Jacking the spring gear?

So those that have the newer grove gear, how are you going about jacking for tire changes etc?

I used a plywood box with a floor jack on it. Once on a trip I used concrete blocks with a floor jack.

I assume you're just placing it under the flat spot on the gear against one side of the fuselage. With a block of wood to hopefully keep it from slipping. Thing that worries me is the angle of the gear cross member when the tail is down. Guess I'll try it and see how it goes.

Hi Andy,
I was fortunate enough to attend the Kitfox fly in this last weekend. Had a great time. I noticed what they were using in the hangar there was a jack stand that stood about a foot or so high that had an adjustable 3/4" ? screw running up through the middle. The top of this screw had a shallow steel box someone welded up and welded to the screw. The footprint of the box was just large enough to accept a hydraulic car jack...nuthin elaborate. A short 2x4 was used on top of the jack placed under the gear which ever side. It would be a good idea to drill (forstner bit) or router out the 2x4 where it meets the top of the jack to prevent slipping.

Here is a pic of John McBean using it. Thanks to one of our members for the shot.
Attachment 576

Thanks to all the great ideas you all gave me. I thought I would follow up with what I made. I cut a block of oak to fit under the gear, with a lip on the back side to ensure it won't slip forward. I drilled a pocket hole at an angle with a forstner bit to hold the jack head in. Works great! Next up would be to build a nice plywood box that would be easier to move around than the blocks...

http://www.teamkitfox.com/Forums/pic...pictureid=1376

http://www.teamkitfox.com/Forums/pic...pictureid=1377

Looks good Andy.

a quick question concerning lifting the air craft,..why coudn't a jack assembly be put atthe strut mount on the wing,..I'm thinking this because it's tough to get down low for some of us,...a set up like a wing jack that met both strut mount points and pivoted on the jack head,..this is a sloppy drawing but gets the point accross

For jacking the Grove spring gear, obtain a Cessna "U" shaped jack pad which simply slides up the gear leg until it stops, then use the jack on the pad jacking point. Note: It is best to line this unit with silicon baffle material prior to sliding up the gear leg, so as not to damage the finish on the gear. Source: ACS p/n 12-00837. Approx. $63.00, but works very well. Paul