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Flyboy Accessories’ wood gear leg stiffener question

scrollF4

scrollF4

Moderator, Asst. Line Boy
Benefactor
For those of you who have applied these wooden slats: I know they’re meant to be fastened to the gear leg with fiberglass tape.
However, has anybody fastened it with powerful cloth tape like Gorilla tape or gaffers tape (making it removable and adjustable)?
Did it successfully dampen the gear leg oscillation?
I’m asking for actual experience here, not opinions on whether it ought or ought not work.
 
Colonel, does it have the shimmy?
If not, don't bother.
If so, run a search for alternate methods. There's another option that works. Basically a 2 X.125 bar attached with adel clamps.
 
A suggestion if you don’t get any first-hand experience Sid - buy some “fiberglass reinforced” packing tape and wrap with that - you’ll probably get close to the same elasticity as with actual glass, and its removable if it doesn’t work. The only thing you have to lose is a few bucks and a little time giving it a try.
 
wirejock said:
Colonel, does it have the shimmy?
If not, don't bother.
If so, run a search for alternate methods. There's another option that works. Basically a 2 X.125 bar attached with adel clamps.
Click to expand...
Dubya-J,
The shimmy is there on the right side, although it is a new development. I'm actually inclined to remove both wheel/tire assemblies and take 'em to the tire shop for balancing. If that doesn't fix it, I'll then go the stiffener route. I tried the adel clamp/bar method once before but I didn't like the outcome.

Ironflight said:
A suggestion if you don’t get any first-hand experience Sid - buy some “fiberglass reinforced” packing tape and wrap with that - you’ll probably get close to the same elasticity as with actual glass, and its removable if it doesn’t work. The only thing you have to lose is a few bucks and a little time giving it a try.
Click to expand...
Paul,
Thanks for the fiberglass tape idea...I just ordered some. It's good to have around, and I'll try it if the tire balancing doesn't work.
You know, this will be my third set of stiffeners. I built the aircraft with the first set that I hand-made last decade. They worked great until they basically fell apart under the fairing. I epoxy'd on the 2nd set (the Flyboy set) last year, but didn't get them on straight, creating a naggingly heavy left wing. I cut and sanded them off this spring, giving me perfectly balanced roll trim but a big oscillation on the right main at 23 knots groundspeed. Let's see how this tape works out.
 
Carbon fiber and epoxy is how attached DIY wood stiffeners onto my RV-4's gear legs 30 yrs ago. I had a wood working friend make them, they had taper in two directions and matched the radius of the tapered gear...

I am going without on my current RV-7... save time, weight, but I will check tire wheel balance statically very carefully.
 
scrollF4 said:
For those of you who have applied these wooden slats: I know they’re meant to be fastened to the gear leg with fiberglass tape.
However, has anybody fastened it with powerful cloth tape like Gorilla tape or gaffers tape (making it removable and adjustable)?
Did it successfully dampen the gear leg oscillation?
I’m asking for actual experience here, not opinions on whether it ought or ought not work.
Click to expand...
I used tie wraps. Still holding strong after 1600 hours. I installed them during construction and have never had a shimmy. Can’t say that the dampers are the reason though, as I have never flown without them.
 
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