build my own tail wheel (not fully castoring (is that a word?)) >but>I'm not sure about this as I want it to be as light as possible. Wish >Matco>made a 4" tail wheel assembly.>>By the way Mike Cuy had to add another leaf to his homebuilders special >too.>He found the single leaf to soft. If you shorten the spring you will make >it>stiffer and raise the risk of breaking you tail wheel spring.>>Chris T.>Sacramento, Ca>>> Quoting Ed Grentzer :>>> >> >> > Hi Chris...I never really weighed my Heath Tail wheel, I took ACS at> > there word of 5.2#. When it arrived I was a little disappointed, it is >heavy> >> > and way overkill for a Piet. I think it is made out of cast steel> > and it is bullet proof. My plan is to replace the solid 6" wheel with a> > light weight 4" one and lighten the frame and fork by grinding and >drilling> > some lightening holes. I should be able to get rid of a couple of >pounds.> > What did you use for a tailwheel spring?? I went with a homebuilders> > speacial from ACS like Mike Cuy's set up, The single leaf seems kind of> > flimsey so I bought a second leaf but haven't had the heart to add >another 1> >> > 1/2 pounds back there. I'm going to try shortening the extended part of >the> > single leaf that the wheel attaches to. That will take some of the >leverage> >> > off of it and maybe stiffen it up enough so I don't need to add the >second> > leaf but then I won't have the dampening affect of the second leaf.> > Jeeeeesh....light as possible and still strong enough is not as easy as >it> > sounds.> > Jack Phillips....Hope you're doing OKay with hurricane >Isabel...Hopefully> > you're far enough out of her path........Good luck Buddy.......Ed G.> >> >> > >From: "" > > >Reply-To: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.com> > >To: "" > > >Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Fuselage Weight> > >Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 14:32:49 -0500> > >> > >> > >Hey Ed,> > >> > >What is the actual weight of your tail wheel? ACS says it should weigh >5.2> > >pounds which is heavier then the Matco at 5 pounds. I would think the> > >Heath> > >would be lighter.> > >> > >Chris T.> > >Sacramento, Ca> > >> > >> > >Quoting Ed Grentzer :> > >> > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Sounds like we're pretty close DJ...I weighed my Piet ( not >GN-1)> > >last> > > > week. it's just like yours but with pilot's seat belt and harness, >aux.> > >wing> > > >> > > > tank, all instruments, trim system and motor mount but no rudder >pedals> > >or> > > > fire wall mine came in at 212#. Mine has a Heath tailwheel and >Goodyear> > >6"> > > > wheels and brakes the motor mount is a bed mount for my Franklin ( a> > >little> > > > heavier than a Continental mount). Ed G.> > > >> > > >> > > > >From: "DJ Vegh" > > > > >Reply-To: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.com> > > > >To: > > > > >Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Fuselage Weight> > > > >Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 09:43:03 -0700> > > > >>> > > > >> > > > >My 90% complete fuselage (as shown in the link below) weighs in at> > >195lb.> > > >> > > > >That includes controls and rudder pedals, J-3 landing gear, >aluminum> > > > >cabanes, Grove wheels and brakes and Matco tailwheel. No >instruments,> > > > >fuel tank, seat belts, or control cables.> > > > >> > > > >here's the link that shows the plane in that state of completion> > > > >> > > > >
http://imagedv.com/aircamper/log/image- ... -19-03.htm> > > > >> > > > >I'm not sure if I'm on par with what it should be or not.... can> > >someone> > > > >else chime in with some fuse numbers??> > > > >> > > > >DJ Vegh> > > > >N74DV> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >----- Original Message -----> > > > >From: Barry Davis> > > > >To: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.com> > > > >Subject: Pietenpol-List: Fuselage Weight> > > > >> > > > >> > >> > > > >> > > > >Does anyone have the weight of a bare wood fuselage?> > > > >Without fittings and landing gear or tail feathers, just the >framework> > >with> > > >> > > > >all the plywood and gussets installed, but without seats.> > > > >> > > > >We have our second steel fuselage welded up now and the question >came> > >up> > > > >about weight. Our regular work night is Monday and we plan to take> > >scales> > > > >and weigh up a 4130 steel fuselage. I'll post the weight on >Tuesday.> > > > >> > > > >Barry Davis> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >>This email has been scanned for known viruses and made safe for> > >viewing by> > > >> > > > >Half Price Hosting, a leading email and web hosting provider. For >more> > > > >information on an anti-virus email solution, visit> > > > >.> > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > > Compare Cable, DSL or Satellite plans: As low as $29.95.> > > >
https://broadband.msn.com> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> > >-------------------------------------------------> > >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>>>------------------------------------------------->>________________________________________________________________________________