New Fuel Tank and Suspension

[gyropilot]

Hi all,

Just finished a big project of installing a new 10 gallon fuel tank and suspension modification on my Bee. As part of the suspension modification, the landing gear was narrowed to 70" overall width, and Azusa spring/shocks were installed.

The spring/shocks are compressed approx. 1.10" with just the weight of the empty gyro on them... no blades, no fuel, nor pilot. I calculate there's approx. 234 pounds of compression force on each of them in this current configuration. The current observed compression is in perfect agreement with the Azusa compression chart I obtained over the Internet... and right on track for my prediction of 1.9" compression when the gyro is fully loaded.

Check out these pictures:

http://home.usaa.net/~gyropilot001/SpringShocks/IMG_0553.JPG

Close up of spring/shock mounting behind the mast where the original bungie cords and slider plate used to be:

http://home.usaa.net/~gyropilot001/SpringShocks/IMG_0551.JPG

http://home.usaa.net/~gyropilot001/SpringShocks/IMG_0549.JPG

Lower specer/bushings inside adapter:

http://home.usaa.net/~gyropilot001/SpringShocks/IMG_0539.JPG

Regards,

John

[gyropilot]

Drawings of machined parts:

Spring/Shock adapter:

http://home.usaa.net/~gyropilot001/SpringShocks/Adapter.jpg

Upper shock eye bushings:

http://home.usaa.net/~gyropilot001/SpringShocks/UpperBushing.jpg

Lower shock eye bushings:

http://home.usaa.net/~gyropilot001/SpringShocks/LowerBushing.jpg

[ToddP]

John,

That really turned out nice. Like usual, your workmanship is top notch. How much travel are you getting out of the new suspension system? I'm sure the extra fuel will come in handy on more than one occasion.

Nice Work!

[CLS447]

Nice work, John ! How about a before photo to compare with?

[Friendly]

Really nice craftmanship on the gyro. That is some nice color combinations as well. Congradulatons !!! It's great when plan "A" works so well there is no plan "B". I could not tell from the pictures, what secures the tank from horizonial movement to the rear?

[gyropilot]

Answers to questions:

Securing the fuel tank...

The fuel tank sits down into the tray it rests on and it has a 1" deep oval shaped sump on the bottom. It can't move back because it would first have to come upward about 2". It probably could stand to have another strap fore-aft for peace of mind, but it's really not needed and more straps just increase the chance of one finding it's way into the prop someday.

Old suspension...

Attached is an old not-so-good picture taken back when I was constructing my Bee, but it does show you the original version of how the bungie cord / slider suspension was set up.

Regards,

John L.

[CLS447]

Thanks John, I like your new system alot better!

[DougKspokane]

Did I read that right: 234# empty? So, other than the 10-gallons of fuel, it would still quality "ultralight"? How does he DO that?!

[gyropilot]

Doug K. said:
Did I read that right: 234# empty? So, other than the 10-gallons of fuel, it would still quality "ultralight"? How does he DO that?!
Doug,

That's 234 pound of COMPRESSION FORCE on each spring/shock when the gyro is sitting there empty with no blades. That's NOT 234 pounds of gyro weight. The empty weight of my gyro with blades is about 310 pounds, but I need to reweigh it and fill out a new weight and balance sheet since making all of these modifications.

My gyro ceased to be an UL long before it was even finished!

Regards,

John L.