Setting up a gyro for Rough feild use

[asra]

Howdy all I was hopeing to get some feedback from you folks about setting up a gyro for rough feild useage.... Like , whats important to consider ? Most bush planes in Alaska have big tires on'em so i gather Tire size is important... but beyond that i'm at a loss Any sujestions ? thank ya !Bob...

[birdy]

Bout 4" of dampened suspension will do wunders to save the machine on TO rolls as well as shorten the roll needed.And don't bother paint'n or wash'n it.Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.You can always get the answer you want, if you ask enough experts.

[asra]

Ahh thanks Birdy ! right now i have suspension on the front wheel and rigid rear mains .... that i can easily add suspension to they are on pivoting joints... just need to make up the top suspension struts.... I figured I'ed use some Honda XL 350 rear shocks sense I have them , or Honda CB450 shocks,I'm not that worried about weight, I am concerned mainly about funtionality and safty. I am thinking of the big lawn tractor tires I've seen in Northern Tool and Hydrolics sales catalog... because right now what I have is no brakes and a mear 10" rear main wheels... the front is a 6" .... which will have to go .... small diamator don't work good on soft soil ! . so i was thinking the lawn tractor tires on all 3 wheels I think their 16" their for the front tires on lawn tractors...and weigh 8 lbs each !!!!! OUCH ! I am concerned about the rear suspension because when i first put this Bumble Bee togather , back to the original plan specs , it turned out to be a Loosie -goosie top heavy , want to fall over thing ! part of that loosness was no doubt the rear suspension ... 4" of travle is what it had...and it was about 1/4 compressed when laden.I am hopeing with the motorcycle shocks that will be diferent ... but you still have that tower wanting to fall over ... so i don't know.I am thinking I'll add brakes on the mains as well when I do this so add a hub and a brake band .... cuz' I doubt i can afford the disk brakes ! ..... should i be concerned about a rock shield to protect the prop ? if so where should it be located ? or should i just have a good fender on the front wheel ? Thanks for the help Birdy ! Bob....

[asra]

HEHE as for the no paint and washing.... who cares what it looks like as long as it works ! HAHAHAHA !finally got my avatar on there... should see what it looks like ...well a bit .humm don't seam to wann'a work ...oh well ! C ya'Bob...

[birdy]

Reckon if youv got decent suspension on the mains, you wont need that big a tyre, I'v only got Cessna tryes on the ferel[mains], and stock RAF ones on the RAF and never had a problem with them being too small.The nose wheel needs to be bigger coz when you hit the power on TO, alota weight is onit. And especialy the nose wheel assembly needs to be extra strong, you don't want it folding, itd make for an embarassing mess.I'v got differential drum breaks which override the nose wheel gear on the ferel, makes for easy 'turning on a dime' on narrow roads.I'v never carried a rock guard, and we do have rocks ere in the desert, but rearly pick up rocks. Get more damage to the prop from sand.[theres always a mini whirl wind under the prop when its ideling up on a cold morning.]Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.You can always get the answer you want, if you ask enough experts.

[asra]

OK.... that makes alot of sense bigger nose wheel .... leave the mains as they are.... i think their wide enough ... if memory serves their 10" diam 4" wide... seam to roll easy enough... but on gravle its a pain... one of the main wheels will hit a rock and stop and the entire craft twists ..... makes just pushing the thing a pain ! .....with weight on it it probly won't do that though ... infact turning arround off the paved strip the other day i dodn't have any problem except my real small angle of turn to the front wheel ...... takes about 100' to do a 180 degree turn ! hehehehe a might bit excessive i think ! Yah that desert sand will eat up the prop fast I would amagon ..... it sure does a number on the windshield of my car !well, that tells me what i need to start thinkin on..... new nose wheel assembly ( stronger and taller for a 13" wheel ) and suspension for the rear mains.... and a long chain with a good anchor attached fer an emergancy brake ! HAHAHAHAH !thanks Birdy !Bob....." Momm'a alwayse told me , Son the impossable is only a little bit Harder... and ya know I do believe She was RIGHT ! "