RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

JEC55, sent you a pm, thanks Pete

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Pete, haven't had a chance to look for mine yet.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Aren’t Kraft wheels way heavy compared to modern light wheels?

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

They were when they first came out. I bought a set noticed the weight and never used them. I don't know if that changed later. I was surprised to see the number of people wanting them, they do look great and if I remember right they had an internal wheel retainer leaving the outer hub smooth. Someone who has a set can speak for whats available now.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

i would use them as a static display like a warbird prop. they are heavy.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

I use them on everything. Two year's ago, the Kraft Haye's wheel's, were showing up on auction, and at fire sale prices. I managed to buy many, mainly 2.50" and 2.25". I had a lot of 3" and under 2.25", I gave them away, or sold for almost nothing.

You can also source the old William's Bros. Smooth Contour's, which are almost as good as Kraft's, except, not the hub attachment's. Some of us are probably responsible as anyone else for driving the price's up in the mid 2" range. I have paid as high as paying $46.00 a pair for treaded 2.50". I guess the secret is out, especially for the SPA plane's. IMO, Kraft-Haye's made the best.

Crank

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Excuse my ignorance, but other than the vintage coolness factor, what's so much better about them vs the current offerings from Dubro, Sullivan and Hangar 9?

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Hey Jeff. Maybe it is the coolness factor, but I am only interested in impressing myself. IMO, the rubber from back in those day's, is superior to the rubber today, if it is rubber. Everything today is more oil based vs. any real rubber product. I have Du-Bro's, etc., the hub's on today's wheel's, (not the expensive one's), are made from a plastic material. The Kraft hub's are like a hard nylon, probably injection molded, bushed on the inside with plastic,, but you can also use metal bushing's inside.

I guess to each his own, whatever someone like's. Nothing wrong with Du-Bro or any other.

Vince

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

I agree w/ Vince. They just seem to last longer and not wear out even after 10 years on a Phoenix 8 flown from grass and asphalt.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Got a question concerning the Kraft wheels. I used them once and found that all my wheel collars were to "fat", "thick" or whatever would be the proper description. I had to file each side of the wheel collars to make them thin enough to fit inside the Kraft wheels. After filing them thin enough, there was very little material left on either side of the hole where the set screw fit. Is there a source for wheel collars that fit Kraft wheels?

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

good question.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

The smaller diameter wheels you needed to do this. I use 2.25 to 2.50 wheels and it is not needed. I had a 2.00 on the Phoenix 8 to keep everything inside and had to file a little off the sides. I don't know if the Robart inserts will fit the Kraft wheel.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

thx

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

I may be missing something here. With each pair of wheel's, there is a unit of different bearing size's, to insert inside the hub. This will utilize the correct axle shaft, then you just match the collar to the shaft. Secure on the inside, all finished, and don't forget to flatten the axle shaft for the collar screw.

Vince

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Kraft wheels are very cool! So too are the old DuBro canopies.

This is a Kwik Os that I kitted in the 60's and 70's. Fiberglass and foam, it's a Kwik Fli III fuselage with a Kaos wing. I still have it. And the Kraft-Hayes wheels.

The picture was taken at the field north of Seattle where Mike and I flew together at those many years ago.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Vince, you never miss a thing:):) The question concerned the fact that when the two wheel halves are screwed together with the collar in the middle, the collar is to wide. The wheel halves will not go completely together. Someone above mentioned that this was only an issue with the smaller dia. wheels. My experience wtih this problem was with about a 2 1/4 or so soze wheel. I just bought a set of 3 inchers and maybe they won't have the problem.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

What a great flying and great looking aircraft! Those were the days my friend! My 35 year old Howard Engineering Kwik Fli III taper wing with its chrome hub DuBro wheels is one of my treasured possessions along with my NIB kit.

I’d forgotten that you used Kraft wheels. It is amazing though how much lighter the Sullivan and Dubro lite wheels are compared to the original DuBros and Kraft wheels.

Keep thinking I’ll find some DuBro canopies on the Bay but no luck so far.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Hey, when it's cool a couple of extra ounces are OK. And after all the abuse I've caused that old warhorse that have added weight, those wheels are incidental.

All kidding aside, it's always amazed me how well the Kwik Os continued to fly on the original Enya 60 II all these years. The last few were flown off grass which was never a problem. An old friend flew it a few years ago who was into 3D and promoting modern pattern planes. He remarked afterward that he understood why I liked it so much, saying it was so very easy to fly.

This last rebuild must have added a few ounces, but now it will have a NIB Enya 60 XF up front.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Well, guys, here's the end product, Thanks to Bill and Jeff here on RCU They help me with the 2 1/2" wheels I had the 2 1/4". No problem with the install they fit perfect. Thanks for all the reponses I had about kraft wheels. I was going to make the first flight today just perfect weather, my wife had other Idea's with yard work. I'm leaving tonight back to work so it will have to wait until after the 17th of march Regards, Pete


Total weight minus fuel load: 5Lbs 12oz

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

extra post can't delete.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Very nice, give it a 10, and the Kraft wheel's, icing on the cake. Let us know how it goes on maiden day.

Vince

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Awesome Pete!! Well Done... [8D]

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Very nice indeed. You should be proud of it.

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Guys, thanks very much, will try and put the first flight in on the 18th of march after I get home. Cheers Pete

RE: Need Kraft wheels........
 

Well, a little late on the first flight,due to rain, and more rain. today was perfect temp 65 degrees wind 5-10- MPH. The engine OS 55AX was broke in as per manual very simple, run it a little rich for the first few flights, This is one great engine!!
Balanced the CG a little nose heavy, I do this so there are no surprises , rolled about 75 feet it climb out needing a little right trim and a few click of up trim flew around for 10 min. or so set up for landing no problems. I moved the battery pack back and rebalanced the plane filled it up and off again this time the plane was perfect on the pitch trim and did some rolls and inverted flights engine still running a little on the rich side but man that engines does move this plane out. below pic's before and after.

Pete