REFLECTOR: tow bar attachment

Thu Dec 13 08:10:23 CST 2007

Terry,

I've been using this tow bar arrangement for 3 years now with nary a 
problem.

Scott

Terry Miles wrote:
> Thanks Scott.  I'm glad to see this solution seems to be OK.  I appreciate
> your time.  Those are first pics I've seen of your bird too.  Very nice.
> Terry.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
> Behalf Of Scott Derrick
> Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 10:56 AM
> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
> Subject: REFLECTOR: tow bar attachment
> 
> Terry,
> 
> here is my solution, you can use a regular Cessna style tow bar on this 
> setup.
> 
> http://www.tnstaafl.net/canards/fork_attachment.jpg
> 
> Here is a powered tow bar I use, hooked up for towing
> 
> http://www.tnstaafl.net/canards/rightside.jpg
> 
> close up
> 
> http://www.tnstaafl.net/canards/tow1.jpg
> 
> I drilled two apposing holes about 3/4 inch deep and tapped for 1/4x20. 
>   Those are Allan head screws put in with a dab of locktight.
> 
> Scott
> 
> 
> Terry Miles wrote:
>> Dear Al,
>>
>>  
>>
>> OK, OK,  I am buying!  Yer right.  I need to proof read before I hit 
>> “send.”  Thanks, Al, that’s actually where I am headed next on the door 
>> seals.  My McM-Carr sticky strip still has possibilities to explore when 
>> applied on one mating face or the other and/or in combo with the factory 
>> u-channel seal  …I just thought I’d  check in and see. 
>>
>>  
>>
>> Oh, and every time I look at toe bars (!) and the fab efforts needed, I 
>> figure pushing it by hand is the likely solution too!   Dave S’s fork 
>> looks different than the XL fork.  Dave, The XL fork only has tow 
>> (whoops two) flat faces.  The side faces have a pretty deep curve on 
>> them.  I’ve been looking at a C clamp arrangement that would clamp on to 
>> the front and back faces, or (idea #2) some kind of articulating hook to 
>> grab the axle sleeves on either side of the tire, but a tow bar has to 
>> both push and pull and those sleeves might get beat up. 
>>
>>  
>>
>> A QC guy with Lockheed Martin and a local RV7 builder/flyer thought that 
>> ¼ holes drilled right in middle of side braces (not the top fitting) 
>> would not compromise overall component strength.  I would need to find 
>> out more on the fork material specs before I did that.  His idea was to 
>> have the tow bar be the male of the fitting with steal rod going into 
>> the drilled holes.  I’d be afraid of elongation and other stresses and 
>> didn’t like that idea. 
>>
>>  
>>
>> I am actually more engaged in the flying now, but I had some dead time 
>> yesterday afternoon waiting for glue to set up and waiting for the FedEx 
>> driver to get over here w/ my updated autopilot head, so I got to 
>> looking at it again.  Truth is, I have a big chunk of ¼ steel plate 
>> maybe 5 inches wide by 5 feet long and I keep thinking that I just need 
>> to keep thinking. 
>>
>>  
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Terry
>>
>>  
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> *From:* reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] 
>> *On Behalf Of *Al Gietzen
>> *Sent:* Saturday, December 08, 2007 9:07 PM
>> *To:* 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
>> *Subject:* Re: REFLECTOR: Of door seals and two bars
>>
>>  
>>
>> Which two bars? Are you buying a round of Christmas cheer?
>>
>>  
>>
>> I don’t know, I figure the best ‘tow bar’ is one hand in the gear door 
>> opening, and one in to the elevator cutout under the canard – then pull.
>>
>>  
>>
>> On the door seal, perhaps some shim under the seal; or a companion flat 
>> strip on the door.
>>
>>  
>>
>> Al
>>
>>  
>>
>> *Subject:* REFLECTOR: Of door seals and two bars
>>
>>  
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I know it must be somewhere in the archives.  I’m not good at that.  
>> Dave Scharenberg, hey, don’t you have pics of your solution for a tow 
>> bar?    …or anybody else?
>>
>>  
>>
>> I can’t find what I saved the last time that topic came around. 
>>
>>  
>>
>> I have the XLRG, and I considering drilling ¼ holes in the fork, smack 
>> in the middle fore/aft and up/down.  That would be my female aperture, 
>> and I would then make the tow bar with ¼ steel rod and some kind of 
>> articulation to go into the holes drilled in the side of the folks.  I 
>> fear with time (push/pull/twist) that I would beat the crap out of my ¼ 
>> inch hole and maybe elongate it or worse introduce stress cracks in the 
>> fork material.. 
>>
>>  
>>
>> Could I please ask what others have done on this?
>>
>>  
>>
>> New topic:  Door seals, and sealing out the rain.  What’s the magic 
>> there?  I see that it is easy to have the u-form of the door seal spread 
>> open on you.  Also it’s easy not to get a shoved all the way in the 
>> corner door corners.  When I pour a glass of water along the top edge of 
>> the door,  I now think the water is going up over the top of seal rather 
>> than leaking thru it which was my first guess.  I think I have a gap 
>> between the top of my door outboard of the dee-tube and the sealed 
>> fuselage flange where the seal is.   
>>
>>  
>>
>> I am a willing listener! 
>>
>>  
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Terrys
>>
>>  
>>
>>  
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> To change your email address, visit
> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
>> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
>> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
>> Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
> 

-- 

-
     The antidote for misuse of freedom of speech is more freedom of speech.

     Molly Ivans