Spring Steel Landing Gear
The engine mount is now back from finish welding. I decided to add a torsion strap (see pic). I added a bushing on the outside (see pic bottom right). A slot will be cut through this, slotting through the socket, too. A pinch bolt would then be utilized through the bushing. I am not going to utilize this, for now. It might come in handy, later down the road...
Prior to modification, the engine mount weighed 8 pounds. It now weighs just over 17 pounds. This gives me a total weight for landing gear modification of almost 48 pounds. About the same weight, and a lot cheaper than the Groves gear. If I missed anything from the following comparison, please let me know.
Comparison:
Groves Gear
00.30 - 0.90 4130 various small fillers (ballpark)
39.00 - alum gear (for 1800GW)
00.92 - tube 4130 3/4x0.49x30"
00.60 - tube 4130 3/4x0.35x27"
00.21 - tube 4130 7/8x0.49x6"
00.85 - tube 4130 3/4x1.88x9"
01.30 - support channel 4130 2.5x10x0.90 2 of
00.86 - clamp plate 4130 1.75x7x0.375 2 of
00.65 - bolt nut washer AN6-42A 4 of
02.56 - grove axle 2 of
00.48 - alum bearing block 1x1x1.25 4 of
00.24 - alum radius plates 1.5x7x.250 4 of
n/a - brake linings (gun drilled)
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47.97
Spring round tapered steel (RV/Wittman style)
35.80 - legs 2 of (custom made for Skybolt S 1800GW)
00.25 - bolt nut washer 4 of (ballpark)
00.30 - 0.90 4130 gussetts
02.00 - fairings & wood (competition balsa) dampers
00.30 - brake linings (best guess)
9.30 - engine mount weight difference (sockets, brace trubes)
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43.85 47.95