Concur with Larry Flesner regarding using the Yankee gear legs. You will need a power bench planer to take the stock thickness down to 3/4 inch. The fiberglass is abrasive and will dull the planer blades somewhat. A metal cutting band saw will do well for cutting the outline. Getting a consistent leg shape can be difficult to achieve without a pattern and pin router. Of concern for the leg shape is getting the correct cant forward for tail dragger legs or cant aft for nose wheel installations. I used 20 inches for the main wheel location aft of the leading edge of the stub wing. With the dog-leg shape, it is not possible to keep the fiberglass grain completely straight the entire length of the leg. Wrapping with 45 degree bias fiberglass cloth will definitely help regarding the twisting action. Beware of the fiberglass splinters that the planer and saw will create; sand every edge smooth to keep those glass splinters out of your hide. I have my home-built gear legs installed. Empty weight is 804 pounds including ballast. Worrying about balance issues now.
Sid Wood Tri-gear KR-2 N6242 Mechanicsville, MD, USA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At 10:56 PM 12/12/2014, you wrote: >The Yankee leg is 1" thick and I've heard estimates of 3/4" to 1" >and about 3" wide for the Diehl. A little change in the thickness >and stack can make a big difference in the stiffness. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If I were to use the "Yankee" gear leg, I'd have someone send me a tracing of the Diehl leg on heavy stock, cut the Yankee leg to same profile keeping the "grain orientation" the same as the Deihl leg, plane down the leg to the same thickness as the Diehl leg, put a foam lead and trail edge on the leg for shaping and a tunnel for brake line, and wrap with two layers of KR cloth. Put the KR cloth on the leg "on the bias", 45 degree angle. I would go with a 25" leg on a KR2 and a 26 1/2" leg on the 2S (tail dragger) and make any adjustments to the the three point stance with the tail wheel spring. Tri-gear will have to stick with the 24" leg unless modifying the nose gear assembly. I was led to believe the Diehl gear material is the same material as the Yankee gear. Dan did the testing, including drop test I was told, and his setup works just fine. I wouldn't change a thing. If you are building to fly and not as a project for your retirement, go with what we know works and spend your worry time on other parts of the project. I'm still smiling from yesterdays 50 mile flight for lunch and stop and go landing practice on return. Get it built.................. Larry Flesner
