KR> axle identification?

[Mark Langford]

I wrote:

>Can anybody identify the maker of the axle in the enclosed photo, and 
>perhaps the source of another one?

So in the last few days I've searched around quite a bit, given that I've 
been quarantined at home with Norovirus.  Matco says "never made that", 
Tracy O'Brien says "nothing like it", not a Grove, Cleveland, nor 
Quicksilver. Steve Glover thinks it may be a Diehl, and may have one he can 
send me if he can locate it.  I have a lathe and could make a new one, but 
my workload doesn't make that appealing, as there's an awful lot of material 
that would need to be removed to get there, given that I'd have to start 
with 2.5" diameter round stock and turn most of it down to 5/8".

Or I could just heat it cherry red and whack it back to almost straight and 
be happy, but I'm a little concerned about heat treatment.  Given how weak 
the material apparently is, it's  fairly mild steel anyway.  For the moment 
I've done what any smart KR builder would have done...rotated it 180 degrees 
and now the wheels are almost perfectly vertical, rather than cambered out 
at the bottom.  I may just leave it that way too!  The alignment was out of 
whack before I disassembled everything (toed out, which explains a lot), so 
once I get it back to the airport with wings, full fuel, and a pilot in the 
seat, I'll check alignment again and make some aluminum shims to nail it 
down perfectly.

For those interested in alignment, see how I did N56ML's at 
http://www.n56ml.com/kgear.html .   A cheap laser level from Harbor Freight 
was used to project a laser line from the outer edge of the wheels or tires, 
with reproducibly good results.  I did the same thing last night on N891JF 
(darkness helps to see the laser line), and it took about 15 minutes total, 
and was very informative.  With no load and no shims, the pilot's side is 
toed in 4.8 degrees and the passenger side is toed in 3.1 degrees.  The 
wheels are both within a degree of vertical, but loading it will certainly 
change all of this enough to warrant waiting til it's "ready to fly" before 
checking again and correcting.

The entire brake system has now been rebuilt to almost new condition and is 
mostly reinstalled, so progress is being made.  I guess the same could be 
said for the whole airplane... I'll have an entirely new KR2 when I'm 
finished...

Mark Langford
ML at N56ML.com
website at http://www.N56ML.com
 

KR> axle identification?

[David Boyer]

The axle looks like early Matco A series .

-Original Message-
From: KRnet [mailto:krnet-bounces at list.krnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark Langford
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2013 11:03 AM
To: KRnet
Subject: KR> axle identification?

Can anybody identify the maker of the axle in the enclosed photo, and
perhaps the source of another one?  A used one would be fine too. It's 5/8"
diameter and a total length of 5.75".  Bolt pattern is 2" center to center
(across the diameter).  This one's bent three degrees...apparently a hard
landing in a previous life.   I thought it may have been made by Azusa, but
they don't make one with a flange like this.  Any help would be
appreciated...

Thanks,

Mark Langford
ML at N56ML.com
website at http://www.N56ML.com 

KR> axle identification?

[Mark Langford]

Can anybody identify the maker of the axle in the enclosed photo, and perhaps 
the source of another one?  A used one would be fine too. It's 5/8" diameter 
and a total length of 5.75".  Bolt pattern is 2" center to center (across the 
diameter).  This one's bent three degrees...apparently a hard landing in a 
previous life.   I thought it may have been made by Azusa, but they don't make 
one with a flange like this.  Any help would be appreciated...

Thanks,

Mark Langford
ML at N56ML.com
website at http://www.N56ML.com 


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KR> Axle

[Colin & Bev Rainey]

Eduardo
Richard Finch reports how several builders have used the common 9 inch Ford 
station wagon or truck axle with success. It is bi-metal so it will flex with 
loads instead of breaking, is rated for far more than the prop stress, and has 
its own bearing assembly that is bolted on to the outer plate of the PSRU.  
Have a machine shop spline the axle to match the top gear, and taper the end to 
go in the seat of the support bearing on the rear of the shaft, again Finch 
mentions use of the larger inner bearing of the front spindle assembly from the 
same vehicle in a custom housing made to allow the bearing race to be tapped 
into it, and then the bearing installed from the inside of the 2 plates, with a 
solid backing plate, and an axle seal on the inside that the axle passes 
through, and seats in the bearing.
Pictures and more details are available in the book by Richard Finch, 
Converting Auto Engines for Experimental Aircraft
AS&S, Wicks, and Sportys all carry his book.

crain...@cfl.rr.com
http://kr-builder.org/Colin/index.html
KR2(td) N96TA
Sanford, FL
Apex Lending, Inc.
407-323-6960 (p)
407-557-3260 (f)
crai...@apexlending.com

KR>axle shims

[larry flesner]

Netters,

Recent posting discussed the use of axle shims for adjusting
the caster and camber of the main gear.  I was just at the 
RV homepage checking on some wheel pants and learned that
Vans sells shim stock in 1 degree and .5 degree tappers for
adjusting caster and camber and they sell for $8 each.  If these
are compatable with your axles it would be the best price I've
seen on shims anywhere.  You might want to check them out.
They are under airframe accessories if my memory is correct.

Larry Flesner