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Streamline Lift Struts / (sleeves)Homemade

 
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planecrazzzy
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:52 pm    Post subject: Streamline Lift Struts / (sleeves)Homemade Reply with quote

Hey guys,

I've been making some streamline lift struts(sleeves) for my Firestar II

When I fly with the "stock" lift struts...They sometimes start to

vibrate and wiggle in flight.....I bought some aluminum and sheared

two pieces 70" x 9 1/4" ....I put them thru the rollers a few times

until they had about a 20" radius to them,Then with a "knife edge"

and a rubber lower die....I bent them in half in the Break.....

I was experimenting with the TIG , to get it small enough to weld

the seam, I wasn't having much luck with the machine "I" had...So I

used the MIG gun....Dialed it in and had a pretty good bead going.

Then I've been working on cleaning them up and polishing them...

I'm waiting on some AN bolts...Their ready to put on....LATER ,

I'm thinking of making some fairings to extend the streamline struts

to a smoother finish.....I haven't seen ANYBODY try to clean that

area up,I think it looks kind of funny when the streamline just stops...


Gotta Fly...
Mike in MN

PS It was 12 bucks worth of aluminum...and working thru lunches...
.
.
.
.


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John Hauck



Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Streamline Lift Struts / (sleeves)Homemade Reply with quote

Fairings turned out great!

What thickness alumuninum sheet did you use?


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John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama
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planecrazzzy
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:25 pm    Post subject: Re: Streamline Lift Struts / (sleeves)Homemade Reply with quote

Hi John,
Thanks......

I went to the "Discount Steel" down the street from me....I was looking

For anything in their "Drop" section at least 70" x 18"

I found a piece 70.5" x 18.5 it was 1/16" thick ( 16 gauge ? )

Which was about my limit on thickness..... it's a little thinner since I've

used some 220 with a DA , then scuff pad , then 500 grit wet sand....

They can still use some more polishing...But I'm in the ballpark...
I got the directions from your brother "Jim" to make the lift struts like

you have....but I thought I'd try this first.....If it didn't work... I'd only

be "out" 12 bucks...

.
.
.
Gotta Fly...
Mike in MN / N381PM


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John Hauck



Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:47 pm    Post subject: Re: Streamline Lift Struts / (sleeves)Homemade Reply with quote

Those fairings over some round 4130 lift struts would probably work well. Be nice and solid.

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John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama
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ElleryWeld(at)aol.com
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:43 pm    Post subject: Streamline Lift Struts / (sleeves)Homemade Reply with quote

I would like to add farings to my struts also to make it look better but I
think it would have to be something that one could install easy because I have
to fold & unfold every time I fly wich is often mabe someone in the plastic
molding business can come up with something that just fits tight to the
streamline struts that we could slide up to the wing and down to the cadge anyone got
any leads ? on something like that let us know

Ellery in Maine flying a old firestar but its like new now

do not archive


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planecrazzzy
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Streamline Lift Struts / (sleeves)Homemade Reply with quote

I will be sliding my "stock" lift struts through these "sleeves"....

I will be able to put three ( new, longer ) AN bolts thru the Top of the Lift

strut....but the lower end has the bolts facing towards the rear.....I'm

going to cotter pin those nuts....and cut three inspection holes to see that

things look good..... I fold my plane each time too....

nothing fancy here....just trying to solve the lift strut vibration....

Because the lower bolts don't hold the sleeve....I'll have to see how tight

the sleeve will be , I don't think it's gonna move around...If it does,I'll

put a squeeze on it somehow.... I was thinking about shooting

expanding foam in the gap....but I'm afraid of moister
Gotta Fly...
Mike in MN

PS If you want PVC Streamline Strut Tubing.....

10' sections part # A2685 price $47.49 - in the L.E.A.F. catolog
For tubing Dia from 1" to 2" ......there ya go.


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Possum



Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Georgia

PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:32 pm    Post subject: Re: Streamline Lift Struts / (sleeves)Homemade Reply with quote

planecrazzzy wrote:
Hey guys,

I've been making some streamline lift struts(sleeves) for my Firestar II

When I fly with the "stock" lift struts...They sometimes start to

vibrate and wiggle in flight.....I bought some aluminum and sheared

two pieces 70" x 9 1/4" ....I put them thru the rollers a few times

until they had about a 20" radius to them,Then with a "knife edge"

and a rubber lower die....I bent them in half in the Break.....
.

I did almost the same thing - except used a lot thiner alum - rolled the edges just enough to wrap around the top & bottom of the struts 1/2 inch +-, then bent in half with a "break" like you did. Used rivets to attach to the struts. It also eliminated the vibrating strut problem with out adding more tha a pound of weight. T6061 alum - I think?
Don't have any real close up pictures, the rolled edges are hard to see anyway. It make more of a tear drop shape - but the difference in drag is negligible at our speeds.


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planecrazzzy
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:43 am    Post subject: Re: Streamline Lift Struts / (sleeves)Homemade Reply with quote

Nice Job Possum,
I see you were able to put the lower bolts in it ...


.[/quote]
I did almost the same thing - except used a lot thiner alum - rolled the edges just enough to wrap around the top & bottom of the struts 1/2 inch +-, then bent in half with a "break" like you did. Used rivets to attach to the struts. It also eliminated the vibrating strut problem with out adding more tha a pound of weight. T6061 alum - I think?
Don't have any real close up pictures, the rolled edges are hard to see anyway. It make more of a tear drop shape - but the difference in drag is negligible at our speeds.[/quote]


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