SonexBuilders.net

Bryan,

The milestone does not count until the gear touch the ground and support the fuselage! You are getting closer...

The temptation was strong just to flip it onto the gear. But then I would have to jack it up to complete real work. I decided to take the slight delay to do things right.

My productivity has been very low lately. I have mostly been massacring the tail spring and tailwheel mount. First, when I was transferring the hole to the other side of the tube through the Ti spring, I destroyed the original hole:


Kerry gave me a saddle clamp fix which I still have to do.

Next I had the tailwheel mount all lined up, but after I drilled the holes it had moved quite a bit. I ovaled the holes to true it up and then I made a collar to weld on:


Perhaps I should take up knitting.

May I suggest underwater basket weaving? That was a popular class at my university.

Seriously, don't beat yourself up. I had struggles with the drill bit wandering between the TI leg and the mount sleeve. What you are doing is almost exactly the same as my main tri-gear legs. What I did to give myself peace of mind was use high strength shafting epoxy and coated the TI leg, inserted into the mount and bolted it up until it cured. It's not going anywhere, if I need to remove it the epoxy bond is broken with application of high heat from a torch.

Good luck getting the gear finished, I found this to be one of the most frustrating parts of the build (so far)...I have yet to tackle the canopy or cowling, so I may change this statement in the next few months!

Bryan, for what it's worth I had to order a new tail wheel pivot fitting AND 1 main gear axle due to bungling the holes while drilling the Ti. My Ti holes were good, but my tailwheel was crooked and main gear axle had a huge oval hole.

Bryan

Add my name to the list. Tailwheel spring mount and one axle. I have a large scrap bin.

Keep at it!


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved

Thanks guys. If I could replace my tailspring mount I would, but I don't see how to get the nuts off and then back on again. I would like to hysol the tail spring in both ends as the fit in the tube is loose. The main gear came out great.

Here I am sawing out my second half-hole for the saddle fix. I used the 3/4" holesaw the first time and it was too sloppy. Whipped out my 11/16" holesaw (I am the Holesaw King) and got a slightly small half hole which I dremel sanded up.


Came out good. Not bolted in yet.


Here I have tacked on my repair sleeve for the tailwheel pivot.


Never lick metal when it is that color. I did get it welded up, and the pivot seemed true when I had it tacked. Welding is not a skill that improves with abstinence. Here I am obscuring the weld with the torch, in case EAA national ever looks at these pictures. If they saw that weld my chance for a Tony Bingeles award will go right to zip.

Since I booted the harley golf cart out of the weld area I took it for a spin after. Helps to run it once in a while in the winter.

I love your welding table. Portable, safe and stable. Reminds me of mine.
Frank
ONEX090

Thanks Frank! Proof that you can do anything with a sawzall.