Chris,
The mono is the worlds most helpless aircraft on the ground, but it is really
easy
to jack with a hydraulic engine lift. Others have built a trellis or post
and beam lift and roll it back into the rear of the hangar/garage when not
needed.
It only takes minutes to run a strap through the engine / landing gear frame and
raise the aircraft. Pad a couple of saw horses to steady the wings and raise
the aircraft. The mono can tip so steady the wings and retract away.
For safety sake make sure your lift is stable and just get it done. My shop
hoist
is 20 years old, bought at a discount store and lifts 1000 pounds at $250.
I prefer the overhead lift for stability and the gear area is completely clear.
You can even make an overhead lift from wood and put an electric lift on
it if you like.
Some don't like the straps, and if I owned a mono I would make metal straps for
around the gear frame and leave them on permanently but it only takes a few
minutes
to do three wraps of a 600 pound strap to hook to the lift.
For a tire change the lift block is fine, but again, steady the wings.
The fuselage of the Europa is just not set up for lifting well. The firewall
foot
wells are not a bad support area. (My cradle has fitted supports there and
one at the rear bulkhead.
The problem with putting any lift under the plane is, it just gets in the way of
other maintenance. That is why the overhead lift is so convenient. Open floor
space under the aircraft to roll around with a creeper and get on with the
work. Even with the trigear, you can lift the nose gear off the ground and work
safely. Of course then what would I do with my rope and concrete blocks for
holding the tail down. I should patent that counterweight idea.
Just my thoughts.
Bud Yerly
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=506674#506674
|