Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Gordon Brimhall
Subject: Pietenpol-List: airplane axles>I've been looking at brakes lately, and have ,(kind of) decided to use>AZUSA 5" cable operated brakes, with a hand lever.>>Tracy OBrien aircraft specialties....... tracy(at)localaccess.com sells>these AZUSA brakes modifyed for 3/4" axles. I'm wondering if my "ace" at>1200 lbs gross wt. can be properly supported by 3/4" axles, or should I>go with 1", or 1 1/4 diam stuff??>Also should the axle be of solid material, or can I use thick walled>steel tubing? ( Ihave a metal lathe, and can thread these myself)>>Keeping in mind that I'm building wire rim wheels, and the bearing>surface of the axle will be 6" + about 1" more for the threaded>part...are 3/4" axles strong enough?>>ocb>>________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: oil can
Oilcan; I rebuilt a Stitts Flutterbug that used Grade 8 3/4 by 6" bolts forthe axles. the gear iis split with bungee cords similar to Piper PA 12. Theaircraft weight I forgot but it under 1000lbsJ Mc-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: Phil Peck
I've been looking at brakes lately, and have ,(kind of) decided to use AZUSA 5" cable operated brakes, with a hand lever.Tracy OBrien aircraft specialties....... tracy(at)localaccess.com sells these AZUSA brakes modifyed for 3/4" axles. I'm wondering if my "ace" at 1200 lbs gross wt. can be properly supported by 3/4" axles, or should I go with 1", or 1 1/4 diam stuff??Also should the axle be of solid material, or can I use thick walled steel tubing? ( Ihave a metal lathe, and can thread these myself)Keeping in mind that I'm building wire rim wheels, and the bearing surface of the axle will be 6" + about 1" more for the threaded part...are 3/4" axles strong enough?ocb________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Michael Brusilow
I use a 1" straight axle with an insert to strengthen the ends. I''m notsure about the pipe used other than that it has thick walls. I alsowidened the stance of the airplane a bit. I found that I had to add afour inch vertical support on the bottom middle of the axle and then welda round rod (about 1/4") across it and back to near both ends to stiffenit enough bear the weight. This has worked well although I have tweakedthe ends a little and my wheels lean in at the top a little bit from hardlandings when I first started flying the plane. This axle seems prettyheavy and yet it isn't at all overbuilt. For my motorcycle wheels I inserted a one inch bronze bushing the widthof the wheel, used several spacers made of pipe and through drilled withan AN-3 bolt at the end to keep the whole affair on the axle. This hasworked very well, is simple. How it would hold up in a ground loop, Idon't know. But I think ok.With your long overhang beyond the axle supports, I doubt that one inchwill do it unless it's pretty tought stuff. >>> oil can 12/13 1:49 AM >>>I've been looking at brakes lately, and have ,(kind of) decided to useAZUSA 5" cable operated brakes, with a hand lever.Tracy OBrien aircraft specialties....... tracy(at)localaccess.com sellsthese AZUSA brakes modifyed for 3/4" axles. I'm wondering if my "ace"at1200 lbs gross wt. can be properly supported by 3/4" axles, or should Igo with 1", or 1 1/4 diam stuff??Also should the axle be of solid material, or can I use thick walledsteel tubing? ( Ihave a metal lathe, and can thread these myself)Keeping in mind that I'm building wire rim wheels, and the bearingsurface of the axle will be 6" + about 1" more for the threadedpart...are 3/4" axles strong enough?ocb________________________________________________________________________________