Just now got back from the airport working on my KR-2. I removed the elevator balance weight and the associated mounting arm and hardware. The lead weight was indeed 2.6 pound, but with the rest of the hardware, including bolts, the total; was 4.5 pounds. That weight was centered at 78 inches from the cg datum. Doing the math (4.5 x 76/23 = 14.8 pounds) would be needed at the engine mount to meet my cg move goal. Put another way: By removing the elevator balance weight and hardware I would not need the 14.8 pounds in the nose and the aircraft would be 19.3 pounds lighter compared to what I had started out to do. Next I removed the ELT bolted to the baggage shelf. The weight was 3.0 pounds including the mounting bracket and bolts. Mine is a two-place airplane, so have to have an ELT. I found a spot on the floor of the cockpit 8-inches forward of the main spar. This is very close to the cg datum. So, that would be a 0" arm. Still have to carry the weight, but have lost the cg arm: 3.0 x 54/23 = 6.9 pound not needed for ballast. So, the net ballast weight reduction now is 21.7 pounds. That means the current ballast needed to get the cg at 9.0 inches with me and half fuel onboard is 27.3 pounds at the nose wheel braces. Not declaring victory yet, but that's better than adding that 49 pounds of ballast as first advertised. There may yet be some ways to shave more weight off the tail. Now have to put the airplane back together for a Weight and Balance to see: "Does it really do that?"
Sid Wood Tri-Gear KR-2 N6242 Mechanicsville, MD, USA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That's because moving a wing around as per the discussion is complicated!!!. Just moving a weight around is simple by comparison as you say but with 49 lbs in the nose involved in this case I reckon it should be looked at by a professional.....anyhow that's it from me. Regards John John Martindale 29 Jane Circuit Toormina NSW 2452 Australia
