Brodhead Pietenpol Association

PoconoJohn

I'm considering this spring: https://www.grainger.com/product/RAYMOND-Die-Spring-Heavy-Duty-44U753 The other possibility seems to be this https://www.thespringstore.com/catalog/product/view/id/67842/s/pc225-1500-10000-cs-6500-cg-n-in/category/2/ Also looking at Lee Spring and McMaster-Carr for ideas...

PoconoJohn

I notice some builders have the tailwheel per plans, and others have a something like a leaf spring arrangement. I have to decide which way to go. What are the pros/cons of those set-ups? Thanks!

John C

PoconoJohn

Thanks!

PoconoJohn

Thanks Oscar. I have the axle's from aircraft spruce that are 1.5" X 12". I'll see what I can find.

John C

PoconoJohn

I bought the axle's based on the plans size from AS&S and now need tires (and brakes). I want the small typical airplane tire like in the drawings. I'm not sure what to buy since I'm not sure how to integrate brakes. I plan on hydraulic brakes, maybe like go-kart brakes (still researching). Does...

PoconoJohn

Check this post: https://www.pietenpols.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46675

PoconoJohn

I'm using bolts. The brackets will sit flush the the lip, so you'll need to have a shim for the bracket to sit on (like in photo). I made my brackets larger (3") than plans to allow for the attachment of wires.

John C

PoconoJohn

You can order the Weight & Balance manual here: http://www.pietenpols.org/store/

PoconoJohn

Thanks! The shop has been using TIG so far on gear components, so I'll expect that to continue.

John C

PoconoJohn

Glad to hear both plane and pilot were OK! Question about welding. Anything that needs welding goes to a local welding shop (they do mostly racing cars and trucks). Should I specify TIG or Oxy-acetylene? When welding flight control pieces, I saw them use gas. After I explained the landing gear fitti...

PoconoJohn

On N34KP Ken heated the tubes and then squeezed them between aluminum blocks (with nice large radius) screwed to vise jaws. He told me there was a strip of wood set to the proper angle attached to the vise to eyeball the tube angle to. I don't know how many attempts it took. He squeezed the tubes a...

PoconoJohn

John, The picture is my landing gear assembly. I'll be happy to measure and post the dimensions of the insert. It may be a day or two before I can make it to the hangar. Feel free to send me a PM. We can set up a facetime phone call from the hangar to let you see any aspects of the gear that you wa...

PoconoJohn

The plans mention "flatten" the end of the tube where it will attach to the lug that's attached to the fuselage. I can't imagine how I'll be able to flatten the end, or how it'll spread out to be 2.5" long to fit at the lug. My plan is to cut a slit into the tube and weld in a 2.5&quo...

PoconoJohn

Thank you!

PoconoJohn

Plans call for a 1/4" piece of steel at the round attachment point on the belly. Plans also call for 5/16" steel down at the axle area (both are joined by the shock strut). To buy those in 4130 (plans don't specify a particular type), I'm looking at a six week timeline (why is everyone out...

PoconoJohn

I take everything to a local shop. They TIG welded the gear fittings. Here is both sides of one fitting. I know the plans say "Heavy weld", but maybe that's with gas welding? By the way, the one small hole is a pilot hole until the welding is complete.

John C

PoconoJohn

I would be leery of making any part, metal or wood, until that part is needed. I've found during my build certain measurements don't work or I need a different size, holes somewhere else, etc. Just one example, the fittings on the tail section for the wires. Depending on how you attach the wires to ...

PoconoJohn

Two pages to look over just to get more info and maybe ideas (if you haven't seen these yet): https://flycorvair.net/2019/01/18/pietenpol-cg-and-gear-welding/ http://www.westcoastpiet.com/wood_gear_placement_analysis.htm I have the WW weight & balance info from the newsletter series. John C

PoconoJohn

I think we're both doing the same thing. With smaller pieces, I put metal pieces which are bent to the shape I need in the vise and place the tube in. I heat it up with a MAP-pro torch (not the usual torch). I then crank the vise. I get either both sides flared, or just one side, depending on what I...

PoconoJohn

How are the ends of the "V" tubes squeezed flat? I've done it with smaller tube, but these pieces are hefty.

John C

PoconoJohn

I built my elevator and rudder horns with 1" tabs. If the tabs are 5'8", then the horn sits below the outer edge and have to think about fabric. Also, the point of the horn might impact the edge. Placing the tabs on 3/16" shims gets the horn above the fabric. I'm still new at this, so...

PoconoJohn

Split gear and long fuselage. How far should the center of the axle be from the firewall? I have a mock-up and I'm looking at about 19". After review at the West Coast Piet site, I decided anything in the 15" area will work. After adjusting my "V" mock up, it looks like my axle w...

PoconoJohn

Thanks Oscar. I saw the note about the strap being optional and decided to install it anyway. It's extra weight I know, but I like the idea of more strength at those white ash points.

PoconoJohn

Thank you. I'm thinking of making the fittings, then running the strap between them, meeting the ends (butt them). I'll weld a piece of steel over both the left and right side seams; I think that's what the weld area in the drawing is. Reading the text again, it does say " between fittings"...

PoconoJohn

I used .032. As it gets thinner, I think it'll be more difficult to weld. Check this.....it's for sheet. Tubing is different.

http://www.cousesteel.com/AndysPlace/Ga ... kness.html

PoconoJohn

On the plans, it shows the 2" wide metal strap (which I'm using) below of the floor. It doesn't show the fitting mounted on it, rather, makes it look like the strap becomes the fitting, which I believe is not the way it goes (especially since the fitting is 2 1/2" wide and the strap is 2&q...

PoconoJohn

I have many photos showing how I dealt with the plans...and two videos. https://imageevent.com/hatz/piet/ribs https://youtu.be/KZSTQas6iEA https://youtu.be/rIYrQKmhiwU I have this on one of those: ***(9/17/14)...Just spoke with Andrew Pietenpol. He said I can use either the page 5 dimensions OR use ...

PoconoJohn

Great! I ordered 12' since I'm new to this.

John C

PoconoJohn

Thank you for the photos, advice and your time writing all that. Nothing to do now but order supplies and get 'er done!

John C

PoconoJohn

Awesome Ken! The photo of the gear sure helps. As long as sheet three is accurate, there's a descent chance I can build it. With the one telescoping pole crossing the other, do I need to adjust brackets or axles, or will the plans work? Thank you again.

John C

PoconoJohn

Thanks Ken! I'll check that. I like the spring in a can set-up (like WW shows on his site), but I need plans, so sticking to sheet 3 and that means bungees. Photos are always helpful as are explanations of the work. My project is here: https://imageevent.com/hatz/piet

John C

PoconoJohn

I'm getting ready to order parts for the gear. I'm going with the split axle as shown on sheet 3. I'm trying to figure out what bungee cord to buy at Aircraft Spruce. Plans say six feet of 5/8", but looks like I have to buy a couple of small pieces.

John C

PoconoJohn

Thanks! Been looking at the WW articles and YT videos. I'm trying to figure out how the canned spring affects the tube dimensions, and how long to make the upper and lower tubes (everything really). I'm wondering if any dimensions on the plans will change. Looks like the "can" for the spri...

PoconoJohn

Thanks...and I've seen WW with Earl's plane also. That's the way I'm going to do it....once I figure it out:)

John C

PoconoJohn

I'm starting to think about split landing gear. Any suggestions or lessons learned? Any mistakes or problems in the plans? Anything I should change from the plans?

Thanks!

John C

PoconoJohn

Thanks Oscar.

John

PoconoJohn

By what date do you need it?

John C

PoconoJohn

The plans indicate the center of the rigging brackets on the horizontal stabilizer are located 34" from center. I was just wondering if there's a particular aerodynamic or structural reason for that location (how or why did Bernie choose it). Same thing for the vertical stabilizer location. Tha...

PoconoJohn

Thank you Terry. The image is fine.

John C

PoconoJohn

Thank you everyone for the responses. I read previous posts with Tom and Oscar about this and I'll work it out.

John C

PoconoJohn

I'm about to drill holes for the part that supports the rudder bar. Before I do that, I want to check on the amount of travel. If I place the rudder mount in the location as planned, I'll have just under 4" of rudder travel pushing forward. Is that enough? Photo #2. I'm also adding a photo (#3)...

PoconoJohn

Thank you Earl! Thank you Oscar!

John

PoconoJohn

It looks like my tail section will be complete shortly. I'm torn between building the upper parts of the fuselage or the gear next. If I go with the gear first, I can easily flip the plane upside down for that work. When that's done, then onto the instrument panel, turtle deck, etc. I'm going to hav...

PoconoJohn

Looking good!

John C

PoconoJohn

danoliver wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 4:19 pm I do.
Here’s a few.

Oh gosh Danoliver! That's beautiful! Don't ever cover it!

John C

PoconoJohn

Thank you Oscar for explaining the engine mount concept. That's new to me. Thank you Ken for the photo and explaining the washers to adjust the VS offset. I've seen that one one plane so far. I'm going to continue thinking about this. I'm not too thrilled drilling holes to run bolts through the long...

PoconoJohn

I'm now thinking of plugging the two holes and using the 1" screws and 1 3/4" screws as shown on the plans.

John C

PoconoJohn

Thanks! I'm heading out to look at it and make a decision.

John C

PoconoJohn

The only Franklin I ever used was 165hp in my 1946 Stinson 108. It ran smooth as butter and started up like a turboprop. Will you be able to get parts for it, especially the crankshaft? Will you be able to service it or do you know someone familiar with Franklins? I know in the Stinson group it was ...

PoconoJohn

Thank you Oscar. Here it is 3:23 in the AM. I think I have an idea. I can put a dowel in that one hole and drill a new hole where the pencil mark is. I can use spacers on the two bolts going through the VS. I won't have to touch the hole on the other side of the VS. OR I can also make a new bracket ...

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