Question about Brakes

[Gyro-nut]

Hey gang, I'm working on a CLT upgrade to a used A/C 447.
While I have it all apart, I would also like to change out the brake pads.

I called Doug at AC and he stated these brakes haven't been used in something like 14 years.

Attached are a few photos of the brake system.... anybody have any ideas as to where I may find some new pads for them???? or a modification that might work? A/C want 750 bucks to upgrade to the newer style... I'll go with the Fred Flinstone method before that

[Bob]

Jim...
Ya might look at Nothern tools and Equipment Co. 1-800-533-5545 or northerntool.com.....
page 121 in there catalog has a disk unit similar to yours not exact... for $31.99 ( item # 13833-1501 )

Prehaps you can use them or swap pieces ?

good luck to ya !
Bob.......

[scottessex]

Measure the pucks, i can't tell from the pics but try this and look around.
www.mfgsupply.com

http://www.mfgsupply.com/GoMiniBrake...on_id=BpqGTjE7




..

[Doug Riley]

I believe the old Air Command hydraulic brakes were Matco brand. The ultralight suppliers used to carry them; don't know if they still do.

[Sonnyj]

Gyro-Nut
Have a look at www.mico.com

Sonny

[C. Beaty]

If the brake pads are simple drop-in pucks, wood will work about as well as anything else.

Ideally, machined from birch with grain running the same way as the axle.

If you don’t have a lathe and the caliper bores are some whole fraction of an inch, hardwood dowels can be sawn to the correct length.

Wood won’t last as long as proper friction material but it’s cheap and replacement looks easy.

[Gyro-nut]

Great idea! I may have to give that a try.

I just ordered a few pads from the link that Scott has posted above that are very similar to my pucks (1/8" too large).

If I can't get them milled down very easily, I'm going to take a shot at your wood puck idea.

Has anybody else used this method? What kind of life expectancy would we get?? If they last a little while; it'll be worth it just from a cut and place aspect. However, these brakes aren't easy to change (the brake caliper is mounted in the triangular brace at the wheel.... removing the bolt to take the disc out is not an easy task as the weight of the gyro comes slamming down on your unsuspecting fingers... not that it's happened to me )

Thanks for your input! Wood... it does a gyro good

[C. Beaty]

The Bensen B-8 used a piece of 3/8” plywood that scrubbed the nosewheel for a brake. Good for about a year so the comedians called them goodyear brakes.

A gyro isn’t very demanding when it comes to brakes; the landing speed is low and the rotor itself is a good airbrake.

The main need for brakes is to hold the machine stationary while the engine is being run up or during prerotation. There is no wear on the pucks unless the wheels are turning.

[Ron Iaconis]

Chuck, I took a photo of your one gyro that has mechanical brakes. The ones that apply a steel plate against the tire( individual main wheel brakes), that gyro that has a tail that's way back and the keel has been moved to the top of the mast, you know which one I mean. Well anyway I incoorporated that system onto my lates gyro design, and it works super, thanks for the ideas, Chuck.

[Timchick]

Can you show a closeup of those type brakes?

[Ron Iaconis]

OK,well this is the only shots I have of My Brakes and Chuck Beaty's

[davreich]

Hi, There are some interesting disk brake kits on the phantom website.

http://www.phantomaeronautics.com/

[Aussie_Paul]

Originally Posted by Gyro-nut

Hey gang, I'm working on a CLT upgrade to a used A/C 447.
While I have it all apart, I would also like to change out the brake pads.

I called Doug at AC and he stated these brakes haven't been used in something like 14 years.

Attached are a few photos of the brake system.... anybody have any ideas as to where I may find some new pads for them???? or a modification that might work? A/C want 750 bucks to upgrade to the newer style... I'll go with the Fred Flinstone method before that

...I ran and Air Command HTLM side by side trainer for n1500 hours in the late 80s and early 90s. I bought brake pad material of the correct thickness and cut the pads out with a hole saw. At first I used a washer placed between the piston and the pad. That gave me a few more hours until I found the brake pad material to cut my own.

Aussie Paul.

My modfified Air Command in 1995.

[Canadian Rhino]

I have used hockey stick handles for sliders under a snowmobile for running on lake ice. The regular hyfax stuff would just melt under these conditions with no snow for cooling. The wooden sticks would last a long time doing that so I would bet they would work real good as brake pads. I can remember the old timers talking about things like hardwood and leather used in bearing applications.

[mikegrady]

I came from racing dirt karts. You can go to www.hegar4.com to see some brakes. You will have to search around. There are also other brakes out there. Paul Martin is one of the top manufacturers of brakes for karts in the USA. You could most likely use some of his pads.....less than $30 a set and cut them down on a mill easily. I would use this before I go to the wood. I have only been around this stuff a little BUT I am seeing many things that really would transfer over to light aircraft very well. If you could post the appoximate size and a picture of the pad, I would bet I could find something that could work for you.
Good Luck,
Mike Grady