Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Norman Stapelberg"
Listers, Great pictures Malcolm. Those wheels look good. I would like to have spokewheels on my Piet but the idea of having special wheels built sounds complicatedand expensive. Did you have to make any modifications to yours? I've lookedthrough the archives and get the impression from some builders that motorcyclewheels may collapse with a side load. I wish there were some "off theshelf" spoke wheels for us homebuilders. Perhaps your wheels are what I shouldlook for? I'm also wondering about landing gear configurations. Some of the archivesindicate that a split landing is necessary if you use spoke wheels. I'm a littleintimidated about constructing a split gear because of my last homebuilt. It was a Fisher Youngster with the split axle - and for the life of me, I couldn'tget those darned wheels to point in the proper direction. Went throughmany tires. I would like to use spoke wheels with a conventional "Flybaby-like"straight through axle. I would appreciate hearing opinions about this. This is the first time I've actually written to the list. My apologies tolisters if I've not done this properly. Dave (In south-central Missouri - 90 miles from St.Louis)________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Here is my baby prior to loading for transport back home.Norman StapelbergSouth AfricaZS-VJA FASI-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: dpaul
Hi DaveI'll try using this new feature to show a possible answer to your question. Theattached pic is a axle setup I'm working on. This is a new style 40 spoke HarleyDavidson front wheel. The spokes are very heavy duty and the base of thespokes is spread to 4 inches. This wheel is 21 in. x 2.15 and weighs 12 lb.17 lb if you choose to install the brake rotor. This is without tire. I used a 1 1/4 in o.d. axle with a i.d. of 1 in. and then inserted a sleeve of1 in. 4140 steel rod. This new model Harley has a 1 in. bearing.I dont have a finished total weight yet but since I am planning on a 115 hp engine,it should not be a problem.Dick N. ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: dpaul
Hopefulloy this will not be a duplicate posting, I may have punched the wronkey.DaveI am sending along a pic of a wheel / axle set up I am working on. This is a newstyle Harley Davidson wheel. It is a 40 spoke with a 4 inch spread at thespoke base The bearing is for a 1 inch axle.I used a 1 1/4 in axle with a 1 in. sleeve. The wheel weighs 12 lb without tireand 17 lb if you include the brake rotor.I dont know the finished weight yet.Dick N. ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: dpaul
Dave,Yes you can use wire wheels with both strait and split axel landing gear. Justlook at Mike Cuy, Frank Pavliga, Larry Williams, Will Graff, John Dilatush, justto name a few, to see that the strait axel works fine. Having poked around the motorcycle junk yards looking for wheels I have see a fewwith good possibilities. I have my own gut feeling as to what will work andwhat will not. Unfortunately I don't have any engineering behind my feelings.By looking at photos and some personal communication with a few people thathave used motorcycle wheels and I still can't find anyone who has first handknowledge of them failing catastrophically (one knew about one that bent). I'mnot advocating or dissuading their use, I know they have been used and seemto work. As with all things that will go on your plane you have to be comfortablethat ever piece will be up to the task required of it. What we are comfortablewith will very with each builder. Do some research, track down some peoplewho use wire wheels and decide for your self what you are comfortable using.My 2 centsChris T.Sacramento, Ca ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "E.Billing" (by way of Matt Dralle )

Original Posted By:> dpaul
Mike C. What was the weight of your wheels?>From: "Catdesign" >Reply-To: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.com>To: >Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Wheels and Cowling>Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 20:51:11 -0800>>Dave,>>Yes you can use wire wheels with both strait and split axel landing gear. >Just look at Mike Cuy, Frank Pavliga, Larry Williams, Will Graff, John >Dilatush, just to name a few, to see that the strait axel works fine.>>Having poked around the motorcycle junk yards looking for wheels I have see >a few with good possibilities. I have my own gut feeling as to what will >work and what will not. Unfortunately I don't have any engineering behind >my feelings. By looking at photos and some personal communication with a >few people that have used motorcycle wheels and I still can't find anyone >who has first hand knowledge of them failing catastrophically (one knew >about one that bent). I'm not advocating or dissuading their use, I know >they have been used and seem to work. As with all things that will go on >your plane you have to be comfortable that ever piece will be up to the >task required of it. What we are comfortable with will very with each >builder. Do some research, track down some people who use wire wheels and >decide for your self what you are comfortable using.>>>My 2 cents>>Chris T.>Sacramento, Ca> ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Fred Weaver
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re:Wow! let me try that