Kangaroo hinge gap....is this normal?
 

I picked up this Kangaroo 99% built. Here are a couple pics of the hinge gap. Is it normal to have a 3/16" gap? Is there anything that needs to be done to seal this or does the living hinge act as the seal?

Thanks,

Tumbler

RE: Kangaroo hinge gap....is this normal?
 

No issue at all, go fly and have fun (speaking from about a thousand flights on various ROO configurations and all generations of roos.

RE: Kangaroo hinge gap....is this normal?
 

Its usualy not that large. I bet the previous owner sanded the gap larger, so the elevond did not bind.

Heres what I did on my kangaroo, and Eurosport.
I bought some Graupner Hinge tape, designed for high speed gliders. Its thicker than normal tape, and only stick on one half, and it curves slightly.
Perfect for this aplication, so nothing binds, and keeps the gap sealed.

RE: Kangaroo hinge gap....is this normal?
 

My Rookie is the same way. I think this is normal for this type of hinge.

RE: Kangaroo hinge gap....is this normal?
 

It is normal to have a gap of that size when the surface is fully deflected down- but- it looks like your builder cut back the top front wing skin 3/16 or so. He probably did this to keep from having catching when the sufrace is deflected up. The flight surface skin should slide under the wing skin when deflected perhaps he didnt know this. I dont know if it will be a problem-gonna catch a lot of air, especially when deflected down. Scott

RE: Kangaroo hinge gap....is this normal?
 

I do the same thing with two layers of clear packing tape you can buy at anywhere....works great and never binds....Ron

RE: Kangaroo hinge gap....is this normal?
 

Thanks guys.....yeah I thought it looked odd. Its going to look even worse with the hinge tape, but I guess I may have to do it. It looks like I have one of the older Fiberclassics versions and it is hinged on the bottom. Not sure if the compsosite-arf version is like that, but know the Eurosport is hinged on the top like it should be.

RE: Kangaroo hinge gap....is this normal?
 

The Carf version is also hinged on the bottom like yours.


You can clearly see it in the pics of mine :):D

RE: Kangaroo hinge gap....is this normal?
 

Oh man!!! Sorry about that! Want to buy mine? :D I bought it over the summer and kind of lost interest. ust needs the air and fuel lines hooked up. The guy I bought it from bought it form a guy that flew it 2 times and then sold it. The guy i bought it from stripped it and painted it in the Blue Angels scheme and never finished it. Has a Ram 750 air start.

Brian

RE: Kangaroo hinge gap....is this normal?
 

:DAllthough it's some years ago now, I still remember how silent it was at the Falken field just after you crashed your Roo, Sonnich. That was the worst thing that could happen to a new jetpilot. Glad you're still into jets...;)