SNX-L01: Azuza wheel mating

Discussion for Sonex builders on specific plans page experience. These posts are limited to technical suggestions such as assembly order, challenges, or techniques related to specific plans pages.

SNX-L01: Azuza wheel mating

Postby kevinh » Sun Feb 19, 2017 9:14 pm

Hi ya'll,

So the plans say that the two halves of the wheel need to mate flush with no gaps between them. They also say that if there is a gap it is probably caused by flashing at the bolt holes. So I checked my wheels and there is no flashing problem at the bolt holes. But if I hold the wheel up to the light I see a small even gap all the way around the wheel (maybe 1/64"?). From looking through the gap at the light I can see that the cause is those little cone shaped alignment nubs. This is all tested without the bolts being torqued down, so possibly that would help.

Have you also seen this? Any recommendations for a fix? I tried grinding off the tip of each of the nubs (in case they were high) and the gap remains.

I hope you had a nice weekend ;-).

Kevin
Taildragger Waiex in progress, tail done, wings done, about to mate wings to fuse,
then cowl, canopy, paint (photos): flush rivets, turbo aerovee, acro ailerons
(I built my RV7A and happily flew it for about 500 hrs)
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Re: SNX-L01: Azuza wheel mating

Postby WaiexN143NM » Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:10 am

Hi Kevin,
Are you installing the sonex hyd. Brakes? Mount the heavy steel disc with the allen flush bolts, and i'd use a lock washer with the nylocs, some have reported recently the nylocs coming loose maybe from heat transfer. Did you use some talcum baby powder inside the wheels and tube? Torque it all down it should pull tight. Let us know.

WaiexN143NM
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Re: SNX-L01: Azuza wheel mating

Postby LarryEWaiex121 » Mon Feb 20, 2017 4:37 pm

Kevin,

The tubed wheels just aren't that critical. The Azusa wheels work just fine but, their not a work of art. I've used mine for over 500 hrs and converted to hydraulic brakes (Sonex) about 100 hrs ago. No problems ever. Just make certain you pump your tires up around 50 Lbs air pressure,(ignore the 30lbs max part) or you run the risk of spinning a tire on the wheel under heavy braking. If that happens it's instant flat with a valve stem ripped out of the tube.
Not happened to me but I know some that have. I initially ran about 35lbs and found my stem twisted off funny one day and it didn't take long to figure out why. Keep up the pressure and all will be fine.

Larry
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Re: SNX-L01: Azuza wheel mating

Postby kevinh » Mon Feb 20, 2017 4:38 pm

WaiexN143NM wrote:Hi Kevin,
Are you installing the sonex hyd. Brakes? Mount the heavy steel disc with the allen flush bolts, and i'd use a lock washer with the nylocs, some have reported recently the nylocs coming loose maybe from heat transfer. Did you use some talcum baby powder inside the wheels and tube? Torque it all down it should pull tight. Let us know.

WaiexN143NM
Michael


Thanks Michael, yep - hyd brakes. Alas, when I torque everything down I still see a tiny gap between the two halves. I'm kinda guessing now that they are all like this and the gap just isn't big enough to pinch a tube. I'm going to go ahead and mount tires/tubes and assume if it good enough for a kid's go-cart then it is good enough for my airplane. ;-)

Kevin
Taildragger Waiex in progress, tail done, wings done, about to mate wings to fuse,
then cowl, canopy, paint (photos): flush rivets, turbo aerovee, acro ailerons
(I built my RV7A and happily flew it for about 500 hrs)
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Re: SNX-L01: Azuza wheel mating

Postby WaiexN143NM » Mon Feb 20, 2017 4:51 pm

Hi kevin,
What larry said is exactly correct , dont worry the rims are not perfect, and yes, thats what we use for tire pressure. 50 psi. We also marked on sidewall of tire a white
line to indicate where the valve stem is, very easy to rotate plane on ground to line up for tire pump ups.
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Re: SNX-L01: Azuza wheel mating

Postby DCASonex » Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:19 am

Note of caution on air pressure. The 50 PSI may be okay for standard small Sonex tire, but is way too much force on the wheel if using the larger 5.00 x 5 tires. I have disk brakes and have found that about 23-25 PSI works quite well with the larger tires.

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Re: SNX-L01: Azuza wheel mating

Postby WaiexN143NM » Tue Feb 21, 2017 10:33 am

Hi david,
Good to know. Yes we are using the standard small sonex tire. With your bigger tires, can you still use the sonex wheel pants?

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Re: SNX-L01: Azuza wheel mating

Postby DCASonex » Wed Feb 22, 2017 9:50 am

WaiexN143NM wrote:Hi david,
Good to know. Yes we are using the standard small sonex tire. With your bigger tires, can you still use the sonex wheel pants?

WaiexN143NM
Michael


Yes managed to stretch standard wheel pants to fit over the larger tires and GP hydraulic disk brakes by splitting bottom side and inserting wedge shaped pieces about 3/4" wide at widest. The brake calipers themselves do protrude, a bit. but all else is covered.

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