Pietenpol-List: fixed landing gear

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 9:43 pm

Original Posted By: Clif Dawson
I did an inspection of my plane tonight and found that my fixed gear axle is bent.There is about a 1" deflection in the axle,with the stbd wheel showing thebend. I had a bit of a discussion at Brodhead, with Jack Phillips on axle sizing andJack, you are right, the 1 1/4" x .125 wall is not heavy enough for the fixedgear. I have a spare axle of the same size and will install that but will alsosleeve the inside with a 1" oak dowel. I will then order a new 1 1/2" andinstall in down time this winter. Also, one of my cross brace cables is showingthe stress threads. I just replaced the cables before Brodhead. I will upsize these cables to 5/32".I belive the axle bent last Saturday when I made a full stall landing in a 15-18kt cross wind. I should have done a wheel landing, I guess. It wasn't a horribletouchdown but there were some pretty good side loads in settling in. TheHarley wheels held up very well though.This was one of those days when the wind was varied and gusting thru 50 degrees.Dick N.________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 22:37:58 -0700

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 7:04 am

Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:43 am

Original Posted By: Phillips, Jack
Thanks for all of that, Jack. I was planning on going to a 1.5 x .188 axle. Heattreating sounds like a very good idea. I have done that with small partsbut how do you dp that on something this large? Also , did you up size your crossbrace cables?Dick ----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:52 am

Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 1:22 pm

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:07 pm

Original Posted By: Kenneth Heide

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:13 pm

Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:20 pm

Original Posted By: lshutks(at)webtv.net (Leon Stefan)
27, 2005) at 08/26/2005 03:21:01 PMKen,What landing gear?Split landingear is what I have, and I used Matco W62 wheels & brakes, 6 x6.00 tires.Or straight axle gear with spoked motor cycle wheels, aerodrome aeroplanesmake a nice set.Hans Kenneth Heide To Sent by: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.com owner-pietenpol-l cc ist-server@matron ics.com Subject Pietenpol-List: Rims and Tires 08/26/2005 02:07 PM Please respond to pietenpol-list@ma tronics.com Members of the list serve:I am seeking information on locating a supplier of aluminum rims and hubs.Also can you recommemd rimssize and tires width. Along with that whatabout hub size and dimensions.Just seeking imput for the best possible selection.Sincerely,Kenneth M. HeideFargo, ND________________________________________________________________________________ ETAsAhQXE4C0AvTEpp46yD6DX9tL2YmsKQIULhtztyOxcDzu51uYD+2aBBDBjlc=

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 11:38 pm

Original Posted By: Phillips, Jack
OUCH ----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 11:43 pm

Original Posted By: "Michael D Cuy"
Ditto here on the wheels.Dont get me wrong here guys on this bent axle. This was not a near disaster or anything. I just noticed more deflection than previous and one of the cables had stressed.Dick----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 7:23 am

Original Posted By: Kenneth Heide
Ken,Dale and I used 3.50 X 19 Chen Shin motorcycle tires mounted on 40 spoke DID rimswhich were located at a local motorcycle salvage yard.Spokes are custom from Buchanan Spoke and Rim in California.Hubs are 6" wide and were made to Howard Henderson's plans.Small picture attached.Greg CardinalMinneapolis ----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 10:53 am

Original Posted By: "Dick Navratil"
I didn't do this on the already semi-completed Piete I bought and rebuilt,but for those of you out there in Pieteland that have yet to install a gear,you may want to consider picking up a fiberglass bow gear that is used onthe Varieze and Longeze. It's made from strands of S-glass and epoxy woundover a mandrel, shaped like a hunting bow. Would support a Piet even withhard bounce. Very simple and tough. Not very traditional looking but youcould always paint it with faux-wood paint to get the desired affect.Probably look on ebay and find one for less than a couple 100 bucks.They're made by Featherlite in Ukiah CA., think they still sell new forabout $600. I've bounced my Cozy sized gear with a 2100 lb gross quite afew times without evidence of any damage. The gear could be attached to theexisting tabs on the Piete's lower longerons with 7/16" bolts run thru theentire length of the front and back tabs and the gear attached with a 7/16"further ideas, chk out someone in your area that has a Rutanesque typecanard-pusher's gear installation.Gordon Bowen -Homer AlaskaCozy IV N64CYOsprey II N64SYPietenpol N-1033B" There are no passengers on spaceship Earth, we are all crew", McLuhan----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 12:26 pm

Original Posted By: "Terry Bowden"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Fwd: FW: peteHeres the address to a neat free-flight Piet model.> http://smallflyingarts.com/Current_Cont ... camper.htm> > Subject: FW: peteDate: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:35:35 -0500

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 4:43 pm

Original Posted By: "Michael Conkling"
Is it possible to use split landing gear with spoked wheels? If so, are thereany special considerations about that (wheel dimensions limits, side loads, etc.)I like the look of the spoked wheels, but the impact absorbtion, strengthand utility of the split axle sure looks more attractive. I'd miss those beautifulash struts though. Phil Miller PietenVair Altadena,CA________________________________________________________________________________

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:40 pm

Original Posted By: Philip Miller
Phil,Look up the 1929-30 Travelair 2000 landing gear for how it could be done --the Travelair used 28 x 4 wheels with the shock cords attached to the center"vee" (like a J-3 Cub). It will take some drafting time to figure axleplacement and landing gear angles for the right deck angle.Concerning the straight axle Piets -- if I remember correctly, aren't Part23 landing gear (only) stressed for about 3g's ??Mike C.Pretty Prairie, KS ----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 7:29 pm

Original Posted By: Larry Nelson

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 12:01 am

Original Posted By: Harvey Rule
Just a follow up on my landing gear problem. I spent the day at the hangar, removingthe wheels and axle. I was shocked to find that my port side bungee hadalmost completely chaffed thru, not from this incident but from rubbing on abolt head on the gear leg. For anyone who hasn't checked you bungees in a while,it may be worth unwrapping and checking. I will make a chafe guard out of2" SCH 40 pvc pipe to cover the bolts.Dick N.________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 08:49:17 -0400

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:58 am

Original Posted By: BARNSTMR(at)aol.com
Hi BARNSTMR,and the list members,A great looking model of the Piet. The aircraft that the builder modeled is Simon McCormack's Piet in Tasmania.For anyone that is interested, there is a neat video of the model in flight and you can also download the plans (using Adobe) for free. There are 2 sections, one is the basic plans and the other is of full size parts etc.A very well built little Piet !Mark SJapan

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 11:20 am

Original Posted By: "Larry Nelson"
Larry,Making the transition from experimental airplane builder to TEST PILOT putsa little stress on the pucker: a) have someone else who's been anexperimental test pilot go thru the plane from front to back looking forthings you may have forgotten, b) you go thru the plane one more time andthen go flying, c) take his or her (safety chker) car keys with you on thefirst flight, this will give your safety checker a little incentive to do agood job for you. Good Luck.Gordon Bowen -Homer AlaskaCozy IV N64CYOsprey II N64SYPietenpol N-1033B" There are no passengers on spaceship Earth, we are all crew", McLuhan----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 1:13 pm

Original Posted By: Larry Nelson

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 1:59 pm

Original Posted By: "Larry Nelson"
Larry,Good luck. See if you can take the car keys of a safety checker anyway. Ifthey're serious about your safe return, you'll get a good second opinion ofthe plane's safe condition. Test Pilots at Lockheed Skunk Works used totake the car keys of the chief AP mechanic and chief design engineer withthem on first flights like the SR-71.Gordon----- Original Message -----

matronics · Post by **matronics** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 6:24 am

Original Posted By: "Phillips, Jack"

Brodhead Pietenpol Association