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#1
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lead tail ballast
Over the years ,my PIK20D ,not to mention my self ,has gained some
weight. The cg with me aboard is now located forward of the mid range although still within limits. I would like to add about 6 pounds of lead to the tail to shift the cg to the rear half of the allowable range. Anyone know the best way to attach the lead tail ballast? ------------ pik20_d9 |
#2
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lead tail ballast
If possible with your tailwheel type, you can shape the lead weight so
it can be attached inside the tailwheel rim. If necessary, you can even melt the lead and pour it, using the wheel rim as a mold. Only possible with a metal rim! schreef: Over the years ,my PIK20D ,not to mention my self ,has gained some weight. The cg with me aboard is now located forward of the mid range although still within limits. I would like to add about 6 pounds of lead to the tail to shift the cg to the rear half of the allowable range. Anyone know the best way to attach the lead tail ballast? ------------ pik20_d9 |
#3
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lead tail ballast
stephanevdv wrote:
schreef: Over the years ,my PIK20D ,not to mention my self ,has gained some weight. The cg with me aboard is now located forward of the mid range although still within limits. I would like to add about 6 pounds of lead to the tail to shift the cg to the rear half of the allowable range. Anyone know the best way to attach the lead tail ballast? If possible with your tailwheel type, you can shape the lead weight so it can be attached inside the tailwheel rim. If necessary, you can even melt the lead and pour it, using the wheel rim as a mold. Only possible with a metal rim! Is it important to keep the tail wheel balanced? -- Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly "Transponders in Sailplanes" on the Soaring Safety Foundation website www.soaringsafety.org/prevention/articles.html "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org |
#4
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lead tail ballast
"stephanevdv" wrote in message ups.com... If possible with your tailwheel type, you can shape the lead weight so it can be attached inside the tailwheel rim. If necessary, you can even melt the lead and pour it, using the wheel rim as a mold. Only possible with a metal rim! Well, you probably won't get to add 6 lb this way - - at least on the typical tailwheel (g). However, it is useful for balancing the tailwheel and mainwheel/s too, assuming there's not a good spot for securing balance weights with double sticky tape etc. To balance wheels I use a static motorcycle wheel balance stand. Temporarily balance wheel with modeling clay (plasticene). Weigh clay to determine appropriate amount of lead to melt. Insert a small loop of safety wire into the wheel cavity that is to hold weight, with loop of wire extending out of cavity. Pour in molten lead, it will solidify almost immediately. Spray with water to aid cooling (though I've not experienced any tire damage when not cooling with water, as the aluminum wheel conducts heat away rapidly and the amount of lead used to balance a wheel is typically small. Remove lead weight using safety wire handle. Coat weight and wheel cavity with contact cement and reinstall weight. I've cast a lead weight in-place, using a mixture of lead shot, epoxy resin and cut strands of fiberglass. Line the area, where the weight is to go with Saran Wrap or plastic cling wrap to act as a release agent. Weigh the lead shot and make an allowance for the weight of the epoxy resin. Mix epoxy resin, lead shot and some cut glass fiber for strength (I cut strips of fiberglass cloth and unwove it to get short strands) and pour mixture into cavity. It will get warm as it cures. Be sure cavity is shaped so you can later remove weight. If need be, you might install a suitable divider and make weight in more than one piece if need be. -- bumper ZZ (reverse all after @) "Dare to be different . . . circle in sink." Quiet Vent & MKII Yaw String |
#5
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lead tail ballast
"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message news:naL1h.4040$pU3.3154@trndny08... possible with a metal rim! Is it important to keep the tail wheel balanced? -- Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly "Transponders in Sailplanes" on the Soaring Safety Foundation website www.soaringsafety.org/prevention/articles.html "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org I suppose that depends on how big and/or how out of balance the tailwheel is. When I owned a Stemme, I found that it made a difference. But there are some that think I fuss needlessly over such minutia (g). bumper |
#6
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lead tail ballast
bumper wrote:
"stephanevdv" wrote in message ups.com... If possible with your tailwheel type, you can shape the lead weight so it can be attached inside the tailwheel rim. If necessary, you can even melt the lead and pour it, using the wheel rim as a mold. Only possible with a metal rim! Well, you probably won't get to add 6 lb this way - - at least on the typical tailwheel (g). However, it is useful for balancing the tailwheel and mainwheel/s too, assuming there's not a good spot for securing balance weights with double sticky tape etc. To balance wheels I use a static motorcycle wheel balance stand. Temporarily balance wheel with modeling clay (plasticene). Weigh clay to determine appropriate amount of lead to melt. Insert a small loop of safety wire into the wheel cavity that is to hold weight, with loop of wire extending out of cavity. Pour in molten lead, it will solidify almost immediately. Spray with water to aid cooling (though I've not experienced any tire damage when not cooling with water, as the aluminum wheel conducts heat away rapidly and the amount of lead used to balance a wheel is typically small. Remove lead weight using safety wire handle. Coat weight and wheel cavity with contact cement and reinstall weight. I've cast a lead weight in-place, using a mixture of lead shot, epoxy resin and cut strands of fiberglass. Line the area, where the weight is to go with Saran Wrap or plastic cling wrap to act as a release agent. Weigh the lead shot and make an allowance for the weight of the epoxy resin. Mix epoxy resin, lead shot and some cut glass fiber for strength (I cut strips of fiberglass cloth and unwove it to get short strands) and pour mixture into cavity. It will get warm as it cures. Be sure cavity is shaped so you can later remove weight. If need be, you might install a suitable divider and make weight in more than one piece if need be. -- bumper ZZ (reverse all after @) "Dare to be different . . . circle in sink." Quiet Vent & MKII Yaw String It is a metal tail wheel with a pneumatic rubber tire. I would like to keep the wheel as balanced as possible. I think i've heard of someone bolting a strip of lead to the vertical stabilizer spar. Is this a safe option? D9 |
#7
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lead tail ballast
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#8
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lead tail ballast
One of our local PIK-20D pilots - who happens to own a machine shop -
replaced the aluminum tail wheel with a stainless steel tail wheel that he manufactured himself. Perfectly balanced and just about exactly the weight you are looking for. If you care to contact me directly, I will put you in touch. wrote: Over the years ,my PIK20D ,not to mention my self ,has gained some weight. The cg with me aboard is now located forward of the mid range although still within limits. I would like to add about 6 pounds of lead to the tail to shift the cg to the rear half of the allowable range. Anyone know the best way to attach the lead tail ballast? ------------ pik20_d9 |
#9
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lead tail ballast
A friend recently got a brass tailwheel for his DG300. The specific
gravity of brass is about 8.5, stainless steel 7.7, aluminum 2.64. Just might work if your PIK has a tail wheel and any voids in the aluminum wheel could be filled in a brass or stainless replacement. Frank Whiteley Jay wrote: One of our local PIK-20D pilots - who happens to own a machine shop - replaced the aluminum tail wheel with a stainless steel tail wheel that he manufactured himself. Perfectly balanced and just about exactly the weight you are looking for. If you care to contact me directly, I will put you in touch. wrote: Over the years ,my PIK20D ,not to mention my self ,has gained some weight. The cg with me aboard is now located forward of the mid range although still within limits. I would like to add about 6 pounds of lead to the tail to shift the cg to the rear half of the allowable range. Anyone know the best way to attach the lead tail ballast? ------------ pik20_d9 |
#10
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lead tail ballast
On 31 Oct 2006 16:18:23 -0800, "Frank Whiteley"
wrote: A friend recently got a brass tailwheel for his DG300. The specific gravity of brass is about 8.5, stainless steel 7.7, aluminum 2.64. Just might work if your PIK has a tail wheel and any voids in the aluminum wheel could be filled in a brass or stainless replacement. Frank Whiteley Jay wrote: One of our local PIK-20D pilots - who happens to own a machine shop - replaced the aluminum tail wheel with a stainless steel tail wheel that he manufactured himself. Perfectly balanced and just about exactly the weight you are looking for. If you care to contact me directly, I will put you in touch. wrote: Over the years ,my PIK20D ,not to mention my self ,has gained some weight. The cg with me aboard is now located forward of the mid range although still within limits. I would like to add about 6 pounds of lead to the tail to shift the cg to the rear half of the allowable range. Anyone know the best way to attach the lead tail ballast? ------------ pik20_d9 I purchased a BRASS tailwheel from DG, out of Calistoga CA. Cost me ~$90, but was plug and Play for my DG200's tailwheel. The entire weight of the wheel, tube and tire came to 6.9 lbs, with the wheel itself weighing in at 6 lbs even. |
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