REFLECTOR: Front fixed gear question

[Dennis Martin]

Thanks for the tips, Grover. I followed all of the points you mentioned.
Without question one sleeve of weights was not enough to balance my wheel.
I was surprised how much lead it required, but what to do? The wheel is now
balanced  - as perfectly as can be done without using a pro balancing
machine. No tire shops or even motor cycle shops could do it. I'll conduct
some fast taxi tests before flying again and keep you all informed. My V is
grounded another week - the PSRU is in the shop.

Dennis


On Tue, May 22, 2012 at 10:26 AM, Grover McNair <
grover at mcnairperformance.com> wrote:

> ** **
>
> A note on balancing wheels: Weights should be put on opposite the low
> spot. That would be 180 degrees from the bottom point. An equal amount of
> weight should be used on both sides of the wheel to avoid a dynamic
> imbalance.****
>
> In balancing a car tire, it rarely takes more than 3-4oz. Usually 1-2oz.
> One stick of stick on weights is 1.5oz. They are segmented in .25oz pieces.
>  If you use more than a stick, I would be very concerned that something was
> wrong with the structure of the tire or perhaps it might have a bad flat
> spot. Normally balancing a small aviation tire should take less than 1oz.*
> ***
>
> Grover McNair****
>
> ** **
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Dennis Martin
> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 22, 2012 12:08 PM
>
> *To:* Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
> *Subject:* Re: REFLECTOR: Front fixed gear question****
>
>  ** **
>
> Definitely install washers. I called factory to make sure. I installed two
> fairly thick washers on my fixed gear Elite, and it works great.
>
> Here's a true story. A friend from **Salt Lake City** flew down to ****
> Provo**** area where I'm located (40 miles). His front tire went flat and
> asked if he could borrow my front gear fork, wheel and all. As we installed
> it on his retractable and resisted the urge to retract. I noticed the slop
> in the wheel and suggested we fix it. He laughed it off, but almost wet his
> pants when he landed in SLC. Horrible shimmy he'll never forget.
>
> BALANCING FRONT GEAR: I took advice of one of our builders and used
> adhesive lead weights to balance the front wheel. I bought the weights from
> the local auto repair shop for $1.50 a sleeve. Very easy task - just leave
> the wheel on the fork and jack up the front of the plane a few inches. I
> spun the wheel to find the "bottoming" spot - then marked it with a magic
> marker. Each time I spun the wheel, the mark ended up at the bottom with
> 100% consistency. I added weights to the bottoming spot until the wheel
> behaved. My wheel was way out of balance and required about two full
> sleeves of weights, so buy two or three sleeves. Also, apply weights in the
> center of the aluminum wheel and move outward both left and right. Cut
> weights in half to make them fit the outside part of the rim where spokes
> get in the way.
>
> All the best,
> Dennis
>
>
> ****
>
> On Tue, May 22, 2012 at 8:00 AM, Chris Barber <cbarber at texasattorney.net>
> wrote:****
>
> My hangar mate noticed a concern regarding my front gear on my fixed gear
> SE.  Since I am doing some cooling mods before continuing high speed taxi,
> it gave him the opportunity to mention it to me before I careen off the
> runway....****
>
>  ****
>
> Anyway, I have had the front gear installed for years.  I included the two
> spacer that go on each side of the axel that help hold in the bearings
> inside the rim.  What was noted was that there is about a quarter inch
> space on the axel that allows the bearing to move out of the wheel even
> with the spacers in place.  It still rolls ok but it does allow the wheel
> to shift a bit back and forth on the axel as it moves.  I hope I am
> explaining this ok.****
>
>  ****
>
> Is this ok, or should I install a couple of shims/washers to keep the
> wheel from shifting back and forth?****
>
>  ****
>
> Thanks.****
>
>  ****
>
> Chris****
>
>  ****
>
>
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>
>
>
>
> --
> All the best,
> Dennis****
>
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-- 
All the best,
Dennis
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