Making Changes

[CLS447]

I drilled & tapped my gearbox , while it was apart, for a 1/8" magnetic drain plug. Easier lube changes!

Installed new seal with the seal retainer plate that I had made. That should do the trick.

Found a place to mount my coolant overflow bottle. I used the Rotax one . here is a pic of the 3 I ordered. 2 go back.

Inside the Souza gearbox.

[CLS447]

Coolflex hoses are real nice. Just bend them anyway you need. I near fell over when I lookked at the price on the invoice... $301 & that doesn't include the 6 3/4" hose ends that are backordered. That's another $171. Wow I missed those prices on the website. Too late now, I like them!

Here's a freind with his 2 crazy Jack Russels... Mother & daughter!

Changing the rad hose.

Swapping wheels on the prerotators, the 447 had a harder compound that might allow me to feather it in better. The Darnell wheel is a little to sticky & was getting torn up due to very aggressive P.R.tations. I think the darnell wheel will work better on the 447's system.

[StanFoster]

Chris: Nice work...you have a good looking gyro there.... :D

Stan

[CLS447]

Thanks Stan, I hope someday we can exchange rides!

I am hoping that with 2 people I can throttle back for cruise, What are your cruise RPM's, solo & 2 up ?

How much coolant does your machine hold? Do you get alot of overflow into your mast tank?

I sure can't wait till I am flying as much as you. Here is my winter project... KB-2 with direct drive EA-81. I am going to rebuild the engine myself.

Good luck with your new project.

Do you have an oil temp gauge? I've been thinking about an oil cooler.

[Screw]

Screw-In

I hope you will start a thread on your KB-2 and let us know how it comming. It looks good Chris, both of them. Do your still have that single place A/C?

Screw-Out

[Vance]

Hi Chris, That is a very handsom redrive. I have always wondered how much difference the prop turning opposite direction of the engine makes and what are the avantages and disadvantages. Torque is such an interesting force. I try to imagin having the torque from acceleration move in and out of the torque from trying to turn the prop and the effect that it would have on the airframe. I would be gratefull for any information on this. Thank You, Vance

[StanFoster]

Chris: I usually cruise 4200-4600 depending on if I have a headwind and want to get somewhere faster. :D

I fly with around 4700 with my 270 pound son aboard. It will maintain altitude at 4500 on a warm day...because we just tried it.

I dont recall my coolant capacity...but I just added equal amounts od distilled water and silica free "red" antifreeze. My overflow is on the mast and probably just a pint and a half is up there.

I do not have an oil temp gauge...my water gauge always around 185-190.

I am looking forward to working on my other RAF. It will be a fun project...I am still locating a Parham or Martin stab for it.

Stan

[CLS447]

Vance, I don't notice anything but smooth power, but I will try to pay attention to this for you.

John, I will start a thread for the KB-2, as soon as I start building it.

Yes I have the 447, I flew it last night & plan to fly it alot this weekend. The rubber Darnel wheel works great on the PR . I don't think it has ever worked this well.

I plan on flying the SxS again today.... wish me luck! I definitely want to bring it to ROC.

[barnstorm2]

Have a good time flying Chris! Take some pictures for us!

[CLS447]

Hi Tim & everyone ! I put some time on the SxS today. Tried flying without the cement bag , A roll trim would be nice ! I then installed the 100# bag.

Everything is working well.... the 1 Qt. expansion tank ended up half full. I imagine it should be close to empty in the morning. No leaks going on except for what appears to be a small coolant seepage at the base of my Souza intake. I hope it seals up , if not I hope to let it go till winter.

Shar & my older brother both got rides in a trike. 2 flyins tommorrow , I may try to get to both to see which is better but I'll be driving. One at Easton,EAA chapter 70 & one at Pottstown-Limerick. Larry B. is flying his RAF to Pottstown.

Then its back to Kutztown for more confidence building in the SxS. She climbs nice at 50 mph but if I lose speed her climb really drops off. I'm gonna have to learn to fly her faster. I may back off a degree on the prop.... she was only turning 5060 today.

Otherwise, no stick shake, very solid & forgiving , Lands nicely, engine is running smoothly. Nothing left to do but practice , practice, practice.....& get ready for ROC !!! It might just be me but I WANT MORE POWER !!!!!!! Maybe a Prince prop....Hmmm?

[CLS447]

Some more photos.

[quadrirotor]

Did you try to fly in the right seat (to counter the torque), without any added weight?

[CLS447]

Andre, Right now I am flying with a single , center mounted stick. I am right handed so I will not try flying left handed.

We went to 2 flyins today. Tristen & Shar both got a ride in an Enstrom Heli. Well worth the $20 for both. Then at Easton Tristen got a free First Eagles ride in a Cessna. We had alot of fun.

Then we went & got the SxS out & right after I took this pic , I broke my prerotator. I will explain the details later I am tired. It should be an easy fix/ improvement. The rubber wheel is just too grabby. But I am still very impressed with this AC high torque PR. It just needs something to slip, like the clutch plates on the RAF. Where does the hydraulic ones get their slip?

[barnstorm2]

Great shots Chris!

Looks like things are comming along great!

[StanFoster]

Chris: Way to go....looking good. :D

Stan

[GyroRon]

Hydro pre rotators get their slip from Easing into Pre rotations. Slip the belt in and out till the blades are fast enough to pull in the handle tight so as not to overstress any part of the system. Can you not do the same with your Aircommand unit, or does it want to pull the rubber puck wheel into the drive drum when you pull in the handle?

[Steven_Kozned]

Chris,
GREAT pictures, what a nice gyroplane! I like your instrument pod. Please can you tell where you sourced that?
:)

[CLS447]

Good morning guys, & thanks for the responces.

Ron, I was discussing this with my brother last night. With the RAF you can get slip with the clutch plates. With the Dom system, you use a slipping belt with idler pulley, Right? So you can just let the belt slip a little till you are up to speed. But lets say you drove the hydro pump with a solid PTO .. would there be any slip or give there? Maybe through a relief or pressure adjustment?

As soon as my sticky rubber wheel contacts... Bam it kicks in & I am not spinning DW's. My SC's weigh 86 lbs! So I have to be careful & start them at Idle & slowly bring up motor RPM. Even after they are started , I really should not let off on the PR. If I do & then add throttle , There is no way to "feather" in the PR.

What I need is a harder compound on the small wheel that slips a little. What happened was there was too much force on the bendix gear & the tubular shaft that it rides up on snapped at the groove where there was a snap ring installed. This was just below the upper support bearing for that shaft. I want to have a solid shaft made for this instead of the light wall tubular one. A harder wheel would also let the excess force to be bled off in the form of slip. Make sense ?

I will take some pics. I am gonna call AC & see if he can ship a new drive today. Also, I need to call Wunderlich to see about getting the Kryptonic wheel like was on my 447. Mine is a litte out of round & the High torque unit did not like the bumps. In the meantime I will have the machine shop round out the one I have on the lathe.

I suppose Maxie & Dan L. are doing alright with theirs due to the fact that they are spinning up the much lighter Dw's. If you could ask them how they use theirs or I will ask myself when I corner them at ROC!

I am glad this happened now & not down in Aiken. This is probably a car part I can get locally but I will solve this & be back in the air quickly I hope.

Tonight is the first showing of my new machine at my EAA chapter meeting, unfortunately I won't be able to give them a flight demo. I am not gonna hand start those blades but I will run the engine for them.

I am looking into putting a larger wheel on the nose. My small nosewheel may be great on paved surfaces but it takes a beating on the grass surface.


Look at the commotion these gyros start!

That is our Nuc plant at Limerick.

[GyroRon]

Chris the hydro unit by itself won't slip without some modifications. Sounds like your rubber wheel may be too soft and sticky, but either way I would think that if you leave the engine at idle and try bringing in the pre rotator just a tad at a time, the blades will end up spinning at a RRPM to match being able to lock in the pre rotator at idle and then use the throttle to bring the RRPM up higher by SLOWLY advancing the throttle.

Maxie and Dans machines have Clutches in the gearboxs so they can pull in the pre rotator and THEN add power, allowing the Clutch to do the slipping. BUT.... I don't think they do it that way cause it would wear down a expensive clutch real fast. I think they do it as I mentioned above, a tad at a time till the speeds match for solid lockup.

Also those Sportcopter blades will handstart fairly easy. Especially if there is a wind blowing. You may not want to give rides with it this way cause it will be a workout, but you should be able to do a demo flight or two without too much trouble.

[darrellwittke]

Say, if you're going to have it lathed why not have shallow grooves cut in it? This should cut down initial contact area and may allow easing into it. Remember not to have drum grooved also or you guarantee lock-up probaly. Good luck.

[CLS447]

The Kryptonics wheel is a much harder compound. It should allow some slip without grooving it. AC is shipping a replacement bendix shaft overnight. But I am having a solid shaft made up also.

I showed my gyro at my Eaa meeting last night. Those FW guys liked it more than I thought they would. Now I wonder who would really go up with me?

I actually got a few to sit in it!

[barnstorm2]

Great pictures Chris!

I would like to get bigger tires for my front wheel and my mains. If you have a source and price PLEASE share with me.

[scottessex]

Get some garden tractor turf tires! :)

Looks real good, are you going to be at ROC?

[CLS447]

Scott, I absolutely am planning on bringing the SxS to ROC unless something really bad stops me !!!!!!

Tim, If you don't have a LEAF & CPS catalog , I strongly suggest you call for them today!

I am really happy with my Hegar mains & brakes. I think I will be getting a Hegar nosewheel to match. I want to stay with a narrow tire but I am not sure how much larger I can go with my diameter without having my whole front fork remade. Heck, until I get back to the Hanger , I can't even tell you what is on it now, but it is a little small for turf.

When I hit the power & start rolling, I am watching the nose assembly. I know you can't see yours , but let me tell you, not only is there an up & down movement with the springs but there is a front & back thing going on also. Keep a close eye on your welded nose "socket". I dread the thought of the early Sparrowhawk syndrom. You know , the one where the front wheel folds under unexpectedly, & the whole machine goes to hell!

One smart club member suggested the same thing I had thought of earlier.... Add a brace like they did with the Sparrowhawk. Maybe I'm just...How you say....PARANOID.

I really would love to stop adding weight to her but it's all in the name of safety. I'll keep you posted on what I do. I will get you that redrive offset as soon as my "crew" reminds me.

My parts are not done yet so it's off to work I go!!!

[StanFoster]

Chris: Nice pictures once again. When I have flown into a fly-in..it seems the gyrocopter gets more questions asked about than all the others. I am amazed how unknown these things are in the general public.

See you at Mentone 2005. :)

Stan

[CLS447]

I've got things working well & she is flying nicely . I can't wait to show it at ROC! Here's some pics.

there's my freind with his new prosthetic leg...... he's gonna have to lose some weight!

[barnstorm2]

Looking great Chris!!!

Your killing me though! I am sooo depressed. My redrive arrived yesterday and the weather is set to be perfect this weekend but he forgot to ship one of the parts back that I sent him so NO GO. sigh.....

For the want of a nail the shoe was lost......

[CLS447]

Thanks ,Tim! Did you read my thread under props?

I really want to talk to you on the phone about your gyro. Maybe I'll call you early Sun. morn.

Sorry to hear you're not back in the SxS yet .

[CLS447]

I recieved my Hegar wheel & tire from LEAF. Both wheel halves have valve stem holes so I called them immediately. They had this problem before. So she went & found a good pair. Said she would ship the right half pronto.

I told her to hold off because I'm not sure if this combo is gonna be to wide for my axle setup. I may keep it & have my front fork remade this winter with a 2 sided fork & have it bent to allow a wider tire & wheel like the one I just got. Then I will fear no turf!

I can see why Air Command used the small wheel that they did though.

[CLS447]

Bumping thread up.