Atlee Dodge Extended Heavy Duty Gear and Federal Skis

[WindOnHisNose]

I placed an order for Atlee's heavy duty, extended gear and I want to make sure there is no problem with installing my Federal 2200 hydraulic skis. I am assuming I will need to re-rig the skis. In addition, I was walking around the Lake Hood strip last Saturday and found a super cub with extended heavy duty gear onto which an additional strut was located just in front of the gear, similar to what I have on my standard gear...I assume it is to add stability against the torque effect of the skis.



Question 1: Will there be a problem with the STC for the Federal skis and the extended gear?

Question 2: Anyone know about that strut and where I can get them? or if I need this?

Thanks very much.

Randy

 

[StewartB]

How do Airglides attach on Cub gear? Cessna gear uses a stub axle. I've always wondered about how they're installed on Cubs. Did you ask Steve whether you'd have a conflict? My FlyLite's inner attach fittings wouldn't fit on Atlee's HD gear because of interference with the reinforcing gussets. Steve made me new gear that incorporated permanent fittings at the time of manufacture.

I think the stiffener you've pictured is for AWB skis. I don't remember seeing it with Airglides but I'm not certain.

SB

 

[mike mcs repair]

that looks like a home made modified(lowered mount holes) AWB mount(atlee style, but I don't think its his, Note the crooked gusset on top).... I made similar with 2 sets of holes where ski mounts, so depending on tire size which hole you use....

the "stiff leg" you refer to you just make to fit your gear, helps keep front bending/bowing front gear leg UP... they still bend them even with stiff leg....

some people weld a bushing through top of front gear about 3 or 4 " from top of leg and bolt the stiff leg there to keep from bending main gear bolt....

no idea on your STC, does it say "standard gear", or only reference installing on the airplane? if the later I would think that falls into the mechanics discretion "... shall determine this mod is compatible with others installed..."???????? no??

 

[WindOnHisNose]

Stewart, here is the configuration for my hydraulic skis. From this you can see that I had real problems with the Atlee Dodge fueling steps, due to interference of the bolt associated with the step...had to locate lower on the gear than I would have liked (I am vertically compromised).

I will follow your suggestion and phone Steve at Atlee's and learn more.

Thanks.

Also, I phoned Wipaire, spoke to a fellow there who suggested that there will have to be some re-doing of the cables. If you have any knowledge of this, please let me know.

Randy

 

[StewartB]

So you do have a stiffener. Interesting. My gear doesn't. I guess I'll double check the FlyLite installation diagrams to see if we forgot something. As to the mount fitting, I can't see any detail. Steve will be the guy to ask. If the gear needs fittings or accommodations for fittings now's the time, before powder coating. For the cables, you'll need longer cables to account for the increased height of the gear.

Stewart

 

[mike mcs repair]

pictures worth a 1000 words....

assuming the bottom mount fits on new gear, I would just reuse your stiff leg, and drill hole in front leg(if it clears whatever is there) and weld a bushing in gear leg and bolt top of stiff leg there.....

then make new rigging cables......


wow, you had those on old standard duty gear that was covered, scary!!!

 

[WindOnHisNose]

I purchased my skis from a fellow up on Anchorage several years ago, Stewart. It came with the stiffener, but I must say I haven't seen anyone else with this here in MN...actually the photo I took of the installation in Anchorage was the first one I've seen, outside of mine.

Mike, I don't think my stiffener will work on the extended gear...will need to be longer.

Mike, your comment regarding the covered gear led Bill Rusk to have the same gasping sound I heard coming from your keyboard! hence, the visit to Atlee's place.

Randy

 

[Darrel Starr]

Randy, as I recall, the stiffener is just a length of 4130 steel tubing with the ends collapsed and drilled. We can make that if you need one. Also, Wipaire has installation drawings - I'll look next time at the hangar but I think I have a copy. See you soon.

 

[mike mcs repair]

Mike, I don't think my stiffener will work on the extended gear...will need to be longer.
Randy

it will work, and is a stronger way to do it, it's actually the way we do all new installs now......

 

[schnell49]

last oct i bought a set of C-2200 wheel skis-then bought an additional set of 3" gear with the tabs welded on from atlee and bought a set of wheels/brakes and 8.5's---that tab eliminates the need for that stiffener arm-legally is my understanding...i suppose you could still run the stiffener arm and by adding anything extra will double the protection but from my understanding the feds are running it that way and so is the guy who i bought the skis from, he and his bro are long time AK flyers/guides, FWIW.---nice having two sets of gear legs, that way i just disconnect the brake/hydraulic lines, pop the gear bolts (check the gear bolts also...) and put the other extended gear legs on that have bushwheels/brakes already attached.. oh, and it seemed odd to me but i had to adjust the cables that came with the skis-quite a bit actually even though they came off a cub with 3" gear and that's the same set up as mine (mainly the front cables).....the drawings i felt didn't help much when it came to the cable rigging since i put 8.5's on--the drawings don't come with that size accounted for...

 

[mike mcs repair]

....oh, and it seemed odd to me but i had to adjust the cables that came with the skis-quite a bit actually even though they came off a cub with 3" gear and that's the same set up as mine ......

probably different 'brand' of 3" gear.... they are all different lengths/geometry.....

 

[Scooter7779h]

I had a field approved installation of AWB2500 with "Big Foot" HWMB extensions. I was on 3" extended HD FA-Dodge PA-18 gear. Yes the stiff arm needs to be extended for the 3" extended gear. I also had field approved FA-Dodge springs, and double rear safety cables, also not part of the original installation, but if something broke with the hydraulic actuator or rigger, you would not want that "Barn Door" of a ski flipping down, or all the way up. Again all field approved. I also felt much better having a Burl's AOSS, as the torque on a standard hydrosorb is huge, and I bent a few. No problems with AOSS. I have since sold the skis. In this photo you can see the stiff arms, they are black, gear legs red. http://tinyurl.com/3hpa5ne

 

[RAC cubs]

there are two types of arms on C 2200s atlees legs are for the new ones , his pieces on gear are 45 degree down the orginal bolt on are parallel to flight forward call me 414 791 9872 Ted