Zenith Doughnut Front Gear Question
I have seen this question asked here before, but could not locate through search.I am replacing my 650's bungee on the front gear with the new Zenith rubber cushion system.As I am installing the spacers and rubber cushions, the uppermost round aluminum spacer is hitting the rear 2 center A-6 rivet tails on the back edge of the underside of the new upper stop.How are you early builders solving this?Trim spacer to a smaller outer diameter.Pull the above mentioned rear center two A-6 rivet…See More
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Landed at your airport yesterday - nice airport with great taxiway! Really good to be back in the plane after a nasty Winter...
Thanks for the reply Jerry. I have started on the 650 and plan to use the 350i. I picked
up the kit last week and Roger also indicated that he felt the 350i was enough engine.
I am mostly retired and am building another plane for the enjoyment of building and will
probably sell it - not wanting fuel to be an issue.
Thanks again,
Robert
I am satisfied with the horsepower of the 350i in my 650.
Both my wife and I are not large people so we can put 30 gallons of fuel along with 50 or so pounds of luggage and have good performance.
Living in the flat Midwest helps.
I chose the 350i for the reason you express. No access to 93 octane, but if I new I could have been OK with 91 in the 350iS, I would have certainly opted for more HP for only a few dollars more.
It’s hard to ever have enough HP .
Back to answer your question. Again, I feel 350i is more than adequate for the 650 if flown within its weight limits and not crossing mountain passes at summer temps, though I do hope to try going west in the future.
Jerry
Hi Jerold,
Would just like to get your opinion? I live at Wamego, KS which is near Manhattan,
and talked to you at the Zenith fly-in in September. You really did a great job on your
plane and I’m just curious if you are satisfied with the power of the 350i? I built a stol
750 last year and installed the 350is engine and, with 75 hours on it, I love the power,
but am running 91 octane fuel because I can’t get 93 octane around here. Anyway,
I am picking up a 650 kit next week which I plan to take a couple years to build and
hope to make it look as good as yours, fly the 40 hours off, sell it and maybe recoup
me investment. The fuel issue is why I am considering the 350i and assuming it still
has good power for that plane. Would really appreciate your opinion.
Robert
Jerry,
Did you get your flap bearings installed? I am ready to do mine. Could you send some pics of the alignment and install? And, any measurements?
Thanks,
Jim Snyder
All parts came from Aircraft Spruce.
Here are some pictures.
Steve
The gear in the most forward position moved the final distance from the datum (leading edge at the 4th rib) 5.75 inches more forward which took 100 lbs off the nose gear to the mains.(will vary w engine choice) This really helps when you rotate. Prior to reversal you still had to pull the nose off the ground and when landing you could not keep the nose wheel up without adding power. Much better especially on grass strips. Tail of aircraft sits approx 6 inches lower while on the ground which is below level.
Jerry, I have a 601XL-B. During construction I had to make a canopy adjusement due to minimal edge clearance for the 5/16 inch drilled mounting holes. I used 1/2 inch rolled copper plumbing tubing to make the initial curves that were necessary to get the fit then bent the aluminium bow to match that in the shop.
Gary Ray
Ken
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