cartercg

Hi,

One way to save a bit of weight is to use Aluminium bolts, nuts etc for motor mounts, landing gear attachments etc. Aluminium is way lighter than stainless steel. Titanium is extremely strong but the weight is in-between Aluminium and Stainless steel and Titanium is a lot more expensive. So from a weight perspective Aluminium is the best, but is it strong enough? Have you guys been using say 3mm Aluminium bolts for the likes of landing gear attachments and if so have you had any unexpected failures?

Regards
Clint

Jason Arnold

I use titanium screws. I also use aluminium lock nuts and washers.

I would never use aluminium on an undercarriage.

Cheers,
Jason.

j payne

Hi
I have been using aluminium 4/40 bolts to mount my undercarriage for years with no failures I also use them to mount the motor where appicable again with no problems
John

mtcarey

My Feedback: (2)

On the undercarriage I use Aluminium in the rear bolts an nylon in the front. They brake before the plane does.

cmoulder

I've heard of this idea but won't ever use it myself.

Even if the gear break away you're going to do extensive damage to the side of the fuse where the gear insert, and potentially even more to the belly of the fuse.

I'd rather crack the landing gear than damage the fuse!

MTK

You guys still use bolts to mount your landing gear?? How...old fashioned, hehehe

grantb

Glad to hear that the use of landing gear isn't obsolete yet

cmoulder

Pony up! Let's see pix!!

bjr_93tz

My money's on pop rivets

MTK

Oh my goshki.....What's the matter with you boys? You can't think outside the box can you?

No fasteners at all

bjr_93tz

Hot melt glue [X(]

Jetdesign

My Feedback: (8)

I'm thinking about using aluminum bolts for my rear motor mount - 1 3/4" bolts inside a spacer. I've struggled with aluminum prop adapters, but the loads are pretty different here.

MTK

I'll clue you in....no screwy screws or nuts n bolts, and no frigging glue

Now that the cat is out of the bag, you may be able to figure out the mechanics of the system I've developed. BTW - The concept is patent pending and I will be looking to license it

Bill Clark

heres a link to aluminum fasteners made from 7075 t-6 which is about 85.000 psi tensil  http://www.fastener-express.com/alum...s-washers.aspx. a alloy steel socket head cap screw manufactured to standards is about 180,000 tensil

petec

My Feedback: (58)

A Kabajian Taper?

cmoulder

Or caper!

Dave Harmon

Naaaa.....more like rubber bands....I heard about that guy!

TimBle

I've developed quite a niffty landing gear system myself. I believe in keeping parts in tension to achieve maximum strength.

nonstoprc

My Feedback: (90)

I thought pattern pilots will never damage the landing gears:-)

On a serious note, I like the idea of replacing four front steel motor mount mounts with itanium counterparts. Seems a good way to spend a couple dollars to cut 1oz. Of weight.

I use aluminum bolts to hold wing tip blocks to the wing body on my Passport.

BTW, I still have some spare 1" 4/40 alum socket bolts from bolts-express.com. Send me PM and I can mail you 10 for $3 shipped to cont. USA.

kenh3497

TimBle

I'mnot going to dismantle the entire bottom of my plane. Oh wait, I'll be fitting a Saito 180 to a 1.20 size pattern plane so I'l have to.

TimBle

www.pro-bolt.co.uk

MTK

WIST MODEL has the very best commercial technique. My method was inspired by them. The lightest set-up in my plane for gear, pants, axles and wheels and fuse mount was around 5 1/2 ozs

The very lightest landing gear had to be Nat Penton's. He mounted a pair of carbon tubes through the wing. The wing mounts are 1/32" ply plates, about 3 sq inches on both sides of the wing, with a through hole or socket connecting the two plates.

The carbon tube has more than enough strength and flex to handle 11 pounders. All up weight, including everything, was around 3 ozs. That's a fine weight...juuuuust a little out of the box thinking