John's Build

[jrevens]

OK - it looks like maybe I can upload a tiny file.

[efwd]

Hey John, I am on the same track as you have mentioned regarding Tires and Tail gear. If you were to do it again, would you just put those items on from the first flight. I have the tires just need to order the tail gear. Thought I might just do all that taxiing to break in the breaks while on the factory tires. Do you think its worth it?
Beautiful airplane BTW.

[rv9ralph]

Eddie,
If you haven't used the tires and tailwheel that came with the kit, you could check with Kitfox to see of a trade deal could be made.

Ralph

[Frontier Fox]

John

What wheel and tire did you use with the T-3?

[jrevens]

John

What wheel and tire did you use with the T-3?

It’s the lightweight Matco dual fork 8” pneumatic. I think the ABW 3200 is probably a better wheel, but it is a lot heavier.

[Ibsen]

WOW great looking plane !!!

Amazing job !!!

[jrevens]

I'm thinking that there must be others who have long legs and big feet like me, and perhaps have had a little bit of difficulty staying off the brakes completely - for instance while landing. Seems like my feet would creep up the pedals when I really didn't want them to, and the brakes on this airplane really work well! I have the pedals at the best angle I can get while still having adequate firewall clearance, but the angle of my feet on the pedals was just not optimum for me. So I made a couple of blocks out of 1/2" Delrin plastic. This really made a great improvement in my handling of the airplane and comfort, and I positively stay off the brakes when I don't want them. I think it was John Pitkin who suggested moving the rudder pedal assembly aft to get a better angle on the pedals, and that probably would have given the same result (more eloquently). However, I can really feel where my feet are now, and it just feels so much better. Most of you guys are probably better pilots than I am, and don't have a problem like this, but man was I having a time with mine. For this, and a couple of other reasons, my airplane wasn't handling on the ground like Paul's up in Idaho did. In 45 years of flying, the bulk of it in tailwheel aircraft, I had never ground-looped an airplane, but I did with this one and it was very humbling and embarrassing. All's good now though. Havin' fun!

[jrevens]

Hey John, I am on the same track as you have mentioned regarding Tires and Tail gear. If you were to do it again, would you just put those items on from the first flight. I have the tires just need to order the tail gear. Thought I might just do all that taxiing to break in the breaks while on the factory tires. Do you think its worth it?
Beautiful airplane BTW.

Ralph’s right, Eddie. I would see if you could make a trade if you want to, but I think the original tires are fine. I didn’t have the standard tires that usually come in the kit. It’s just that the particular tires I bought initially didn’t seem to be a good match for my airplane, in retrospect. They were real “grabby” and stiff, and I like the look & softness of the new ones better. Live & learn. There was nothing wrong with the original spring also, but the new one is nicer. So, I guess it’s mostly a personal decision. If I did it again, I’d personally start out with what I have now, but that’s just me.