Bungee

[lake_harley]

Just acquired a Model II Kitfox and will need to replace the landing gear Bungees. Has anyone made up their own from bungee cord that is sold by the foot. If yes, what diameter did you use....the current cords appear to be about 5/8" diameter. Thinking the old ones are somewhat stretched out to use for patterns, so how long do they need to be loop-to-loop if it's practical to make them rather than just buying them from Kitfox? I think they get $85 or $95 for a pair.

Thanks, in advance.

[HighWing]

Lynn,
I sent an email.

[lake_harley]

E-mail received....I appreciate the information!

Lynn

[SkyPirate]

welcome to the forum neighbor,,Im due west in phelps county..I use to own a model 2 ..still kick myself in the back side for selling,,loved it~!!

[lake_harley]

Thanks for the welcome SkyPirate. Phelps Co....please refresh my memory, how far is Edgar Springs from Rolla?

I guess I should have said I'm 1/2 owner of the Kitfox II in my original post. The plane is somewhat a project plane in that it hasn't had a lot of maintenance or love in several years. Included in the work to be done is to evaluate the extent of damage to the 582 that partially seized on it's last flight. Lots of disassembly, cleaning, checking, reassembly is ahead of us.

I find it rather interesting that there are 3 Kitfox planes in our 20-ish member EAA chapter.

Lynn

[tbucket]

Lynn did you get the info on the Bungees I need to replace mine also....
Thanks Bob

[lake_harley]

I haven't really followed up with any dedication. I did find on-line suppliers of bulk bungee cord, but have yet to find a local source for the large "nicopress" fittings, and I've not found a cord supplier that offers the fittings too.

With a little more checking, the bungee cords from our Kitfox are between 3/8" and 7/16". That was checked by slipping an open end wrench over a section of the old cord that was removed. I never did call the number I received in the e-mail that was referenced in the first reply.

I haven't given up on making my own, but have just been busy with a number of other things.

Lynn

[cgruby]

Lynn,

I don't know how long the bungees are and many turns are required, but that information should be available somewhere.

On my previous plane, a Spezio, it used an identical bungee arrangement. I made many sets over the years. Making the loops is easy, you simply double it over and form a loop by wrapping the tail with a very strong cord. I used rib stitching cord. After wrapping, I coated the cord with clear dope. I never had one come apart.

[avidflyer]

Aircraft spruce has 3/8" shock cord for a bit more than $1.00 a foot. I've bought it from them several times. Made my own bungees for Avid Flyers several times. Used multiple wraps of safty wire to make the loops at the ends. Worked good for me. I would do it again. Jim Chuk

[SkyPirate]

Lynn, im about 20 miles south of Rolla, but based at M48, there was an airplane/carshow at KUUV Sullivan Mo this past week end, 211 kids got rides thru the young eagles, i took 5 potential kitfox flyers up

[lake_harley]

WOW! 211 Young Eagles flown? That's fantastic!

I ordered bulk 3/8" bungee today and will likely be trying the "safety wire" method of securing the loops since I hadn't found any large nicopress sleeves. Since I have a co-owner of the plane the method will have to meet his approval too so we'll likely do some pulling around on the loops to see that they're really secure. I'd almost think too tight with the safety wire, possibly trying to cut the cord, would be as bad as too loose.

Thanks

Lynn

[Planesmaker]

I have made several bungees, simply used the waxed rib lacing cord, works a treat.
Tom

[lake_harley]

Note taken on using rib-lacing cord instead of safety wire to secure the bungee loops. I must say, it seems that the rib-lacing cord might have a lesser possibility of damaging the bungee than the safety wire. Another member of our EAA chapter just finished rib lacing his Kitfox wings, so maybe he has enough left over cord to do the 4 loops.:D

Thanks to everyone for making suggestions and offering input on the topic!

Lynn

[t j]

Here's my home made bungee story.

I used round rib lacing cord to wrap a couple bungee loops. One I wrapped the bungee while it was slack. I then put the loop over a pipe in my bench vise, put one foot up on the edge of the bench and pulled as hard as I could. The bungee slipped through the wrap.

I wrapped another loop with the Bungee loop stretched. This one passed my pull test. You need about 5 or 6 inches extra length on each end of the bungee so you can clamp it in a vise. Then hook a come a long in the loop and stretch it tight and hold it there while you wrap the loop.

[Kahle76]

Note taken on using rib-lacing cord instead of safety wire to secure the bungee loops......

I have plenty of cord.

[Planesmaker]

Yes you need to stretch bungee to wrap cord, otherwise it will pull out. I just clamped in vice then tied a rope thru the loop to something solid with a couple of sheep shank knots (truckie hitches)stretch it out, then wrap. Tom

[vetdrem]

I did mine by carefully clamping the cord in a vice and made a mark on the cord that was two inches from the end of the loop. I then used a scissor jack against the vice and attached to the loop to stretch the loop until the mark was four inches from the end of the loop. Then I very tightly wrapped about 8 turns of .040 safety wire around the bungees at the mark, being careful to bury the ends so they wouldn't get caught on anything or come unwrapped. Then I backed off the jack and took the bungee out of the vice, trimmed the end and went on to the next one.

Each loop took about two minutes, and came out GREAT.